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Computer History

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5 views3 pages

Computer History

Uploaded by

kalpana purohit
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UNIT-1: COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS

Evolution of Computers
 Abacus
Abacus was discovered by the Mesopotamians in around 3000 BC. An abacus
consisted of beads on movable rods divided into two parts. (Fig-1) Addition
and multiplication of numbers was done by using the place value of digits of
the numbers and position of beads in an abacus. The Chinese further improved
on the abacus so that calculations could be done more easily. Even today
abacus is considered as an apt tool for young children to do calculations.

 Napier’s Logs and Bones


The idea of logarithm was developed by John Napier in 1617. He devised a set of numbering rods
known as Napier’s Bones through which both multiplication and division could be performed.

 Pascaline
 Blaise Pascal invented the first mechanical adding machine in 1642
 Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented the first calculator for multiplication in 1671
 Keyboard machines originated in the United States around 1880

 Around 1880, Herman Hollerith came up with the concept of punched cards that were
extensively used as input media until late 1970s

 Charles Babbage is considered to be the father of modern digital computers


 He designed “Difference Engine” in 1822
 He designed a fully automatic analytical engine in 1842 for performing basic arithmetic
functions
 His efforts established a number of principles that are fundamental to the design of any
digital computer. It included the concept of central processor, memory storage and input-
output devices. Even the stored information could be modified but Babbage established
the basic principles on which today’s modern computers work.

Some Well Known Early Computers

 The Mark I Computer (1937-44)


 The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (1939-42)
 The ENIAC (1943-46)  first electronic computer
 The EDVAC (1946-52)
 The EDSAC (1947-49)
 Manchester Mark I (1948)
 The UNIVAC I (1951)

GENERATION OF COMPUTER

 “Generation” in computer talk is a step in technology. It


provides a framework for the growth of computer industry
 Originally it was used to distinguish between various hardware
technologies, but now it has been extended to include both
hardware and software
 Till today, there are five computer generations

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