History of Computers - Mr. Evans - LHS

What are the four functions of a computer?

Input, Output, Process, Save/Store

Disadvantages of the 3rd Generation

Integrated circuits are very complicated to make

Integrated Circuit

Jack Kirby designed the integrated circuit. A circuit is a tiny chip that contains thousands of tiny circuits. Integrated circuits are about the size of a fingernail and are made from silicone (hard plastic). They allow electricity to flow throughout the computer.

Mark I (1944)

Mark I (1944) - This was the very first electronic computer. It was designed by Howard Aiken and Grace Hopper. It could automatically solve differential equations and prepare mathematical tables.

1st Generation of Computers

Time Period: 1940- 1956 Inventor: Le De Forest Main Processing Device: Vacuum Tubes

2nd Generation of Computers

Time Period: 1956-1963 Inventor: William Shockley Main Processing Device: Transistor

Disadvantages of the 1st Generation

Very large in size, vacuum tubes burned out frequently, produced a lot of heat, there were many maintenance problems.

Atanasoff Berry Computer

Built during 1939 - 1942 at Iowa State by Prof. John V. Atanasoff and graduate student Clifford Berry. Represented several "firsts" in computing, including a binary system of arithmetic, parallel processing, regenerative memory, separation of memory and computing functions, and more. Weighed 750 lbs. and had a memory storage of 3,000 bits (0.4K). Recorded numbers by scorching marks into cards as it worked through a problem.

Charles Babbage (1830)

Charles Babbage - He is known as the "Father of Computers." He developed the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine. These two machines were powered by steam to move the punch cards and operate the gears. His ideas were later used to design calculators and computers.

Electronical Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)

Electronical Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) - This was the first all-electric computer. John Eckert and John Mauchly developed the ENIAC in 1946. It was very large and consumed a large amount of electricity. It was not used after 1955.

Herman Hollerith

Herman Hollerith - He invented the "Tabulating Machine." The Tabulating Machine used punch cards to store information. It was later used to tabulate the U.S. Census.

John Napier

John Napier - He developed "Napier's Rods." It was a calculator made from rods. It allowed people to multiple numbers faster.

3rd Generation of Computers

Time Period: 1964-1971 Inventors Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce Main Processing Device: Intergrated Circuits (IC's) Storage Media Floppy Disc

4th Generation of Computers

Time Period: 1971- Present Inventor: Tedd Hoff Main Processing Device: Microprocessors Storage Media: Floppies and CD's

5th Generation of Computers

Time Period: Present and Beyond Main Processing Device: Artificial Intelligence (not developed) Storage Device: Video Disc

5th Generation Goal

To make devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning self-organization

Transistors

Transistors replaced the use of vacuum tubes. They controlled the flow of electricity in and out of the computer. They were much more reliable than the vacuum tubes. They are smaller, cheaper, more reliable, and give off less heat. They are also the building block of circuitry.

Abacus

Abacus - This is considered to be the first calculating device. The Chinese developed it in the year 2600 B.C.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates - He created the computer language known as "Windows." He also made the Personal Computer (PC) popular by bringing it over from Japan. Founder of Microsoft.

Advantages of the 4th Generation

Compact, less power consumption, and production cost was cheap

Advantages of the 3rd Generation

Much smaller in size, improved performance, and production cost was cheap

Disadvantages of the 2nd Generation

Overheated quickly, maintenance problems

Advantages of the 2nd Generation

Size reduced, very fast, much more reliable

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs - He developed the very first Apple computer from his garage.

Vacuum Tubes

were used to amplify or create an electrical signal by controlling the movement of electrons in a low-pressure space. 1st computers to form digital computations.

Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal - He was a mathematician who developed the "Pascaline." This was the first mechanical adding machine. The Pascaline was a wooden box that could add and subtract by using a series of gears and wheels.

What is the purpose of a slide rule?

Calculations

Joseph Marie Jacquard

Invented a power loom that read wooden cards (1801) Joseph Jacquard - He develop a weaving machine that was controlled by punch cards. This invention led to the method of storing information by using punch cards.

Advantages of the 1st Generation

It was the only electronic device and 1st device to hold memory.

Electronic Discrete Variable Computer (EDVAC)

Electronic Discrete Variable Computer (EDVAC) - John Von Neumann developed the EDVAC. It was one of the first computers to use memory to store programs and data.