History of Computers
Charles Babbage is often referred to as the Father of Computing. He began
working on the first computing device known as the Difference Engine in
1824 and the Analytical Engine in 1842. Herman Hollerith developed the
system of automated computing where a device could automatically read information
punched into a card. This device was limited only to tabulations and could
not read complex engineering equations. In 1941 Konrad Zuse developed the
first programmable computer called the Z3 which could read complex equations
based on the binary system.
The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was developed
by J. Presper Eckert and John V. Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania
which was the first programmable electronic computer based on the decimal
system. The development of computers further progressed with the use of
Large Scale integration and very large scale integration where entire processors
could fit onto one single chip. At this time the C programming language
and the UNIX operating system were also developed in 1972.
By 1984 computer technology saw the introduction of parallel processing
and machines where multitude of processors could be working on different
parts of a single program. IBM and Apple realized the growth potential
ahead and tapped into the Personal computers market to design computers
which could be used at home. This saw the introduction of the IBM PC which
had Microsoft word, spreadsheets and Lotus 1-2-3 and the Macintosh by Apple
which had a Graphical user interface and a mouse.
Computers have transformed from the huge machines they used to be to desktops
and portable laptops where you can pretty much carry your office with you.
The personal computers today are much faster and come with applications
we could have never imagined; applications which create text, drawing,
animations, and presentation slides. The computer is certainly a modern
marvel of our times.
