1

Evolution of the computer

Calculating devices were created long time ago. Abacus is considered as the first calculating
device in the world. It was created by Chinese people in 3000BC. All the calculating devices are
mechanical devices in those days. The devices based on the mechanical technology are
considered as in 0th generation.
After the invention of the electricity people have created electro-mechanical relays. Then the
computers are made using the electro-mechanical relays. These computers are also under the 0th
generation. They are called electro mechanical computers.
With the invention of the Vacuum tube the subject electronic was introduces. The electronic
computers are made using vacuum tubes are considered in the First Generation.
The most important invention in the 20th century was the invention of the transistor. The
computers made using transistors are considered as the Second Generation.
Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby made the first integrated circuit. The computers made using
integrated circuits are considered in the Third Generation.

Major Milestones in computer history can be described as follows:

1. First calculating device was the abacus. It was created in 3000BC by Chinese people. It is
still used in some parts of the world.

2. In 1617, John Napier introduces logarithms. To access logarithms data quickly he wrote
them on ivory stripes. They are called Napier’s Bones.

3. In 1632, John Napier introduced the slide ruler.

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 2

4. In 1642, Blasé Pascal introduced the first mechanical calculator. It can perform additions
and subtractions. The device is called Pascaline.

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 3

5. In 1674, The German scientist Gottfried Wilhelm improved the Pascaline to perform all the
arithmetic calculations. The device is called Stepped Reckoner.

6. Data input,output was done by Punch Cards in those days. It was introduced by Joseph
Jacquard.

7. In 1822, Charles Babbage invented the Difference engine. It can perform only addition and
subtraction.

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 4

8. In 1830, Charles Babbage invented the Analytical Engine. It can perform all arithmetic
calculations and store data.

9. Charles Babbage introduced the Abstract Model Of Information with this analytical engine.
So, he is considered as the father of the computer. This abstract model of information is
still used in today’s computers.
10. The Computer Programs for the analytical engine was written by Ada Augusta.

11. Howard Aiken who was a professor in university of Harvard, made a computer using
electromagnetic relays. The machine was called Automated Sequence Controlled
Calculator or Mark I.

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 5

12. In 1904, British Physicist and an electrical engineer John Ambrose Fleming invented the
Vacuum tube with two connectors.

13. In 1906, Lee De Frost improved the vacuum tube and connected three connectors. This
invention is considered as the birth of the subject electronics.

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 6

14. In 1890, Herman Hollerith made the Tabulating machine (Electro Mechanical Computer).
It was used for processing and analyzing data in US Census in those days.

15. In 1949, the first general purpose digital computer ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator
and Computer) was created in the University of Pennsylvania by John Mauchly and John
Presper Eckert. This ENIAC was the first digital computer which acquire the patent rights.

16. Bulgarian scientist John V Atonasoff (Professor) and Clifford Berry invented the first digital
computer. It was created in the period 1939 to 1945 but the ENIAC computer got the patent
right before the ABC computer So, ENIAC computer is considered as the world’s first
multipurpose digital computer.

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 7

17. In 1945, John Von Neuman introduced stored program concept with the EDVAC computer.
EDSAC computer is considered as the second stored program computer.

18. In 1950, Remington Rand introduce the first commercial computer UNIVAC I. Programs for
this UNIVAC I was created by Grace Hopper. She introduced the word “bug” for the errors
in the computer program.
Locating and correcting such error is considered as debugging.

19. In 1957, IBM introduced IBM 704 computer.

20. In 1948, The transistor was invented in Bell laboratories in United States. John Bardeen,
Walter Brattain and William Shockley are the inventors of the transistor.

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 8

21. In 1958, Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby introduced the Integrated circuit.

22. In 1975, MIT introduced Altair 8800 computer it is a Micro Computer.

23. In 1976, Apple introduced a microcomputer.
24. In 1981, IBM introduced first personal computer. The microprocessor was created by Intel.
The operating system was written by Microsoft (MS DOS).
25. Intel, AMD, Motorola are the major microprocessor manufactures in the world. Intel is the
largest microprocessor manufacturer.

