Scribd
Upload
21 views3 pages

Computer History

The document outlines the evolution of computing devices from early tools like the abacus and Antikythera Mechanism to modern advancements in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. It categorizes the development of computers into distinct generations, highlighting key inventions such as the ENIAC, microprocessors, and the rise of personal computers. The timeline reflects significant technological milestones from ancient times to the present day, showcasing the progression of computing technology.

Uploaded by

quicherice
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
21 views3 pages

Computer History

The document outlines the evolution of computing devices from early tools like the abacus and Antikythera Mechanism to modern advancements in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. It categorizes the development of computers into distinct generations, highlighting key inventions such as the ENIAC, microprocessors, and the rise of personal computers. The timeline reflects significant technological milestones from ancient times to the present day, showcasing the progression of computing technology.

Uploaded by

quicherice
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

I.

Early Computing Devices (Before 1800s)


1.​ Abacus (c. 3000 BCE) – A simple counting tool using beads on rods.
2.​ Antikythera Mechanism (c. 100 BCE) – An ancient Greek device used to predict
astronomical positions.
3.​ Pascaline (1642) – A mechanical calculator invented by Blaise Pascal.
4.​ Jacquard Loom (1801) – A loom that used punched cards to automate weaving
patterns, an early form of programming.

II. Mechanical and Electromechanical


Computers (1800s – 1930s)
1.​ Difference Engine (1822) – A mechanical calculator designed by Charles Babbage to
compute polynomial functions.
2.​ Analytical Engine (1837) – A general-purpose mechanical computer designed by
Babbage; included concepts like loops and conditional branching.
3.​ Hollerith Tabulating Machine (1890) – Used punched cards to process census data;
created by Herman Hollerith.

III. First Generation Computers (1940s –


1950s) – Vacuum Tubes
1.​ Vacuum Tube – An electronic component that controls electric current flow; used as the
first computing switches.
2.​ ENIAC (1945) – The first general-purpose, fully electronic digital computer.
3.​ UNIVAC I (1951) – The first commercially available computer in the U.S.
4.​ Stored Program Concept – Developed by John von Neumann, allowing programs to be
stored in memory instead of being manually rewired.
IV. Second Generation Computers (1950s
– 1960s) – Transistors
1.​ Transistor (1947, widely used in 1950s) – A semiconductor device that replaced
vacuum tubes, making computers smaller and more reliable.
2.​ IBM 1401 (1959) – One of the first widely used business computers.
3.​ COBOL & FORTRAN (1950s) – Early high-level programming languages developed.

V. Third Generation Computers (1960s –


1970s) – Integrated Circuits (ICs)
1.​ Integrated Circuit (1958) – A chip containing multiple transistors, developed by Jack
Kilby and Robert Noyce.
2.​ Minicomputers (1960s – 1970s) – Smaller, cheaper computers used by businesses and
research institutions.
3.​ The Birth of Software Industry – Companies started creating operating systems and
applications.

VI. Fourth Generation Computers (1970s –


1990s) – Microprocessors & Personal
Computers
1.​ Microprocessor (1971) – A complete CPU on a single chip; the Intel 4004 was the first.
2.​ Personal Computers (PCs) (1970s – 1980s) – The rise of computers for individual
users, such as:
○​ Altair 8800 (1975) – A DIY computer kit that inspired hobbyists.
○​ Apple I & II (1976-1977) – Created by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, one of the
first home computers.
○​ IBM PC (1981) – Standardized personal computing with MS-DOS.
3.​ Graphical User Interface (GUI) (1980s) – Made computers easier to use, popularized
by Apple’s Macintosh (1984) and Microsoft Windows (1985).

VII. Fifth Generation Computers (1990s –


Present) – AI, Internet, and Mobile
Computing
1.​ Internet & World Wide Web (1990s) – Tim Berners-Lee developed the first web
browser and server.
2.​ Laptops & Mobile Devices (2000s) – Computing becomes portable.
3.​ Cloud Computing (2010s) – Services like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure
provide online data storage and computing power.
4.​ Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Quantum Computing (2020s – Future) – AI-powered
applications and the development of quantum processors push computing into new
frontiers.

You might also like