The History of the Computer - Term Paper Example

? History of the Computer Task Introduction Over some period since the prologue of the word ‘computer’, numerous changes have transpired concerning the meaning with the initial meaning being a person who computes. The earliest meaning was the translation from Latin at the middle of 17th century. The meaning was linked majorly to human activity up to mid-20th century when it shifted to an electronic appliance that can be utilized for containing, retrieval and data process. Currently, the word has distorted its meaning to a computing appliance regardless of whether electronic, programmable or has the capacity to contain or recover information. The history offers chronological events as per the technological advancements commencing with the first computer to the recent computers that have been utilized progressively in the contemporary world. The technological advancements that transpired during the computer age have substantially influenced social and economic developments through faster undertaking of various tasks in dissimilar sectors. In the computer history, computers have various classifications as per evolution from large size to small size including various contributors to these developments. Classification of computers Computers are classified through utilization of diverse criteria with the classification centering on functionality and other related concepts. Computer classifications can be undertaken with regard to technology utilized, uses, capacity or size, period or computer era, operation principle or data types that they utilize (Raum 2). Technological classification This classification concentrates on the technological skills that allow the computer to perform certain functions. The initial classification was regarded as flesh where humans utilized their bodily parts to carry out computations. Wood later turned into a computing appliance with the initial utilization being in the design of abacus. Various scientific inventors then utilized metals in the development of early machines leading to the utilization of electromagnetic appliances in various machines by Zuse and other persons. Electronic rudiments were utilized in ABC and computers that utilized stored programs. However, this classification never considers developments that transpired recently with the development of fresh electronic devices that have considerably boosted computer advances. Classification by capacity Computers have become categorized in accordance to their capacity with the word demonstrating the amount of work as well as the information processing abilities. The operation of these computers can be established through the quantity of information contain within the memory, internal speed, quantity and variety of peripheral components, as well as, the quantity and variety of software present for utilization within the computer. In the initial period, capacity was established through physical size although this has noticeably changed in the recent time allowing smaller computers to have huge capacities. Presently, computer capacity is ascertained as per the applications that certain computer can contain instead of the quantity of information a computer can process. Under this categorization, microcomputers are considered, to contain the lowest capacity. Their memories were made through the utilization of semiconductors that were contained on silicon chips. The microcomputer was considered digital managed through utilization of stored program that made use of the microprocessor with programmable ROM and RAM. They had 4k-64k storage location and had the ability to contain miniature applications. Minicomputer was then developed in 1960 owing to the demand for computing appliances that could carry out tasks effectively and economically in comparison to large computers. Minicomputers possessed higher operating speeds and extensive storage capacities judged against microcomputers. In this era, operating systems were created in order to contain multiprogramming as well as virtual storage allowing dissimilar programs to launch concomitantly (Allan 43). The computer proved to be accommodating and addressed diverse user needs. These computers had 8k-256k storage location as well as comparatively recognized application software. Medium-size computers offered rapider operating speeds as well As bigger storage capacities compared to the minicomputers. These computers could sustain wide-ranging high-speed devices and some disk drives were utilized in offering online access to comprehensive data files. Their operating systems had the ability to sustain multiprogramming, in addition to, virtual storage thus enabling the user to have some programs running concomitantly. These computers presented the ability to sustain management information organizations that allow them to undertake huge data experienced in banks and other large institutions. Large computers had bigger capacities in relation to medium-sized computers. They had complete control systems and required little operation by an individual. They ranged from single-processing arrangements to countrywide computer-based networks. They presented storage ranges between 512k and 8192k with the in-built operating speeds being quantified in nanoseconds. They presented extensive expandability and could be utilized in huge tasks such as simulations. They had the ability to control smaller computers in a communication network. Supercomputers are currently considered the biggest and rapidest devices in the computer developments. They are utilized for huge tasks such as calculations with huge operating speeds that exceed any inventions in the contemporary world. Their speeds are between 100 million to 3 billion. They are not flexible due to their sizes thus cannot undertake an assortment of activities. Therefore, they necessitate assistances from other computing devices in order to undertake their required tasks. Classification by operating principle The category comprises of three computer types and these are analog, digital and hybrid. Analog computers transpired in 1940s and the numerics utilized in computation were characterized by physical quantities. Analog computers got fed with data that was then processed, through computing operations, to develop certain results with relation to time. The computing components of these computers take action instantaneously to the transformations that they identify within the input variables. These computers are triumphant in resolving differential equations and can be perceived quicker than digital computers. Digital computers offer discrete data and utilize two-step arrangement to characterize all data in sequences appearing in ones and zeroes. Digital computers utilize numeric in its computations. These computers have excellent abilities in the manipulation of information in relation to analog computers. Their components directly accomplish their computational operations that involve different parameters. Digital computers have the capacity to present information for direct copies although this is impossible with regard to analog computer data. Hybrid computers can carry their activities either through utilization of analog or digital systems. Therefore, they are regarded flexible in terms of functionality for abilities to undertake any task regardless of whether they are analog or digital. Computer evolution First generation computers (1937-1953) These appliances utilized electronic switches that took shape of vacuum tubes in place electromechanical relays. The first computer had the aim of allowing students to undertake fractional differential equations with ease unlike in the precedent. Later on, Colossus was developed for the British army. ENIAC was a programmable electronic appliance and later led to development of EDVAC that had better performance compared to its predecessor (Onifade 9). Second generation (1954-1962) This era encompassed imperative developments since computers with dissimilar capabilities were presented. Electronic switches utilized during this period were built on diode and transistor knowledge with switch period of 0.3 microseconds. In this era, several programming languages for instance, FORTRAN and COBOL were presented leading to improved performances (Onifade 10). The preliminary supercomputers were developed in this era. Third Generation (1963-1972) Foremost advancements in this era were utilization of ICs, microprogramming as well as semiconductor memories and operating systems. An assortment of ICs were developed in this era leading to enhanced models that worked efficiently thus allowing for reduction of computer sizes. Multilayered-printed circuits and solid-state memories were introduced enhancing computers performance. Fourth Generation (1972-1984) LSI and VLSI got utilized in the fabrication of these computers. Single processor was fit into a chip, while for certain computers, one chip held all components of a computer. Gate delays were substantially reduced while semiconductor memories got utilized in these computers. Computer languages such as functional programming and Prolog were prefaced. Microsoft and IBM prefaced the PC leading to major advancements. Microsoft Windows got launched during this period (Onifade 12). Fifth Generation (1984-1990) This era presented computers with numerous processors that functioned on dissimilar components of a single program. Computer chip held million components while the semiconductor memories develop into a standard for every computer. Computer networks and sole workstations were prefaced with parallel processing. SIMD and other computers with numerous processors were introduced, in addition, to WAN and LAN technologies (Onifade 13). Sixth Generation (1990- ) This period saw numerous improvements of the earlier computer versions. Parallel computing and other computer architectural advancements got prefaced leading to enhanced computer performances. PCs had the abilities of operating at Gigabit due to numerous processors that were integrated (Onifade 14). Different companies presented numerous programming languages and operating systems leading to major turnarounds, in computing. Microcontroller technology got prefaced leading to control of certain activities in an efficient manner. Work Cited Allan, Roy A. A history of the Personal Computer. 2001. Web. Mar 14, 2012. Available at < http://www.retrocomputing.net/info/allan/eBook00.pdf > Onifade, Adebowale. The history of the computer. 2004. Web. Mar 14, 2012. Available at < http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/images/5/57/Onifade.pdf > Raum, Elizabeth. The History of the Computer. Chicago, Ill: Heinemann Library, 2007. Print. Read More