History of Computing - Essay Example

History of Computing al Affiliation) Introduction The computer as an imperative technology to the contemporary society has undergone myriad changes and developments in a manner that facilitates work efficiency. The early man began the application of primitive machinery to make work easier. These ideologies have undergone numerous changes from time to time hence leading to the development of more advanced computer systems in the modern society. This discussion will focus on various timelines that saw the development and advancement of computers from the early days to the modern times. During the early days, the computer was developed specifically for purposes of solving challenging societal task rather than for entertainment as well as for sending messages inform of mails. This discussion will provide each timeline as follows: 1. 350 million years ago up to 1000 BC The first computing knowledge that was invented from 350 million years ago to 1000 BC was the various conceptual advancements and the myriad mechanical methodologies that facilitated counting together with activities that involved massive calculations for instance; the development of the word ‘calculate’ emanating from the Latin word pebble. Other ideologies that were developed at this time were that essence that life could be improved through remembering of various leaving facets in order to create improvement. 2. 35000 BC to 9000 BC During the period beginning from 35000 BC to 9000 BC, various counting systems were invented which began with the Lebombo bone that had various counting notches; it was invented in the 3500BC. This technology was followed by the invention of the Ishango bone counting system that was majorly used in the 20000 BC as a method for calculations; artifacts of the Ishango bone have also depicted signs of prime numbers that were used in calculations. Later in 9000 BC, clay tokens were invented; it was a counting technique that involved the use of different signs and symbols to count various aspects of life such as animals as well as food products. 3. 2400 BC to 300 BC This was a crucial time in history; it majorly led to the invention of various pertinent technologies to facilitate activities of counting; it was referred as arithmetic/mathematics. During this crucial time, the first ever calculator, portable in nature was invented; it was known as the abacus. Initially there were arguments on the original inventors of this technology in that some people claimed that it was invented by Babylonians while others claimed that it was invented by the Chinese Scientists. The ideology behind the abacus was majorly to place counting materials such as pebbles in a single equipment in order to enhance its portability as well as educe the loss of such materials. 4. 80 BC During this time, a vey imperative technology to most geologists was invented; this technology was known as the Antikythera Mechanism. It was an idea certain Greek meteorologists who were driven by a desire to develop an analog computer that could facilitate a process of calculating the position of space bodies such as stars and planets. 5. 1500 AD’s to 1642 Leonardo Da Vinci a great scientist developed an imperative technology; a mechanical calculator. This played a great role in the field of technology as well as in studies where many scholars applied this methodology to facilitate calculations. In the early 1600’s, multiplication tables were developed on wood products; this period also saw the development of logarithms by a famous scientist, John Napier using Napier grass. In 1621, a slide rule was developed as an analog methodology of facilitating mathematical calculations. This idea was invented by the famous scientist, William Oughtred. Later in 1642, Pascal Blaise, developed an arithmetic machine by use of gears, this technology was an operating model of an important digital calculator (Edwin 2001). 6. 1655 to 1840’s In the year 1655, a micrographia was written with a main purpose to facilitate the use of eye lenses in order to create extensions for all senses. In the early 1800’s, the use of punch cards to facilitate weaving looms by the famous Marie Joseph. Charles Babbage in 1812, developed two engines, the first one was the difference engine that was majorly meant to facilitate the operation of steam engines. The second technology was the analytical engine that was meant to enhance the calculation of long analytical mathematical problems. Auguasta Ada, a female scientist suggested a binary programming system that was meant facilitate storage that replaced the Babbage storage system which involved the use of decimal points. 7. 1850 to 1900’s The early 1850’s saw the development of the Boolean logic system that was later applied in the computer circuitry system as a methodology to facilitate the computer searching mechanism; this was an invention of George Boole. A commercial typewriter was invented in 1867; this technology was later released to the general public in 1874. Later in 1890’s, Dr. Hollerith developed a imperative technology, the tabulator which was later applied in the United States census. The Hollerith tabulator was a very successful equipment that later became an International Business Machine (Edwin 2001). 8. 