History of Computers from Early Machines to Net-Books - Coursework Example

Number] History of Computers. Introduction to computer technology is not needed anymore. Role of computers in our lives cannot be denied. They are now the vital part of our everyday life. From home to offices, cars to general stores computer have found their purpose. As the use of this gadget is wonderful likewise the evolution of this machine is also extraordinary. There are several people in the list, who are responsible for the development of this wonderful miracle. These people are not only worthy of the praise but their name will also be written in the letters of gold in the book of technology. The paper thoroughly discusses the complete history of computers. It looks into its advancement through decades, especially those enhancements of the technology, which were kept secret for decades. Early Machines (1800s to 1930s): Charles Babbage is known as the father of the computer. He was the man who designed the first computer in the form of the difference engines. There were two difference engines in his possession. One was called as the Analytical engine. The combination of these two engines is also known as the Babbage engines. Unfortunately Charles Babbage could not witness the completion of his invented machines in his life but the process continued for many decades. Due to the preservation of the computer design by Charles Babbage, the process of development kept on going without any hurdles (Campbell, Aspray, p.45). It should be noted that the first computer engine bear very little resemblance with the present computers but they provided the basic grounds for the development of many more technologies and played a key role in finding the right path of enhancement. The basic grounds include the concepts of the separate storage area for processing, the way of inputting and outputting data and the logical infrastructure inside the computer. Among other mechanical machines are the Tabulating machines. This tabulating machine was used by the United States of America to handle the bulk of data during the census of 1890. In the census approx 62 million American’s data was processed through this machine. One name also comes under the category of the mechanical computers but it was the first mechanical cum electrical machine. The machine was binary computer Konrad Zuse’s Z 1. It was built in 1938. Z 1 opened many doors of the further development (Chappman, 2010). Electrical-Mechanical Machines (1930s): These types of machines usually worked with the vacuum tubes. These vacuum tubes or relay can also work as the switches. Some Electro-mechanical machines were completely mechanical from inside but these machines utilized electric motors for their power requirement. In such machines the prominent name is the Differential Analyzer. It was built in the year 1930. Another important thing about these mechanical electrical machines is the way of their data processing. They were either of the analogue nature or the digital nature. Good examples of such machines are the complex number calculator and the Model K. These two computers were built by the George Stibitz. George Stibitz was the same person who introduced the first remote accessing computing. He did this remote accessing at the college of Hampshire using his tele-printer in the college and his computer at the New York City. He input the problem through the tele-printer and received the answer through his computer in the City. It should be noted that the computers of the electro-mechanical age provided most of the basis and concepts for the present computer. The Z 3, which was an enhanced version of the Z1 by Konrad Zuse, was the example of the modern computers of that time. It was the considerably advance version, which used the floating point number in its processing and also it was the first digital computer controlled by program. In the World War II many computers were used to decode German Codes. Electronic Computers (1940s): The advancement of the first total electronic computer started during World War II. One example is the colossuss. This computer was used to de code various German codes. It worked on the principal of the vacuum tube and also consisted of the paper tape. The main ability of this computer was the procession of the various logical operations like Boolean algebra. The first computer which used the Random Access Memory and the Cathode-ray tube was named as the “Baby”. Many early electronic computers used the decimal number base, some used binary system. They were approx all programmable either by punch card, in-stored programs or by switches or patch cables (Ceruzzi, p.83). Commercial Computers (1950): In this decade the commercial computers for business purposes were introduced. These computers mainly helped in accounting and banking. Another computer came into the market named as LEO. This computer became the first office routine computer. In United States of America, first commercial computer was the UNIVAC. It was used by the census bureau. IBM 701 was the first mainframe computer used by IBM (Ceruzzi, p.141). In the same decade the programming language FORTRAN was developed. Initial computers weighed a lot but their weight kept on decreasing with the passage of time (Campbell, Aspray, p.93). Computer with Transistors: The vacuum tubes were then replaced by the transistors. Transistors make the computer much smaller as compared to the computers with vacuum tubes. But one disadvantage was that they were less reliable, the advantage was the consumption of the less power. With the help of the transistor, peripheral devices were introduced. First disk drive was introduced by the IBM. These were called as the Second Generation computers. Introduction to the Microprocessor and Microchip (1960): Microchip and the microprocessor invention was the breakthrough. These chips were less expensive and they made the computer very much small. Due to the microchip the dream of an individual’s computers became reality. After the microchips microprocessor came, these processors were initially capable of processing 4 bit and 6 bits of the dat. 16-bit processor was introduced in the year 1973. AT&T Bell Labs designed the first fully 32 bit processor which was on single chip. This processor contained 32 bit data paths and 32 bit buses. After this chip then came the 64 bit processor in the year 1990. But these 64 bit were present in the PC’s available in the market. They appear in PCs in 2000 decade. The Rise of Personal Computers: Personal computers came into the market in the year 1970. Most of the initial personal computers were based on the small scale integrated circuits. Altair was the first most popular computer that was available in the market. It was based on the single chip micro processor. It was initially available in the kit form, means the purchaser had to assemble them by themselves. Three computer models, know as trinity, Apple II, Commodore PET and Tandy Corporation were sold in millions. They contained 4 kb to 48 kb of RAM. Of these three models Apple II was the only computer with full colours and graphics. Early Laptops and Notebooks: Portability was one of the major issues with the computers. The advent of the laptops and the notebooks offered portability. Initially they were used commercially. The first laptop was the Osborne which was developed in 1981. It had monitor screen of 5 inches. But the laptops kept on advancing until the present shape arrived. They were just portable in the sense of the word, though they were too heavy to carry and fit in the suitcases. The first laptop with the flip top appeared in the market in the year 1982, though the model which was fully called as the laptop was called as the Gavilan SC. The initial laptops had mono chromatic display but with time many colours were introduced. By the year 1993 laptops with many magnificent features were available in the markets. These laptops consisted of the colour screen with 256 k display, 15 to 16 inches of monitor, high capacity storage and the optical drives. Mobile Computing: The biggest milestone achieved in the history of the computer is the invention of the mobile computers. Now a days in the market there are many phones available, which has the fastest processor and all the communicational techniques. With the help of these phones people can not only break the link barrier but they can also use these devices for any kind of operation present in the desktop. These phones are fully loaded with thousand of helpful application. Moreover they have also provided different programming platforms for the development of the further technologies. In the markets there are thousands of mobile phone brands competing for better devices. They offer different function with different looks. The keyboard key pad is also very popular these days (Campbell, Aspray, p.185). Net books (2000-onwards): Another fresh succession in the history of the computer is the expansion of net book computers. Net books are much more portable and smaller in size than normal laptops. They have the power of performing many normal level functions that are needed by the everyday users like internet and basic office programs. Sometimes they not only provide internet facility but they also offer broadband connectivity (Chappman, 2010). Conclusion: We can conclude our paper by saying that this wonderful creation of the man has seen many decades of evolution. From the big sizes to small sizes, from slowest to fastest and from low level computing to high level computing it has transformed into the very sleek and wonderfully fastest devices. These machines are the most up-to-date form of the initially designed machines and can replace the function of hundreds of the man. Work Cited Paul E. Ceruzzi. History of Modern Computing. United States of America. Congress Catalogue Publishing Data. 1998 Cameron Chappman. The History of Computer in a Nutshell. Six Revisions Tutorial. 2010 Martin Campbell-Kelly, William Aspray. Computer: A History of Information Machine. United States of America. West View Press. 2004 Read More