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Evolution of Computers

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37 views17 pages

Evolution of Computers

Uploaded by

Ashutosh Baboo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EVOLUTION OF

COMPUTERS
Introduction
We all use computers in our daily
lives for a variety of reasons.
Computers are now portable and
affordable, but once, there was a
time when a computer used to
take up an entire room’s space,
and only a few of them existed in
this world.
In this article, you will learn about
the evolution of computers that
spans centuries, marked by
Abacus (c. 2700 BC)
When you were kids, you
must have owned an abacus
on which you learned basic
mathematical skills. Did you
know that the abacus
originated in ancient
Mesopotamia and is one of
the earliest known computing
devices? It consisted of
beads on rods and was used
for basic arithmetic
calculations.
We all know that computers work
through an interaction of hardware
and software. The whole
transformation and advancement of
the computer goes back decades.
However, there are five apparent
generations of computers.
Each generation is defined by a
paramount technological
development that changed how
computers operate. Let’s start
discovering!
First Generation – Vacuum
Tubes (1940 – 1956)
Did you know that the 1930s
marked the beginning of
calculating machines, considered
the first programmable
computers? Who knew that
computers were this old?
Konrad Zuse created what became
known as the first programmable
computer, the Z1, in 1936 in his
parent’s living room in Berlin. You
can see in the picture below just
The 1940s saw the emergence of electronic computers,
including the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Computer) and the EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable
Automatic Computer). These machines used vacuum tubes
and punched cards for data processing. In the picture
attached below, you can see a scientist using ENIAC for
These first-gen computers relied on ‘machine language’ (which is the
most fundamental programming language that computers can
understand).
These computers were limited to solving one problem at a time. Input
was predicated on punched cards and paper tape. Output emerged on
printouts.
Second Generation – Transistors (1956 – 1963)

In 1947, the invention of the transistor by Bell Labs revolutionized


computing. Transistors replaced bulky vacuum tubes, making computers
smaller, faster, and more reliable.
101
Second-gen computers still count on punched cards for input/printouts. In
the above image, you can see two computer engineers working on a
computer transistor.
The language emerged from a binary language to a symbolic (‘assembly’)
language. This meant programmers could discover instructions in words.
Until 1965, computers were only used by mathematicians and engineers in a
lab setting. Programma 101 changed everything by offering the general
public a desktop computer that anyone could use. The 65-pound machine
was the size of a typewriter and had 37 keys and a printer built-in. Can you
imagine yourself using this machine?
Some say that this invention
solidified the idea of a personal
computer!!!
Third Generation – Integrated Circuits (1964 –
1971)
Third-generation computers started using integrated circuits instead of
transistors. Do not get overwhelmed by the new vocabulary! Just know that IC
is a hardware component of a computer. Technically, the integrated circuit (IC)
is a semiconductor material that contains thousands of transistors.

Because of IC, the computer becomes more reliable and fast, requires less
maintenance, is small in size, is more affordable, and generates less heat.
You can see in the image above how multiple IC racks are used to power a
computer.
The third generation computers significantly reduce the computational
time. In the second generation, the computational time was microsecond,
which was decreased to the nanosecond.
In this generation, punch cards were replaced by mouse and keyboard.
The Xerox Alto was created in the ’70s as a personal computer that could print documents and send
emails. What was most notable about the computer was its design, which included a mouse,
keyboard, and screen.
Did you know that the picture of the Xerorx Alto attached above influenced Apple’s designs in the
following decade?

Fourth Generation – Microprocessors (1972 – 2010)


Intel’s 4004 microprocessor marked a pivotal moment in computing history. It was the world’s first
commercially available microprocessor and laid the groundwork for the personal computer
revolution.
Fun activity: Do you have an Intel processor inside your computer? If yes, then which
version?
When Steve Jobs introduced the first Macintosh computer in 1984, Consumer Reports
called it a “dazzling display of technical wizardry.”

The release of the IBM Personal Computer, powered by


Microsoft’s MS-DOS operating system, marked the
beginning of the personal computer era. It set industry
standards and paved the way for the advancements of PCs.
The iMac G3 was launched in 1998 and quickly became
known for its Bondi blue, clear casing. The 38-pound iMac
included USB ports, a keyboard, and a mouse. It was meant
to be portable and customizable. In the picture below, you
can see how cute the iMac G3 looked!!
Fun fact of the day: The iMac was the first time Apple used the “I” to name its products, explaining it stood for
“internet,” “innovation,” and “individuality.”
Honorable shout-outs to 2 other major technological advancements that improved the computer world:
• World Wide Web (1991)
Tim Berners-Lee’s invention of the World Wide Web revolutionized communication and information access. The
web made the internet user-friendly and accessible to the masses.
• Mobile Computing (2000s-Present)
The advent of smartphones and tablets transformed computing into a
complete mobile experience, with powerful handheld devices becoming
integral to daily life.

Fifth Generation – Artificial Intelligence


(2010 Onwards)
This is the computer generation that we use. We know that computer devices
with artificial intelligence technology are still in development.
Still, some of these technologies are emerging and being used, such as voice
recognition or ChatGPT. AI is an authenticity made possible by adopting
parallel processing and superconductors. In the future, computers will be
revolutionized again by quantum computation, molecular, and
nanotechnology.
In 2019, Google claimed to have achieved “quantum supremacy” by
performing a calculation on its quantum computer that would take even
the most advanced classical supercomputers thousands of years to
complete.
Today’s most innovative computers are tablets and iPads, which are
simple touchscreens without a keyboard, mouse, or a separate CPU.

Today’s computer market is also filled with other computer


models, including the MacBook Pro, iMac, Dell XPS, and iPhones.
Which computer model do you have?
Conclusion
You have just witnessed the remarkable journey of the
evolution of computers. From ancient counting devices to
quantum computers, each era has built upon past
innovations, reshaping how we live, work, and
communicate.
What have you learned from the history of computers? Is it
the technological progress or human commitment to
pushing the boundaries of what’s possible?
Together, let’s continue to unlock the wonders of the
computer universe and build a digital world brimming with
innovation and excitement! Happy Learning!

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