1900 to 1940’s In 1906, a vacuum tube was developed as a dimension of computer memory that held vales of one and zero by being switched off and on; it was an idea of the famous scientist, Forest Lee De. In Boston and New York, the first teleprinter was developed for commercial uses; this was followed by the invention of Dr. John Atanasoff which was an electronic Digital Computer. In 1940, a remote computing technology was invented to create connectivity between computers as well as to depict the interactions between these computers. A more complicated technology was later introduced by Konrad Zuse to facilitate programming in computers; this was known as the Z3 in 1941. At the University of Pennsylvania in 1947, the Electrical Numerical and Integrated Calculator was developed by Presper Eckert and John Mauchly. This technology was used to facilitate the computing of artillery firing tables. During the same year, a group of scientists developed the transistors; they included John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley. 9. 1950’s to 1970’s In 1951, Mauchly and Eckert invented the first commercial computer that was majorly applied in purposes of information processing as well as data storage. This technology was known as the UNIVAC I. This was later followed by the development of the UNIVAC I compiler system by Dr. Grace Murray. Various other aspects of computer products were later developed by Hiller and Issacson; it included aspects such as computer generated music. During this time, other imperative computer systems such as the Formula Translator were invented in order to promote the operation of complex composition. Moreover, in the year 1958, a computer chip was created by Robert Noyce; this chip was made up of a variety of six transistors. Consequently, in 1962, a sketchpad was brought in commercial use by Sutherland Evan by use of software to promote the manipulation and sketching of images. In the year 1964, the International Business Machine (IBM), invented a technology known as the MT/ST that was used as the first word processor, followed by the development of a more complicated programming language by Dr. John Kemeny and John Kurtz. In the late 1960’s the introduction of the ATM machine tool place; however, this technology allowed only the withdrawal of money in cash. In the 1967 and 1968, saw the development of two major technologies; the Datamath calculator and the movie known as the Space Odyssey respectively. The use of internet among the US navy was introduced with an aim of connecting various computer networks. The use of internet was later followed by the introduction of a 1 kilobyte RAM and a microprocessor. 10. 1980’s to early 1990’s In the early 1980’s the development of Microsoft occurred; this idea emerged from two young hackers who made a proposition to MITS with an intention of developing a basic compiler. This proposition was successful and the led to the development of Microsoft. This was immediately followed by the development of Apple I and Apple II which supported the calculation of mathematical problems. The early 1980’s also saw the invention of the MS-DOS system which was offered by IBM to the famous Bill Gates. Other major developments done by IBM during this time were the development of the 16-bit microprocessor and the 286-AT. In the 1982, the times magazine made a major decision to utilize a computer for the operation of some of its activities (Edwin 2001). The development of the first audio CD and movie war games took place in 1983; this was later followed by the advancement in the use of internet by the Advanced Research Project Agency Network. In 1987, HyperCard were distributed to facilitate the management of integrated multi-media products; this was done by the Apple Company. In 1992, the utilization of internet was commercialized among the populace in the United States of America and other European countries (Turner 2006). Later in 1995, the first DVD player was introduced to the general public for entertainment purposes. The Nokia Company introduced the 9000i which was an imperative communication gadget; this was later followed by the introduction of a hand held digital phone with LCD Screen and QWERTY keyboard. Consequently in 1999, a movie known as the Matrix was released to depict how the computer networks manipulates the mentality of humanity. 12. 2000’s to 2008 This is the period that was characterized by the invention of more advanced computer technology; the first one during this period was the development of the Apple iPod that was portable in nature. This was followed by nanocomputer; an imperative technology that was majorly meant for undertaking DNA tests (Turner 2006). Additionally, 2004, there was a merger between IBM and Sony that saw the development of computer chips; this was a model of a supercomputer developed on a specifically designed board. From 2005 t0 2006, certain prototypes of laptops worth one hundred dollars were shown in a conference by Nicholas Negroponte. This period also led to the massive production of computers that were exported from the United States to other countries (Walter 2011). From the year 2008, the International Business Machine introduced a roadrunner machine with a capacity to offer one thousand trillion calculations per second. This has also undergone massive advancements up to the current years ( Walter 2011). Conclusion The use of various technologies has been undergoing myriad development from as early as the industrial revolution. Technological advancement is a continuous process facilitated by the occurrence of facilities and technical skills. This is a process that will continue changing with time and in relation to the specific needs of the society. References Edwin, B. (2001). IBM and the Holocaust: the strategic alliance between Nazi Germany and Americas most powerful corporation. New York: Word Press. Fred, T. (2006). From counterculture to cyberculture: Stewart Brand, the Whole EarthNetwork, and the rise of digital Utopianism. Akansas: Press. Inc.. Walter, I. (2011). Steve Jobs. Washington D.C: Aspen. Read More