History of Computers
When we study the many aspects of computing and computers, it is important to know about the history of computers. Charles Babbage designed an Analytical Engine which was a general computer It helps us understand the growth and progress of technology through the times. It is also an important topic for competitive and banking exams.
History of Computers generation
The word ‘computer’ has a very interesting origin. It was first used in the 16th century for a person who used to compute, i.e. do calculations. The word was used in the same sense as a noun until the 20th century. Women were hired as human computers to carry out all forms of calculations and computations.
By the last part of the 19th century, the word was also used to describe machines that did calculations. The modern day use of the word is generally to describe programmable digital devices that run on electricity.
Early History of Computer
Since the evolution of humans, devices have been used for calculations for thousands of years. One of the earliest and well-known devices was an abacus. It contained an ALU, some basic flow chart principles and the concept of integrated memory.
It was the ENIAC, which stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. The inventors of this computer were John W. Mauchly and J.Presper Eckert.
We got our first laptop in 1981 and it was introduced by Adam Osborne and EPSON.
Generations of Computers
In the history of computers, we often refer to the advancements of modern computers as the generation of computers. We are currently on the fifth generation of computers. So let us look at the important features of these five generations of computers.
- 1st Generation: This was from the period of 1940 to 1955. This was when machine language was developed for the use of computers. They used vacuum tubes for the circuitry. For the purpose of memory, they used magnetic drums.
- 2nd Generation: Here they advanced from vacuum tubes to transistors. This made the computers smaller, faster and more energy efficient. And they advanced from binary to assembly languages.
- 3rd Generation: The hallmark of this period (1964-1971) was the development of the integrated circuit.
- 4th Generation: The invention of the microprocessors brought along the fourth generation of computers. Another important aspect is the development of higher computer languages like C++ and Java.
- 5th Generation: This is the present and the future of the computer world. The defining aspect of this generation is artificial intelligence. The use of parallel processing and superconductors are making this a reality and provide a lot of scope for the future.
