a brief history of computers by bernard john poole, msis associate professor of education and...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
A Brief History of A Brief History of ComputersComputers
A Brief History of A Brief History of ComputersComputers
By
Bernard John Poole, MSISAssociate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology
University of Pittsburgh at JohnstownJohnstown, PA 15904
![Page 2: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Pre-Mechanical Computing:
From Counting on fingersFrom Counting on fingersto pebblesto pebbles
to hash marks on wallsto hash marks on wallsto hash marks on boneto hash marks on boneto hash marks in sandto hash marks in sand
Pre-Mechanical Computing:
From Counting on fingersFrom Counting on fingersto pebblesto pebbles
to hash marks on wallsto hash marks on wallsto hash marks on boneto hash marks on boneto hash marks in sandto hash marks in sand
Interesting thought:Do any species, other than homo sapiens, count?
![Page 3: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Mechanical computersMechanical computers
FromFromThe AbacusThe Abacusc. 4000 BCEc. 4000 BCE
to to Charles BabbageCharles Babbage
and his Difference Engine (1812)and his Difference Engine (1812)
![Page 4: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Mechanical computers:The Abacus (c. 3000 BCE)
Mechanical computers:The Abacus (c. 3000 BCE)
![Page 5: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Napier’s Bones andNapier’s Bones andLogarithms (1617)Logarithms (1617)
Napier’s Bones andNapier’s Bones andLogarithms (1617)Logarithms (1617)
Picture courtesy IBM
![Page 6: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Oughtred’s (1621) and Oughtred’s (1621) and Schickard‘s (1623]Schickard‘s (1623]
slide ruleslide rule
Oughtred’s (1621) and Oughtred’s (1621) and Schickard‘s (1623]Schickard‘s (1623]
slide ruleslide rule
![Page 7: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Blaise Blaise Pascal’sPascal’s
Pascaline Pascaline (1645)(1645)
Blaise Blaise Pascal’sPascal’s
Pascaline Pascaline (1645)(1645)
![Page 8: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Gottfried Wilhelm von Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibnitz’sLeibnitz’s
Stepped Reckoner (1674)Stepped Reckoner (1674)
Gottfried Wilhelm von Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibnitz’sLeibnitz’s
Stepped Reckoner (1674)Stepped Reckoner (1674)
![Page 9: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Joseph-Marie Jacquard and his Joseph-Marie Jacquard and his punched card controlled looms punched card controlled looms
(1804)(1804)
Joseph-Marie Jacquard and his Joseph-Marie Jacquard and his punched card controlled looms punched card controlled looms
(1804)(1804)
![Page 10: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Preparing the cards with the Preparing the cards with the pattern for the cloth to be pattern for the cloth to be
wovenwoven
Preparing the cards with the Preparing the cards with the pattern for the cloth to be pattern for the cloth to be
wovenwoven
![Page 11: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Charles Babbage (1791-Charles Babbage (1791-1871)1871)
The Father of ComputersThe Father of Computers
Charles Babbage (1791-Charles Babbage (1791-1871)1871)
The Father of ComputersThe Father of Computers
![Page 12: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Charles Babbage’s Difference Charles Babbage’s Difference EngineEngine
Charles Babbage’s Difference Charles Babbage’s Difference EngineEngine
![Page 13: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Charles Babbage’s Analytical Charles Babbage’s Analytical EngineEngine
Charles Babbage’s Analytical Charles Babbage’s Analytical EngineEngine
![Page 14: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Lady Augusta AdaCountess of LovelaceLady Augusta AdaCountess of Lovelace
Read Lady Augusta Ada’s translation of Menabrea’sSketch of the Analytical Engine
![Page 15: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Electro-mechanical computers
Electro-mechanical computers
FromFromHerman Hollerith’sHerman Hollerith’s
18901890Census Counting MachineCensus Counting Machine
to to Howard AikenHoward Aiken
and the Harvard Mark I (1944)and the Harvard Mark I (1944)
![Page 16: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Herman Hollerith and hisHerman Hollerith and hisCensus Tabulating Machine Census Tabulating Machine
(1884)(1884)
Herman Hollerith and hisHerman Hollerith and hisCensus Tabulating Machine Census Tabulating Machine
(1884)(1884)
![Page 17: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
A closer look at the Census A closer look at the Census Tabulating MachineTabulating Machine
A closer look at the Census A closer look at the Census Tabulating MachineTabulating Machine
![Page 18: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
The Harvard Mark I (1944)The Harvard Mark I (1944)aka IBM’s Automatic aka IBM’s Automatic Sequence Controlled Sequence Controlled
Calculator (ASCC)Calculator (ASCC)
The Harvard Mark I (1944)The Harvard Mark I (1944)aka IBM’s Automatic aka IBM’s Automatic Sequence Controlled Sequence Controlled
Calculator (ASCC)Calculator (ASCC)
![Page 19: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
The first computer bugThe first computer bugThe first computer bugThe first computer bugRear Admiral Dr. Grace Murray Hopper
![Page 20: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Electronic digital computers
Electronic digital computers
FromFromJohn Vincent Atanasoff’sJohn Vincent Atanasoff’s
19391939Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)
to to the present daythe present day
![Page 21: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Alan Turing1912-1954
Alan Turing1912-1954The Turing Machine
AkaThe Universal Machine
1936
![Page 22: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
John Vincent Atanasoff (1903-1995)John Vincent Atanasoff (1903-1995)
Physics ProfAt
Iowa StateUniversity,Ames, IA
![Page 23: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Clifford Berry (1918-1963)Clifford Berry (1918-1963)
PhD studentof
Dr. Atanasoff’s
![Page 24: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
19391939The Atanasoff-Berry Computer The Atanasoff-Berry Computer
(ABC)(ABC)
19391939The Atanasoff-Berry Computer The Atanasoff-Berry Computer
(ABC)(ABC)
The ABC was the first electronic digital computer, invented by John Vincent Atanasoff
![Page 25: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
19431943 Bletchley Park’s Colossus Bletchley Park’s Colossus
19431943 Bletchley Park’s Colossus Bletchley Park’s Colossus
The EnigmaMachine
![Page 26: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
19461946The ENIACThe ENIAC
19461946The ENIACThe ENIAC
John Presper Eckert(1919-1995)andJohn Mauchly(1907-1980)of theUniversity of Pennsylvania Moore School of Engineering
![Page 27: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
The ENIAC:The ENIAC:Electronic Numerical Electronic Numerical
Integrator and ComputerIntegrator and Computer
The ENIAC:The ENIAC:Electronic Numerical Electronic Numerical
Integrator and ComputerIntegrator and Computer
![Page 28: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Programming the ENIACProgramming the ENIACProgramming the ENIACProgramming the ENIAC
![Page 29: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
ENIAC’s ENIAC’s Wiring!Wiring!ENIAC’s ENIAC’s Wiring!Wiring!
