"Who controls the past commands the future. Who commands the future conquers the past."

-George Orwell

Video to Accompany Slide Show: “Thinking Machines, The Creation of the Computer – The History Channel

Computer--An electronic device that accepts Computer--An electronic device that accepts information, processes it according to information, processes it according to

specific instructions, and provides results as specific instructions, and provides results as new information.new information.

JOHN NAPIER 1614JOHN NAPIER 1614Developer of the logarithm, Napier invented a Developer of the logarithm, Napier invented a

system of moveable rods called NAPIER”S system of moveable rods called NAPIER”S RODS. These rods could be used to multiply, RODS. These rods could be used to multiply,

divide, and do square and cube roots.divide, and do square and cube roots.

Blaise Pascal is credited with the Blaise Pascal is credited with the invention of the first operational invention of the first operational calculating machine in 1642. It calculating machine in 1642. It could only add and subtract. could only add and subtract. Pascal invented his machine to aid Pascal invented his machine to aid in collection of taxes for French in collection of taxes for French governmentgovernment

Joseph Marie Jacquard 1810Joseph Marie Jacquard 1810 Jacquard invented the punch card to use with his Jacquard invented the punch card to use with his

weaving loomweaving loom

Charles Babbage 1820’sCharles Babbage 1820’s

Known to some as the "Father of Computing" for his contributions to the basic design of the computer through his Analytical machine. Babbage utilized Jacquard’s punch card to store information.

Babbage’s Analytical EngineBabbage’s Analytical Engine Babbage’s design Babbage’s design

was to serve as a was to serve as a model for the early model for the early modern computer. modern computer. Babbage’s machines Babbage’s machines were considered too were considered too complex to be built. complex to be built. Technology available Technology available at the time was at the time was unable to construct unable to construct precision parts precision parts needed.needed.

Countess Ada Countess Ada Augusta BryonAugusta Bryon, the , the daughter of Lord daughter of Lord Byron. A Byron. A mathematician in her mathematician in her own right, she own right, she worked closely with worked closely with Babbage, planned his Babbage, planned his computational computational problems, and has problems, and has been been called the called the world's first world's first programmerprogrammer..

The Tabulating MachineThe Tabulating Machine

In 1880’s In 1880’s Herman HollerithHerman Hollerith was was hired to develop a faster way to hired to develop a faster way to compile the U. S. Census. The 1880 compile the U. S. Census. The 1880 census had taken 7 years to census had taken 7 years to complete. Hollerith used punch cards complete. Hollerith used punch cards to store and sort information and used to store and sort information and used electricity rather than mechanical electricity rather than mechanical gears. As a result the 1890 census gears. As a result the 1890 census took only 6 weeks to finish. took only 6 weeks to finish.

Hollerith’s Punch Card MachineHollerith’s Punch Card MachineHerman Hollerith’s company later became Herman Hollerith’s company later became

IBMIBM

Mark I 1930’s Programmable CalculatorMark I 1930’s Programmable CalculatorThis calculator was not really a computer because This calculator was not really a computer because

it could not make decisions about the data it it could not make decisions about the data it processed.processed.

ABC ComputerABC ComputerAtanasoff Berry “Computer”Atanasoff Berry “Computer”

Developed 1939-Developed 1939-1942 first working 1942 first working digital computer. digital computer. Did not make Did not make decisions so not a decisions so not a true computertrue computer

Developers-John Developers-John Atanasoff and Atanasoff and Clifford BerryClifford Berry

First generation of computersFirst generation of computers1943-19591943-1959

Development accelerated during Development accelerated during WWII. Military needed computers for WWII. Military needed computers for targeting artillerytargeting artillery

Based on Based on vacuum tubes, punch vacuum tubes, punch cards and wire circuitscards and wire circuits

These computers very large, difficult These computers very large, difficult to use, and frequently broke down to use, and frequently broke down

Vacuum tubeVacuum tube

These devises These devises generated large generated large amounts of heat amounts of heat and burned out and burned out

often making the often making the computer computer unreliable.unreliable.

ENIAC 1943-46The First Electronic Computer developed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert could do 100,000 calculations per second. The ENIAC was as large as 3 bedroom house and used over 17,000 vacuum tubes.

The ENIAC had 2 weakness--difficult to change its instructions and unreliable.

Grace HopperGrace Hopper

In 1946, she traced an In 1946, she traced an error in the Mark II to a error in the Mark II to a moth trapped in a relay, moth trapped in a relay, coining the term coining the term bugbug. .

