History of Computing
-- Soujanya
Contents
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Definition
Abacus(600 B.C)
Cardboard Calculator
First Calculator
Difference Engine(1822)
Well-Known Early Computers
The Computer Generations & their
characteristics
Definition
Computing : It is a study of systematic
processes that describes & transform
information: their theory, analysis, design,
efficiency, implementation & application.
Abacus(600 B.C)
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Also known as “Soroban”.
Represents the numbers by the position of
the beads.
Simple addition and subtraction carried out
rapidly and efficiently.
Abacus
Cardboard Calculator
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It was designed by John Nepier in the early
17th century.
Nepier Calculator
He invented logs in 1614. Logs allowed
multiplication and division to be reduced to
addition and subtraction
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First Calculator
• Wilhelm Schickard designed the 1st mechanical
Calculator in 1623
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Schickard calculator
The first mechanical adding machine was invented by
Blaise Pascal in 1642
Pascaline
Contd..
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In 1671, Baron Gottfried of Germany invented
the first calculator for multiplication.
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Later, Herman Hollierith came up with the
concept of punched cards.
Difference Engine(1822)
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Charles Babbage designed a “Difference
Engine” in 1822 which could produce reliable
tables.
In 1842, Babbage came out with his new idea
of “Analytical Engine”
Capable of performing the basic arithmetic
functions.
Average Speed of 60 additions per minute.
Contd..
Difference Engine
Well-Known Early
Computers
The Mark I Computer(1937-44)
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First fully automatic calculating machine.
Designed by Howard A Aiken.
Electro-mechanical device
Though reliable, it was very complex in
design and huge in size.
Capable of performing 5 basic arithmetic
operations:’+’ ‘ - ’ ‘ * ’ ‘ / ‘ and table reference.
The ENIAC(1943-46)
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The Electronic Numerical Integrator Analysor &
Calculator (ENIAC) was the first electronic
computer.
It used 18000 vacuum tubes
Addition of 2 numbers achieved in 200 microsec
Multiplication in 2000 microsec.
Could store & manipulate only very limited
amount of information
Its programs were weird on boards.
The EDVAC(1946-52)
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Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic
Computer.
Designed on stored program concept.
The EDSAC(1947-49)
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The Britishers developed the Electronic Delay
Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC)
Addition operation accomplished in 1500
micro sec.
Multiplication operation in 4000 micro sec.
Manchester Mark I (1948)
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Experimental machine based on stored
program concept
Storage capacity was only 32 words, each of
31 binary digits.
Hardly of any practical use.
The UNIVAC I (1951)
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The Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC)
was the first digital computer.
Introduced in 1951
Used continuously for 10 yrs.
Note: Later in 1952, IBM corporation
introduced 701 commercial computer.
The Computer Generations
First Generation
Computers(1942-55)
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ENIAC
EDVAC
EDSAC
UNIVAC I
IBM 701
Characteristics of First
Generation Computers
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They were the fastest calculating devices of
their time.
They were too bulky in size.
They should be properly air-conditioned.
The power consumption was very high.
They were prone to frequent hardware failures.
Constant maintenance required.
Commercial production of these computers
was difficult and costly.
They had limited commercial use.
Second Generation Computers
(1955-64)
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Bell Laboratories invented a new electronic
switching device called ‘Transistor’ in 1947.
High-level programming Languages like
FORTRAN, COBOL, ALGOL & SNOBOL
were developed.
Characteristics of Second
Generation Computers
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Ten times faster than the first-generation computers.
Much smaller in size
Consumed much less power
Much more reliable and less prone to hardware
failures
Had faster and larger primary and secondary
storage devices.
Easier to program. Hence they had wider
commercial use.
Third Generation Computers
(1964-1975)
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Texas and Fairchild semiconductor both
announced the integrated circuit in 1959.
FORTRAN & COBOL languages are
standardized to FORTRAN IV & COBOL 68,
also referred to as ANSI FORTRAN & ANSI
COBOL.
Characteristics of Third
Generation Computers
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Much more powerful. (Performs 1 million instruction
per sec)
Much smaller in size.
Much less power consumption.
Much more reliable and less prone to hardware
failures.
Faster and larger primary and secondary storage
devices.
Totally general-purpose machines suitable for both
scientific and commercial applications
Contd..
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Standardization of high-level programming
languages allowed programs written for one
computer to be easily ported to and executed
on another computer.
Timesharing O.S helped in drastically
improving the productivity of programmers
cutting down the time and cost of program
development by several fold.
Fourth Generation Computers
(1975-1989)
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Micro-processors came into existence.
Start of Personal Computer Revolution.
P.C:Compact & inexpensive
Hard-disk: Cheaper, smaller in size and larger in
capacity
Floppy disks became popular.
LAN, WAN came into existence.
Several O.S like MS-DOS, MS Windows, UNIX were
developed.
C , C++ programming became popular.
Characteristics of Fourth
Generation Computers
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The PCs were much more smaller and cheaper than
the mainframes or minicomputers of 3rd generation.
They are much more powerful.
No air-conditioning was required for the PCs
Consumed much less power.
Much more reliable and less prone to hardware
failures.
Faster and larger primary and secondary storage
devices.
Totally general-purpose machines.
Contd..
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They contained graphical user interface.
Availability of C programming language
allowed these systems to be effectively used
for systems programming also, like design of
compilers and O.S
Object-oriented languages allowed rapid
software development.
Fifth Generation Computers
(1989-Present)
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Larger disk space
Optical disks (CD-ROM) emerged.
Internet came into existence.
The concept of ‘Multithreading’ was
introduced.
Java programming gained popularity.
Characteristics of Fifth
Generation Computers
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Portable PCs (notebook computers) are much more
smaller and handy.
Desktop PCs and workstations are several times
more powerful
Consume less power
Hot-pluggable feature.
Commercial production of these systems is easier
and cheaper.
Newer and more powerful applications, including
multimedia applications.
Contd..
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Internet usage by comman man.