The History of the Computers - Essay Example

Mohammed Alshamisi  Mr. Mundth ENG 105 24 April  Who invented the computer? How did early computers work? What were their limitations? How wouldthey compare with computers today?" Truly, life in the modern society cannot be possible without the use of computers. Computers have actually become a part of our lives, and the world would come to a stop if computers stopped working. As we celebrate the various advantages of computers in our lives, it is important to make a stop and have a look at the historical evolution of computers. The exact beginning of computer development is highly argued, but many people argue that Babbage was one of the earliest inventors. Other scientists such as James Thomson, Stanley Fifer, Turing, John Atanasoff, Colossus, F.C. Williams, and Tom Kilburn made stepwise contribution to the evolution of the computer. The early computers were large, cumbersome, slow, and had limited memory and computation power. The evolution of technology in information and computing has, however, changed this situation, making the modern computers more efficient, portable, less bulky, and less expensive. This paper will seek to establish the inventors of early computers, the working of early computers, the limitations of the early computers, and draw a clear comparison between the early and modern computers. The early computers had various applications. The Electrical Numerical Integrator and Computer, which was the largest and most powerful early computer, was designed to compute the paths of artillery shells and to solve computational problems in fields such as nuclear physics, aerodynamics, and weather prediction. In addition, they were applied to perform ballistics calculations, materials testing, and the assembly of components. Indeed, they also featured in commerce, government, and research institutions. However, due to the process of evolution, the components, the memory, the size, the working, and later uses of modern computers have changed in many ways (Rául 1-6). Other scientists argue, “James Thomson, brother of Lord Kelvin, invented the mechanical wheel-and-disc integrator that became the foundation of analog computation” (Copeland web).The Thompson machine integrated products of functions for computing linear differential equations. It was applicable in war machines. On the other hand, the differential analyzer by Vannevar became the first large-scale automatic general-purpose mechanical analog computer. The differential analyzer was a semi-automatic machine that was typically a program controlled. The digital machine by Turing had unlimited memory and a memory reader that read and wrote, under the management of a special program, to different memory locations (Copeland web). The Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC) used to solve linear and algebraic equations using over 3000 vacuum tubes that increased the working speed of the ABC computers. However, in all cases, there was a need for more advanced software program to enhance the efficiency of computer operations (Rául 2-8). It is highly argued that Charles Babbage is the father of early computers, having proposed the Difference Engine in the 1820s. The Difference Engine was a special-purpose digital computing machine for the automatic production of mathematical tables. It consisted of only mechanical components like rods, pinions, and brass gear wheels. Indeed, in 1990, using the Babbages designs, Babbages Difference Engine No. 2 was built and displayed at the London Science Museum. In addition, Babbage proposed the Analytical Engine, which was to have been a general-purpose mechanical digital computer. The Analytical Engine was to have had a memory store and a central processing unit with an ability to select from among alternative actions consequent upon the outcome of its previous actions (Copeland web). Ideally, Charles Babbage’s contributions to computer technology were fundamental in computer evolution. Even though some scientists argue about this, they, however, appreciate his contribution. According to Copeland: Babbages proposed Analytical Engine, considerably more ambitious than the Difference Engine, was to have been a general-purpose mechanical digital computer. The Analytical Engine was to have had a memory store and a central processing unit (or ‘mill’) and would have been able to select from among alternative actions consequent upon the outcome of its previous actions. (Copeland web). James Thompson, on the other hand, contributed to the computer evolution by inventing the “mechanical wheel-and-disc” integrator. The “mechanical wheel-and-disc” integrator machine was a milestone development since the system was able to solve simultaneous equations (Ensmenger 467). Later on, Vannevar made further developments to the Thompson machine by inventing the “differential analyzer, the first large-scale automatic general-purpose mechanical analog computer” (Copeland web). It is also argued that, maybe it is Turing who made the greatest contribution to the computer evolution by inventing the abstract digital machine that had unlimited memory and a memory reader that read and wrote to different memory locations by following a program (Hodges web). Nevertheless, the possible use of vacuum tubes instead of relays in the earlier computers enabled them to work fast and be useful in commerce; due to this, computer development