History of Computers: From Tally Sticks to Artificial Intelligence, Lecture notes of Computer Fundamentals

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CSCA

COMPUTING BASICS

Chapter 1

History of Computers

History of Computers

Topics

1. Definition of computer
2. Earliest computer
3. Computer History
4. Computer Generations

History of Computers

Definition of Computer

Three principles characteristic of computer:

• It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well- defined manner.
• It can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions.
• It can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of data.

History of Computers

Earliest Computer

• Originally calculations were computed by humans, whose job title was computers.
• These human computers were typically engaged in the calculation of a mathematical expression.
• The calculations of this period were specialized and expensive, requiring years of training in mathematics.
• The first use of the word "computer" was recorded in 1613, referring to a person who carried out calculations, or computations, and the word continued to be used in that sense until the middle of the 20th century.

History of Computers

Abacus

• An abacus is a mechanical device used to aid an individual in performing mathematical calculations.
• The abacus was invented in Babylonia in 2400 B.C.
• The abacus in the form we are most familiar with was first used in China in around 500 B.C.
• It used to perform basic arithmetic operations.

History of Computers

Abacus

Earlier Abacus Modern Abacus

History of Computers

Slide Rule

• Invented by William Oughtred in 1622.
• Is based on Napier's ideas about logarithms.
• Used primarily for
  • multiplication
  • division
  • roots
  • logarithms
  • Trigonometry
• Not normally used for addition or subtraction.

William Oughtred

Slide Rule

History of Computers

Pascaline

• Invented by Blaise Pascal in
• It was its limitation to addition and subtraction.
• It is too expensive. (^) Blaise Pascal

Pascaline

History of Computers

Jacquard Loom

• The Jacquard loom is a mechanical loom, invented by Joseph-Marie Jacquard in 1881.
• It an automatic loom controlled by punched cards.

Joseph-Marie Jacquard Jacquard Loom

History of Computers

Arithmometer

• A mechanical calculator invented by Thomas de Colmar in 1820,
• The first reliable, useful and commercially successful calculating machine.
• The machine could perform the four basic mathematic functions.
• The first mass-produced calculating machine.

Thomas de Colmar

Arithmometer

History of Computers

First Computer Programmer

• In 1840, Augusta Ada Byron suggests to Babbage that he use the binary system.
• She writes programs for the Analytical Engine.

Augusta Ada Byron

History of Computers

Scheutzian Calculation Engine

• Invented by Per Georg Scheutz in
• Based on Charles Babbage's difference engine.
• The first printing calculator. Per Georg Scheutz

Scheutzian Calculation Engine

History of Computers

Havard Mark 1

• Also known as IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator (ASCC).
• Invented by Howard H. Aiken in 1943
• The first electro-mechanical computer.

Howard H. Aiken

Mark 1

History of Computers

Z

• The first programmable computer.
• Created by Konrad Zuse in Germany from 1936 to 1938.
• To program the Z1 required that the user insert punch tape into a punch tape reader and all output was also generated through punch tape.

Konrad Zuse

Z