History of Computer

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

Computers as we know them today have progressed a lot. Today computers are very expensive and very helpful in our daily lives.

The earliest form of counting was with fingers.

Other objects such as rocks and twigs were used to represent groups of number.

ABACUS
- the oldest known form of computing.

PASCALINE
- to input numbers, then outputted them as the answer.

STEP RECKONER
- as an improvement on Pascal's machine.

DIFFERENCE ENGINE
- a mechanical calculator that operated automatically.

ANALYTICAL ENGINE
- can store data in the memory.

PUNCHED CARD - TABULATING MACHINE
- to read data and store for future use.

THE FIRST GENERATION

(1940 - 1956) VACUUM TUBES
Characteristics of first generation of computers

Computers are big.
Computers are not very reliable.
Solve problems one at a time.

ENIAC (ELECTRICAL NUMERICAL INTEGRATOR AND CALCULATOR)
- means of calculating.

UNIVAC ( UNIVERSAL AUTOMATIC COMPUTER )
- the first commercial computer.

EDVAC ( ELECTRONIC DISCRETE VARIABLE AUTOMATIC COMPUTER )
- had almost 6,000 vacuum tubes.

THE SECOND GENERATION

( 1956 - 1963 ) TRANSISTORS

Characteristics of Second generation of computers

Smaller
Less energy and heat
Faster
More reliable

MAGNETIC CORE - store larger data.

THE THIRD GENERATION

( 1964 - 1971 ) INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
Characteristics of Third generation of computers

Increase speed and efficiency.
Power consumption lower.
High - level languages appeared.

IBM ( INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE corp.)
- it was specifically designed to handle high speed data processing.

THE FOURTH GENERATION

( 1971 TO PRESENT ) MICROPROCESSOR
Characteristics of Fourth generation of computers

Integrated circuits became smaller and faster.
Portable computers developed.
Great development in communication.

INTEL - was the first microprocessor.

GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE - to add an easier environment to the user

And that is the generations of computers=))