INTRODUCTION
When we talk about technology, we surely do mention the whole lot of work done by computers. We live in a generation, where technology is growing very fast. And with this rate of technological growth, maybe in the future, the same technology can either kill humans or will at least help us to fly and roam the world. Now, it's kind of boring when we talk about history of something and the "evolution" etc. But, in today's article, I am going to tell you such amazing facts about computers and technology, that will just make you feel curious and in one sense happy, to see the evolution of the Computers.
Today, you will learn about -
• The methods of counting used by primitive humans.
• Different Calculating devices which developed over the years.
• The Evolution And History Of Computers.
Let's get straight to the topic. Today we will be exploring the "History Of Computers" in a lucid manner. And I will try my best not to make history boring for you, after all, it happens with everyone. So, let's get started in our today's Technological post titled -
The History Of Computers | An Era That Changed The World
PART - 1: The Evolution And Revolution
Early computers were not what they look like today. They were very different. With the advancement in technology, there was a change in the shape and size of the computers. Many people were involved in the development of computers. Many people were persistent that the computers will be the future of this world, and no wonder they were true.
Well, to be precise, the history of computers is around 2000 years ago! You might think that this statement must be false because if the first ever computer was invented in 1822, then how can the history of computers be 2000 years old?
So, in this case, I am not talking about the modern computers that we use today, not that, but the most basic form of a computer, an Abacus.
Wait, what? How can a simple mathematical instrument be equated with a computer? Well, the abacus was a mathematical device designed in China around 2000 years ago. The abacus was designed to solve simple problems of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. You must've seen an Abacus, haven't you? Basically, an abacus is not even a computer, its just the fact that this device was gonna create the light, the spark needed to enter the world of computers. How? Let's find out!
So, let's begin from the beginning of the beginning. Don't be confused, the beginning of the beginning is nothing but the beginning or the start of the history of computers.
Okay, so, the concept of counting is as old as the early human race. We all are aware of the number systems that we Learned in maths in our school. Like: Natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, fractions, rational numbers, irrational numbers, real numbers etc etc. So, we all know that any number system contains numbers. And what are numbers? Nothing but what we count like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...etc. So, generally, we count in our minds, if your age is ten or above. But, if we think ourselves as a child, then we do know that we count using our fingers! And that's what I wanted to introduce to you. The first method of counting was on fingers, just like little kids do.
But, later, other methods were also developed like counting using pebbles, stones, sticks etc. Remember, we are still discussing about the time before the Abacus was invented. But the above mentioned methods of counting wasn't much useful or reliable, because these methods, sometimes, led to delays and errors and a way more compatible or dependable or reliable device was needed. And that's when our coin tossed into the invention of the abacus. An abacus generally has two parts, nowadays it might have been upgraded but earlier it had only two parts, the heaven, which is the upper deck and the earth, which is the lower deck which is divided by a mid bar, kind of like a rod stuff.
So, done. All this while that you were reading was just the introduction, and now comes the main part of this article. The first mathematical machine! Let us move on to our next stop where we will see about how the computers developed with time.
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THE FIRST COMPUTERS
The first adding machine was built in 1642 by a French mathematician, Blaise Pascal.
He was only 19 years old when he developed this adding machine! That's so young! In one sense, it gives us an inspiration to do something innovative. Besides this, Pascal was also a mathematician, physicist and an inventor.
This machine, built by Pascal, was called "Pascaline". It was the first mechanical calculating machine or calculator and could perform only addition and subtraction. So, basically, it was not a computer but a calculator. But, this device was the first step after the kindling of the abacus to the computers. It consisted of several wheels which were marked as "hundreds", "tens" and "units" to represent numbers. Makes sense, doesn't it? These are all nothing but the "Place Values" of numbers. It seems like it is a type of kiddish device but remember, this was created way back in 1642.
Here, have a look at the Pascaline.
Remember, this is not a computer (practically) but it is just a "Calculator". And one more thing that I'd like to share is that the earliest computers were not for today's modern needs, but only calculation purposes. Because there were such long and complicated calculations, that took a long time for humans to calculate. So, to make things faster, devices like Pascaline were invented. Lets move next.
2) Leibnitz's Calculating Machine
In 1671, just 29 years after the invention of Pascaline, a German mathematician named Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibnitz, developed a computer based on the principle of Pascal's adding machine which could perform all the four basic mathematical operations, that is, addition, subtraction, division and multiplication (four basic operations in mathematics).
Above is the German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibnitz.
Leibnitz named his machine as "The Stepped Reckoner".
The Stepped Reckoner was later modified for a smoother and better functioning.
Well, do you see something common between The Pascaline And The Stepped Reckoner?
It is very obvious that these two machines are basically "calculators". So, what do we conclude the Stepped Reckoner with?
The Stepped Reckoner was a satisfying machine in its era. It was used for basic mathematical operations. But you may point out saying that its just A calculator, not a computer. I agree, but as I told you earlier, these devices which were "named" computers didn't do much, but calculations.
So, the next device that we are going to see was accepted as the best computer-calculator by the people at that time. Let's see why the creator of that device is also known as the FATHER Of Computers!
3) Charles Babbage's Difference Engine
Charles' Difference Engine made the difference in the history of computers. Over the years, many new kinds of computing machines were developed. However, none of these were as successful as the "Difference Engine" created by Charles Babbage, an English mathematician, in 1822.
It was an automatic mechanical calculator which could do complex calculations using very large numbers.
For the next 10 years, Babbage continued to improve his machine. He was trying to build a programmable computer capable of carrying out tasks based on sets of instructions. He named his machine The Analytical Engine. So, the previous calculators that we saw were only for some basic calculations. But the reason why Babbage's engine got so famous was that it was one of the best calculators which could calculate such high complex and different mathematical operations.
However, Babbage could not finish his work on his machine in his lifetime. Parts of his incomplete machine are on display at the London Science Museum. Then you may be asking, if Babbage died without completing his engine, then how did it work and got famous?
Well, in 1991, as a tribute to his efforts, a perfectly working Analytical Engine was built using his original plans and designs.
Okay, then why is Babbage known as the Father of computers and not Pascal or Leibnitz? The answer is - Babbage was the one who first gave the idea of a fully programmable computer and thus he's The Respected Father Of Computers.
4) The First Electronic Computer
ENIAC, the Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer, was announced in 1946 and was the first electronic general-purpose computer.
ENIAC was conceived and designed by John Presper Eckert, John Mauchly and their team associates, for the army of the United States.
Some of the features of ENIAC are:
1) In one second, it could perform 5000 additions, about 400 multiplications or 40 divisions! Even a human can't to do that in a single second.
2) It contained 17468 vacuum tubes (a vacuum tube is a special kind of electronic component). We will learn more about vacuum tubes in the next part.
3) One thing was that it occupied a lot of space, it occupied 1800 square feet of floor space and weighed 30 tons! That's too much for a calculator type computer to take space.
------------------------------So, above we saw 4 computers, well, to be more precise, calculators, and their inventors who sparked the flame for the new generation of Computers. The generations, that would change an era. The Era That would change The World.
Let's now understand different Computer generations that defined an era, more deeply in our next part of history of computers.
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I hope you liked this post and learned the "evolution" of computers. Next we will learn the "revolution" of the computers.
Thanks for reading.
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