John Von Neumann came up with the bright idea of using part of the computer’s internal memory (called Primary Memory) to “store” the program inside the computer
and have the computer go get the instructions from its own memory, just as
we do with our human brain.
John Von John Von NeumannNeumannJohn Von John Von NeumannNeumann
![Page 30: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
19511951UnivaUniva
cc
19511951UnivaUniva
ccTypical 1968 prices—EX-cluding maintenance & support!
![Page 31: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
“What hath God wrought!”(first telegraph message sent by Samuel Morse, 1844, 1844)
Electronic and computing technology quickly progressed—at an ever-accelerating pace—
from vacuum tubes (Lee de Forrest, the audion, 1907, the audion, 1907)to transistors (William Shockley et al. 1947). 1947)
to semiconductors (Jack Kilby & & Robert Noyce, 1958, 1958)to microprocessors (M.E. “Ted” Hoff, 1971, 1971)
to networking and the Internet (Vinton Cerf & & Robert Kahn, 1982, 1982]to the World Wide Web (Tim Berners-Lee, 1991, 1991)
and beyond…
Whatever next?…
“What hath God wrought!”(first telegraph message sent by Samuel Morse, 1844, 1844)
Electronic and computing technology quickly progressed—at an ever-accelerating pace—
from vacuum tubes (Lee de Forrest, the audion, 1907, the audion, 1907)to transistors (William Shockley et al. 1947). 1947)
to semiconductors (Jack Kilby & & Robert Noyce, 1958, 1958)to microprocessors (M.E. “Ted” Hoff, 1971, 1971)
to networking and the Internet (Vinton Cerf & & Robert Kahn, 1982, 1982]to the World Wide Web (Tim Berners-Lee, 1991, 1991)
and beyond…
Whatever next?…
![Page 32: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Acknowledgements (continued on next slide)Acknowledgements (continued on next slide)For one of the best written books on the history of computers, check out Engines of the Mind : The Evolution of the Computer from Mainframes to Microprocessors -- by Joel N. Shurkin (Paperback)
A movingly beautiful book on Alan Turing is Alan Turing: the Enigma, by Andrew Hodges
An excellent, readable book on Cryptography is Simon Singh’s THE CODE BOOK. The Secret History of Codes and Code-Breaking
Tutorials on the encryption software PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) can be found at http://www.pitt.edu/~poole/PGPintro.htm
All pictures and some of the information were obtained from various sites on the World Wide Web. Complete list follows:
Abacus: http://qi-journal.com/action.lasso?-Token.SearchID=Abacus&-Response=culture.aspNapier: http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Napier.html
http://www.maxmon.com/1600ad.htmSlide Rules: http://www.hpmuseum.org/sliderul.htmPascal’s Pascaline: http://www.thocp.net/hardware/pascaline.htmLeibnitz Stepped Reckoner: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepped_ReckonerJacquard looms: http://history.acusd.edu/gen/recording/jacquard1.html
http://www.deutsches-museum.de/ausstell/meister/e_web.htm
![Page 33: A Brief History of Computers By Bernard John Poole, MSIS Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062321/56649db15503460f94a9f837/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Acknowledgements (continued)Acknowledgements (continued)Charles Babbage: http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/Babbage.html
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/babbage/index.aspLady Augusta Ada, Countess of Lovelace: http://www.well.com/user/adatoole/bio.htm
http://www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/sketch.htmlElectricity: http://www.mediaeng.com/historyelect.html (beautifully written pocket history of
electricity & magnetism)Herman Hollerith: http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Hollerith.htmlHoward Aiken & The Harvard Mark I: http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Aiken.html
Alan Turing: http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Turing.htmlJohn Vincent Atanasoff: http://www.cs.iastate.edu/jva/books/mollenhoff/overview.shtmlBiographies of Atanasoff and Clifford Berry: http://www.scl.ameslab.gov/ABC/Biographies.htmlJ. Presper Eckert: http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Eckert_John.htmlJohn Mauchly: http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Mauchly.htmlThe patent controversy: http://www.library.upenn.edu/special/gallery/mauchly/jwm7.htmlARPANet: http://www.dei.isep.ipp.pt/docs/arpa.html
Thanks to the following EDTECH listserv colleagues and friends who have reviewed the presentation and provided amendments and additional material for inclusion on the slides and in the notes.
Nancy Head, online instructor, Michigan Virtual High School (MVHS), U.S.A., on the web at www.mivhs.org
Mandi Axmann, Instructional Designer, Open Universities Australia