Sponsored development Sponsored development of COBOL (common-of COBOL (common-business-oriented-business-oriented-language). First language language). First language to use words rather than to use words rather than numbers to communicate numbers to communicate with computer.with computer.

First computer bugFirst computer bug

John von NeumannJohn von Neumann

Developed the idea Developed the idea of storing computer of storing computer instructions in a instructions in a central central processing unit or processing unit or CPU.CPU.

His basic design has His basic design has not changed since not changed since the mid 1940’sthe mid 1940’s

Based on von Neumann’s concepts, all Based on von Neumann’s concepts, all computers process data by carrying out four computers process data by carrying out four specific activities:specific activities: 1. Input data1. Input data 2. Store data while 2. Store data while

being processed.being processed. 3. Process data 3. Process data

according to according to specific specific instructions.instructions.

4. Output the 4. Output the results in the form results in the form of new data.of new data.

UNIVAC 1951UNIVAC 1951The The first commercial use of the computerfirst commercial use of the computer. .

GE purchased 2nd Univac to use for payroll and GE purchased 2nd Univac to use for payroll and record keeping. The first Univac was sold to record keeping. The first Univac was sold to

the US government to use in the census.the US government to use in the census.

In 1952 the Univac was used to predict the results of the presidential election less than an hour after the polls closed. However, the prediction was considered too unreliable to broadcast.

1958 First Computer Game1958 First Computer GamePONG invented at Brookhaven Laboratories. Use to demonstrate what a computer could do at a science show. Not sold to public until early 1970’s.

Second Generation-1959-1964Second Generation-1959-1964

The transistor replaced the vacuum tube and resulted in smaller, faster, more reliable machines. Computer languages Fortran and Cobol developed allowing the use of English like commands.

IBM Punch Card 1950’s-1960’sIBM Punch Card 1950’s-1960’s

Third Generation--1964-1972Third Generation--1964-1972

The integrated circuit replaces the transistor. Once more computers become smaller, faster, cheaper. Computing becomes available to smaller companies.

Mini Computer Late 1960’sMini Computer Late 1960’s The PDP-8 was the first The PDP-8 was the first

commercially successful commercially successful minicomputer. It was minicomputer. It was built by DEC (Digital built by DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) Equipment Corporation) in Maynard, Mass., and in Maynard, Mass., and sold for $18,000, a sold for $18,000, a bargain compared to the bargain compared to the IBM 360, the preeminent IBM 360, the preeminent business computer of business computer of the day. The PDP-8 the day. The PDP-8 could operate at room could operate at room temperature, avoiding temperature, avoiding the need for a special the need for a special cold-room. Term cold-room. Term minicomputer inspired minicomputer inspired by mini skirt)by mini skirt)

December 9, 1968 December 9, 1968 Inventor Douglas Engelbart Inventor Douglas Engelbart

unveiled the computer mouseunveiled the computer mouse

Didn’t become popular until 1984 when attached to the Apple Macintosh

1968-69 1968-69 ARPANET ARPANET

http://millennium.cs.ucla.edu/LK/Inet/birth.html

ARA the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) - which was created in 1958 as the US response to Sputnik - became interested in networks. Scientists would be able to share a smaller number of computers if these computers were connected together by means of a data network. The Internet evolves from this idea.

Fourth Generation 1972- Fourth Generation 1972- presentpresent

The microprocessor characterizes this generation. The personal computer evolves and computing available to public.

Altair 8800-1975Altair 8800-1975The first home computerThe first home computer

Cost $397Only 256 bytes of memory

. . In 1975 Gates drops out of Harvard In 1975 Gates drops out of Harvard and founds Microsoft with Paul Allen.and founds Microsoft with Paul Allen.

Paul Allen and Bill Gates write first computer language ( a form of BASIC) for personal computer.

Source Microsoft

1976 Steve Wozniak and Steve 1976 Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs found Apple ComputerJobs found Apple Computer

Source Apple Computer

November 20, 1985 November 20, 1985 Microsoft begins the retailMicrosoft begins the retail

shipment of Microsoft Windows.shipment of Microsoft Windows.

Cray Super Computer

Fifth Generation?? Fifth Generation??

Some people think the fifth generation of computers will have artificial intelligence like the computer HAL from 2001 Space Odyssey

http://www.palantir.net/2001/

Pictures and Information Pictures and Information (except where noted) (except where noted)

provided from provided from Virtual Computer Museum Virtual Computer Museum

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