Computing Basics

COMPUTING BASICS

Chapter 1
History of Computers

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Computing Basics
History of Computers

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

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Computing Basics
History of Computers

Definition of Computer
• Computer is a programmable machine.
• Computer is a machine that manipulates data
according to a list of instructions.
• Computer is any device which aids humans in
performing various kinds of computations or
calculations.

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Computing Basics
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.

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Computing Basics
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.

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Computing Basics
History of Computers

Tally Sticks
A tally stick was an ancient memory aid device to
record and document numbers, quantities, or even
messages.

Tally sticks

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Computing Basics
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.

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Computing Basics
History of Computers

Abacus

Earlier Abacus Modern Abacus

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Computing Basics
History of Computers

Napier’s Bones
• Invented by John Napier in
1614.
• Allowed the operator to
multiply, divide and
calculate square and cube
roots by moving the rods John Napier

around and placing them in

specially constructed boards.

Napier’s Bones

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Computing Basics
History of Computers
Slide Rule
• Invented by William Oughtred
in 1622.
• Is based on Napier's ideas
about logarithms.
• Used primarily for
– multiplication William Oughtred
– division
– roots
– logarithms
– Trigonometry
• Not normally used for addition
or subtraction. Slide Rule
Computing Basics
History of Computers

Pascaline
• Invented by Blaise Pascal in
1642.
• It was its limitation to addition
and subtraction.
• It is too expensive.
Blaise Pascal

Pascaline
Computing Basics
History of Computers
Stepped Reckoner
• Invented by Gottfried
Wilhelm Leibniz in 1672.
• The machine that can add,
subtract, multiply and divide
automatically.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

Stepped Reckoner
Computing Basics
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

Computing Basics
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 Thomas de Colmar

four basic mathematic functions.

• The first mass-produced
calculating machine.

Arithmometer
Computing Basics
History of Computers
Difference Engine and Analytical Engine
• It an automatic, mechanical calculator designed to
tabulate polynomial functions.
• Invented by Charles Babbage in 1822 and 1834
• It is the first mechanical computer.

Difference Analytical
Charles Babbage Engine Engine
Computing Basics
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

Computing Basics
History of Computers

Scheutzian Calculation
Engine
• Invented by Per Georg Scheutz in
1843.
• Based on Charles Babbage's
difference engine.
• The first printing calculator. Per Georg Scheutz

Scheutzian Calculation Engine

Computing Basics
History of Computers

Tabulating Machine
• Invented by Herman
Hollerith in 1890.
• To assist in summarizing
information and accounting.
Herman Hollerith

Tabulating Machine
Computing Basics
History of Computers
Havard Mark 1
• Also known as IBM Automatic
Sequence Controlled Calculator
(ASCC).
• Invented by Howard H. Aiken in
1943 Howard H. Aiken
• The first electro-mechanical
computer.

Mark 1
Computing Basics
History of Computers

Z1
• 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
Konrad Zuse
punch tape reader and all output
was also generated through punch
tape.

Z1
Computing Basics
History of Computers

Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)

• It was the first electronic digital computing device.
• Invented by Professor John Atanasoff and
graduate student Clifford Berry at Iowa State
University between 1939 and 1942.

Professor John Atanasoff Atanasoff-Berry Computer

Computing Basics
History of Computers

ENIAC
• ENIAC stands for Electronic
Numerical Integrator and
Computer.
• It was the first electronic
general-
purpose computer.
• Completed in 1946.
• Developed by John Presper
Eckert and John W. Mauchl. ENIAC
Computing Basics
History of Computers

UNIVAC 1
• The UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer 1)
was the first commercial computer.
• Designed by J. Presper Eckert and John
Mauchly.

UNIVAC 1
Computing Basics
History of Computers

EDVAC
• EDVAC stands for Electronic
Discrete Variable Automatic
Computer
• The First Stored Program
Computer
• Designed by Von Neumann in
1952. EDVAC
• It has a memory to hold both a
stored program as well as data.
Computing Basics
History of Computers

The First Portable Computer

• Osborne 1 – the first portable computer.
• Released in 1981 by the Osborne Computer
Corporation.

Osborne 1
Computing Basics
History of Computers

The First Computer Company

• The first computer company was the Electronic
Controls Company.
• Founded in 1949 by J. Presper Eckert and John
Mauchly.
Computing Basics
History of Computers

Computer Generations
There are five generations of computer:

• First generation – 1946 - 1958

• Second generation – 1959 - 1964
• Third generation – 1965 - 1970
• Fourth generation – 1971 - today
• Fifth generation – Today to future
Computing Basics
History of Computers
The First Generation
• The first computers used vacuum
tubes for circuitry and magnetic
drums for memory, and were often
enormous, taking up entire rooms.
• They were very expensive to operate and
in addition to using a great deal of
electricity, generated a lot of heat, which
was often the cause of malfunctions.

Vacuum tube
Computing Basics
History of Computers
The First Generation
• First generation computers relied on machine
language, the lowest-level programming language
understood by computers, to perform operations, and
they could only solve one problem at a time.
• Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and
output was displayed on printouts.
Computing Basics
History of Computers
The Second Generation
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and
ushered in the second generation of
computers.
• One transistor replaced the
equivalent of 40 vacuum tubes.
• Allowing computers to become
smaller, faster, cheaper, more
energy-efficient and more reliable.
• Still generated a great deal of heat Transistor
that can damage the computer.
Computing Basics
History of Computers
The Second Generation
• Second-generation computers moved from cryptic
binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly,
languages, which allowed programmers to specify
instructions in words.
• Second-generation computers still relied on punched
cards for input and printouts for output.
• These were also the first computers that stored their
instructions in their memory, which moved from a
magnetic drum to magnetic core technology.
Computing Basics
History of Computers
The Third Generation
• The development of the integrated
circuit was the hallmark of the third
generation of computers.
• Transistors were miniaturized and
placed on silicon chips, called
semiconductors, which drastically
increased the speed and efficiency of
computers.
• Much smaller and cheaper compare to Integrated Circuit
the second generation computers.
• It could carry out instructions in
billionths of a second.
Computing Basics
History of Computers

The Third Generation

• Users interacted with third generation computers
through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an
operating system, which allowed the device to run many
different applications at one time with a central program
that monitored the memory.
• Computers for the first time became accessible to a
mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper
than their predecessors.
Computing Basics
History of Computers
The Fourth Generation
• The microprocessor brought the
fourth generation of computers, as
thousands of integrated circuits were
built onto a single silicon chip.
• As these small computers became
more powerful, they could be linked
together to form networks, which
eventually led to the development of
the Internet. Microprocessor

• Fourth generation computers also

saw the development of GUIs, the
mouse and handheld devices.
Computing Basics
History of Computers

The Fifth Generation

• Based on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Still in development.
• The use of parallel processing and superconductors is
helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.
• The goal is to develop devices that respond to natural
language input and are capable of learning and self-
organization.
• There are some applications, such as voice
recognition, that are being used today.