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 9

26. In 1984, Apple introduces Macintosh with graphical user interface.

27. Father of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence is Alan Turing.
28. Father of the Information Technology in Sri Lankan is Professor V.K.Samaranayake.

Computer Generations

0th Generation
• Mechanical and electromechanical technologies were used.
• Gear wheels and electromagnetic relays were used.
• Some computers were powered by steam.
Example: Abacus, Analytical engine, Difference engine, Pascaline.
1st Generation
• Vacuum tubes were used for the internal operations.
• The main memory was created by magnetic drums.
• Machine languages were used. (low level)
• Punch cards were used for input and output.
• Power consumption, heat emission, size is very high.
• Reliability is low.
• Input output is very slow.
Examples: ENIAC, Univac 1, EDVAC, EDSAC

2nd Generation
• Transistors were used for internal operations.
• Assembly languages were used.
• The main memory was created by magnetic cores.
• Magnetic tapes and magnetic disks were used for secondary storage.
• Memory capacity, processing power is higher than earlier generations.
• Power consumption, heat emission and size are reduced compared to the earlier
generations.
Examples: IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 1604, CDC 3600
3rd Generation
• Integrated circuits were used for the internal operations.
• Software industry was started.
• Size, manufacturing cost, heat emission was reduced.
• Speed, memory, capacity, reliability was increased.
Examples : IBM 360, IBM 370, Honey well 6000 series

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 10

4th Generation
• Today’s computers are considered in the 4th generation.
• Microprocessors were used for internal operations.
• Personal computers and super computers are introduced.
• Parallel processing was introduced.
Examples: personal computers, desktops, laptops, tablet pcs

5th Generation
• Computers in future is considered in the fifth generation.
• They are computers with artificial intelligence.
• The artificial intelligence is used in modern devices but scientists are trying to make
intelligent computers similar to human beings in future.

Classification of Computers

Computers can be classified by using below criteria.

1. Size and the capability
2. Purpose
3. Technology used

1. Size and the capability

❖ Super computers
• Super computers are the computers with the highest processing power.
• They are used for special tasks such as defense, aircraft designing, computer
generated movies, processing satellite photographs for weather forecasting
etc.
• Specially used for scientific calculations.
• Not used for commercial data processing.

Examples: IBM Blue Gene, IBM Road Runners, Cray 1, Cray 2, Cray 3

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 11

❖ Mainframe Computers
• Old computer type. Not used in today.
• Very popular in 1960s and 70s.
• Can provide services up to 1000 terminals.
• Used by large organizations.
• Magnetic tapes and magnetic disks were used for the secondary memory.
• Used for scientific data processing and commercial data processing.
o Airline reservations, processing banking transactions.
o Processing employee’s salary data in large organizations.
o Processing data in insurance companies are the major
applications.
Examples: IBM 704, IBM ES 9000

❖ Mini Computers/ Midrange Computers

• Mini computers are smaller than main frame computers.
• They can provide services to around 10-12 terminals.
• Unix was the main operating system used by small & medium size
organizations.
• The main manufacture of the mini computers was Digital Equipment Co-
operation (DEC).
Examples: PDP 1, PDP 8, PDP 11
❖ Micro Computers
• The personal computers used for day today activities can be considered as
microcomputers.
Examples: Desktop, Laptop

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)
 12

2. Purpose
❖ General Purpose Computers
These computers are not specially designed for one particular purpose. Any type of user
can buy a computer and install the software packages according to his requirements.
E.g.: Personal Computers
❖ Special Purpose Computers
These Computers are specially designed for a particular purpose
E.g – super computer analyzing satellite photographs for weather forecasting

3. Technology Used

❖ Analog Computers
• Computers operating with continuously varying data can be considered as
analog computers.
• They are very fast but not so accurate.
❖ Digital Computers
Computers dealing with discrete data are considered as digital computers.
They are based on the binary number system. Today’s computes are under this
category.
❖ Hybrid Computers
Computers using both digital and analog technologies are considered as hybrid
computers.

Pubudu Wijekoon
B.Sc. Sp. (Hons) in IT (SLIIT), M.Sc. in Computer Science (University of Peradeniya)