The History of Computers

Thousands of years ago calculations were done using peoples fingers and pebbles
that were found just lying around. Technology has transformed so much that today
the most complicated computations are done within seconds. Human dependency
on computers is increasing everyday. Just think how hard it would be to live a week
without a computer. We owe the advancements of computers and other such
electronic devices to the intelligence of men of the past.

The history of the computer dates back all the way to the prehistoric times. The first
step towards the development of the computer, the abacus, was developed in
Babylonia in 500 B.C. and functioned as a simple counting tool. It was not until
thousands of years later that the first calculator was produced. In 1623, the first
mechanical calculator was invented by Wilhelm Schikard, the Calculating Clock, as
it was often referred to as, performed its operations by wheels, which worked
similar to a cars odometer (Evolution, 1). Still, there had not yet been anything
invented that could even be characterized as a computer. Finally, in 1625 the slide
rule was created becoming the first analog computer of the modern ages
(Evolution, 1). One of the biggest breakthroughs came from by Blaise Pascal in
1642, who invented a mechanical calculator whose main function was adding and
subtracting numbers. Years later, Gottfried Leibnez improved Pascals model by
allowing it to also perform such operations as multiplying, dividing, taking the
square root.

Technology continued to prosper in the computer world into the nineteenth century.
A major figure during this time is Charles Babbage, designed the idea of the
Difference Engine in the year 1820. It was a calculating machine designed to
tabulate the results of mathematical functions (Evans, 38). Babbage, however,
never completed this invention because he came up with a newer creation in which
he named the Analytical Engine. This computer was expected to solve any
mathematical problem (Triumph, 2). It relied on the punch card input. The machine
was never actually finished by Babbage, and today Herman Hollerith has been
credited with the fabrication of the punch card tabulating machine. He got the idea
when riding a train and watching the attendants poke holes into the passengers
tickets (Evans, 51).

From the 1940s to the 50s, computers were often constructed of vacuum tubes.
The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) was developed by John
Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert in 1946. One reporter described the machine as being

faster than thought (Evans, 82). In 1947, John von Neumann sought to improve
the device. He came up with the idea of storing information in a high speed memory
system. This led to the development of the EDVAC (Electronic discrete variable
computer). It used Magnetic Tape, which was a major advancement. In time, the
UNIVAC became a popular all-purpose computer. It was built by the Eckert- Mauchly
Corporation in 1951.

The twentieth century was filled with important inventions that are still widely used
today. Invented by four men at Bell Labs in 1947, the transistor became one of the
most essential inventions of the times. Today, silicon is used to build transistors
which are used in integrated circuits. But what can be done without the
development of computer languages? In the mid 1950s high level programming
languages were made known. FORTRAN and COBOL became the most successful
languages. In 1964, the System/360 was released by IBM. It set the precedent for
future computers. By the 70s personal computers were being brought into the
society. This same decade led to the creation of the computer language BASIC and
the formation of the Microsoft Corporation by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Microsoft
Windows was first established in 1985. Today, it is stated to be running in over 10
million computers worldwide (Evolution, 18). It was not until 1973 that the idea of
the Internet was initially developed by Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf. In 1981, the IBM PC
was released. Computer development was flourishing. The Apple Macintosh came
out in 1984 and IBMs PS/2 System was released in 1987. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee
came up with the concept of the World Wide Web. This system would allow for the
exchange of ideas around the world. Today, it is used in almost every household to
talk to family, buy merchandise, or research information.

With the collaboration of so many brilliant mathematicians and scientists,

computers have become increasing more productive and efficient. Calculations have
gone from counting on our fingers, to using high speed electronic computers. They
have become essential to the functioning of our everyday lives. We have Schikard,
Pascal, Babbage, Gates, and many more to thank the computers we use today.

Works Cited

Evans, Chistopher. The Making of the Micro: A History of the Computer. New York:
Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1981.

Evolution of Computers: From Stone to Silicon. Computer Science Southwestern

Inventist Industry. 10 September 2003
http://cs.swau.edu/~durkin/articles/history_computing,html

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