The History of Computers
He designed the Analytical Engine and it was this design that the basic framework of the computers of today are based on.
Generally speaking, computers can be classified into three generations. Each generation lasted for a certain period of
time,and each gave us either a new and improved computer or an improvement to the existing computer.
time,and each gave us either a new and improved computer or an improvement to the existing computer.
First generation: 1937 – 1946 - In 1937 the
first electronic digital computer was built by Dr. John V. Atanasoff and
Clifford Berry. It was called the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC). In
1943 an electronic computer name the Colossus was built for the
military. Other developments continued until in 1946 the first general–
purpose digital computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Computer (ENIAC) was built. It is said that this computer weighed 30
tons, and had 18,000 vacuum tubes which was used for processing. When
this computer was turned on for the first time lights dim in sections of
Philadelphia. Computers of this generation could only perform single
task, and they had no operating system.
Second generation: 1947 – 1962 - This generation
of computers used transistors instead of vacuum tubes which were more
reliable. In 1951 the first computer for commercial use was introduced
to the public; the Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC 1). In 1953 the
International Business Machine (IBM) 650 and 700 series computers made
their mark in the computer world. During this generation of computers
over 100 computer programming languages were developed, computers had
memory and operating systems. Storage media such as tape and disk were
in use also were printers for output.
Third generation: 1963 - present - The invention
of integrated circuit brought us the third generation of computers.
With this invention computers became smaller, more powerful more
reliable and they are able to run many different programs at the same
time. In1980 Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-Dos) was born and in
1981 IBM introduced the personal computer (PC) for home and office use.
Three years later Apple gave us the Macintosh computer with its icon
driven interface and the 90s gave us Windows operating system.
As a result of the various improvements to the development of the
computer we have seen the computer being used in all areas of life. It
is a very useful tool that will continue to experience new development
as time passes.
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