was considered a desirable option. In addition, the electronic digital machine by Atanasoff, the Atanasoff Berry Computer, was another development in computer evolution. The digital machine solved linear and algebraic equations using vacuum tubes though it had a faulty binary card reader (Hodges web). Most significantly, Colossus developed the first electronic digital computer in 1944 borrowing many ideas from Turing’s work. In 1948, Tom Kilburn developed the Manchester Machine, which was the first digital computer (Rojas 12-20). It is from these digital computers that ENIAC and EDVAC developed fully functioning electronic digital computers in the 20th century. Indeed, Thompson developed UNIX while Ritchie developed C language. It is argued, “The first fully functioning electronic digital computer to be built in the U.S. was ENIAC, constructed at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, for the Army Ordnance Department, by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly” (Copeland web). More computer developments in software, memory, design, size, shape, functionality, and computing speed are still going on with high-speed laptops and iPad being good examples (Vogt web). Many changes have happened since then with other scientists making their important contributions. As seen here, the early computers had many limitations that brought the need for more advancement. Most notable is the fact that early computers were huge in size and weighed heavily, so they were not portable. In addition, early computers had limited memory that limited both the speed and the number of operations in a computer. The fact that until recently the computers would not perform simultaneous operations was also a limitation to the many tasks that needed to be solved. Indeed, they had a poor software program that limited the computing speed and multitasking. Additionally, the ABC computers had a faulty binary card reader. The early computers did not have a floating-point hardware, so the programmers had to do complicated calculations to ensure that the values of the variables stick within the machine’s fixed range (Hashagen et al 153). In addition, the early computers’ human interface was opaque, cryptic, and not self-explanatory. Moreover, the early computing lacked programs capable of rendering complex images in diverse ways (Kerlow 16). In addition, they were not power savers. The modern computers have overcome all the limitations of the early computers. While most early computers had limited memory, the modern computers have unlimited memory. Indeed, the memory is flexible, and one can always add the computer memory or use extended memory via the memory cards and portable hard disks. While the early computers were bulky, large in size, and heavy in weight, the modern computers are portable, light in weight, and small in size. Indeed, the laptops and iPad are portable computers. On the other hand, the modern computers use less power compared to the early computers. Moreover, the modern computers have advanced programs that enhance multitasking of computers, unlike the early computers that would perform one task at a time. The modern computers can work with many peripherals like printers, internet, microphones, card readers, and projectors. The early computers used relays, whereas modern computers use vacuum tubes that enhance the computing speed. The early computers had limited connections. More significantly, while early computers were mechanical and analog, all modern computers are electrical and digital. The modern computers use the C language, which is self-explanatory to the users, unlike the early computer language that was not self-explanatory. Hence, modern computers are more effective than early computers. It is quite clear that the evolution of computer technology has taken time and its results are now applicable in the modern society. The importance of computer technology remains fundamental in human life. The history of computing goes back to the 1820s, and Charles Babbage is arguably the father of computer evolution. His proposal on the Difference Engine and Analytical forms the basis for computer evolution. However, other scientists like Turing, Vanner, James Thompson, Ford Hannibal, Colossus, Atanasoff, and Ritchie have significant input in the evolution of the early computers to modern computers. Colossus, ENIAC, and EDVAC developments mark the rise of modern computing. It is very clear that early computers had many limitations in their components and modes of operations. However, the modern computers do not have such limitations. Works Cited Copeland, Jack. "The Modern History of Computing". Plato.Stanford.Edu, 2006. Web 20 March 2012. . Ensmenger, Nathan. "Who Invented the Computer? The Legal Battle That Changed Computing History." American Scientist.org 91.5 (2003): 467-468. Web 20 Mar. 2012. . Hashagen, Ulf et al. History of Computing: Software Issues: International Conference on the History of Computing. London: Springer, 2002, Print. Hodges, Andrew. “The Alan Turing Internet Scrapbook” Turing.org.uk. 2006. Web 20 March 2012. . Kerlow, Isaac. The Art of 3D Computer Animation and Effects. London: John Wiley and Sons, 2004 Print. Rojas, Raul and Ulf Hashagen. The first computers: history and architectures. London: MIT Press, 2002 Print. Vogt, Peter “Presper Eckert Interview” AmericanHistory.si.edu. 1988. Web. 20 March 2012 . Read More