A BRIEF HISTORY OF COMPUTER

A BRIEF HISTORY OF COMPUTER

The computer as we know it today had its beginning with a 19th century English mathematics professor name Charles Babbage. He designed the Analytical Engine and it was this design that the basic framework of the computers of today are based on.

According to Wikipedia the word “Computer" was first used in a book called “the Young man’s gleanings” in 1613. Computer is derived from a Latin word “computare” which means “to calculate”, “to count”, “to sum up” or “to think together”. So, more precisely the word computer means a "device that performs computation".

Definition of Computer

“A Computer is an electronic machine that can solve different problems, process data, store & retrieve data and perform calculations faster and efficiently than humans”.

Computer can also be defined as an electronic device which is capable of receiving information (data) in a particular form and of performing a sequence of operations in accordance with a predetermined but variable set of procedural instructions (program) to produce a result in the form of information or signals.

To know about the complete process that how computer works, we will have to come across the various terms such as Data, Processing and Information.  

DATA: - “Data” is nothing but a mare collection of basic facts and figure without any sequence. When the data is collected as facts and figure, it has no meaning at that time, for example, name of student, names of employees etc.

PROCESSING: - ‘Processing’ refers to the set of instruction given by the user or the related data to output the meaningful information, which can be used by the user

INFORMATION: - ‘Information ’is the end point or the final output of any processed work. When the output data is meaning it is called information.

DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER

Actually speaking electronic data processing does not go back more than just half a century i.e. they are in existence merely from early 1940’s. In early days when our ancestor used to reside in cave the counting was a problem. People today started following a set of procedure to perform calculation with these stones, which later led to the creation of a digital counting device, The first calculating device invented, was known as ABACUS.

THE ABACUS

Abacus is known to be the first mechanical calculating device, which was used to perform addition and subtraction easily and speedily. Abacus is made up of wooden frame in which rod where fitted across with rounds beads sliding on the rod. It is divided into two parts called ‘Heaven’ and ‘Earth’. Heaven was the upper part and Earth was the lower one. 

NAPIER’S BONES

As the necessity demanded, scientist started inventing better calculating device. John Napier’s of Scotland invented a calculating device, in the year 1617 called the Napier Bones. Napier’s used the bone rods for counting purpose where some numbers are printed on these rods. These rods where used for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division easily.

PASCAL’S CALCULATOR

In the year 1642, Blaise Pascal a French scientist invented an adding machine called Pascal’s calculator, which represents the position of digit with the help of gears in it.

LEIBNZ CALCULATOR

In the year 1671, a German mathematics, Gottfried Leibniz modified the Pascal calculator and he developed a machine which could perform various calculation based on multiplication and division as well.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

Computers can be classified according to the following categories:

a.    Generations

b.   Size

c.    Usage

d.   Signal

GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

According to generation, computer are classified as:

• 1^st generation of computers, they were built with vacuum tubes.
• 2^nd generation of computers. were built with Transistors
• 3^rd generation of computers, Transistors were replaced with Integrated Circuits.
• 4^th generation of computers, Microprocessors were used to build Computers.
• 5^th generation of computers, is based on artificial intelligence.

FIRST GENERATION OF COMPUTERS: VACUUM TUBES (1940-1956)

The first computer systems used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up an entire room. These computers were very expensive to operate and in addition it uses a great deal of electricity. First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time. Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts. The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices.

SECOND GENERATION OF COMPUTERS: TRANSISTORS (1956-1963)

In the second generation of computers vacuum tubes where replaced with transistors. The transistor was invented at Bell Labs in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 1950s.

The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors. Second generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN. These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their memory, a magnetic core technology.

THIRD GENERATION OF COMPUTERS: INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (1964-1971)

The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on siliconchips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers. Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory.

FOURTH GENERATION OF COMPUTERS:  MICROPROCESSORS (1971-PRESENT)

The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls on a single chip. In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.

FIFTH GENERATION OF COMPUTERS: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (PRESENT AND BEYOND)

Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS ACCORDING TO SIZE

According to size, computer are classified as:
• Supercomputers
• Mainframe Computers
• Minicomputers
• Workstations
• Microcomputers, or Personal Computers

SUPER-COMPUTERS:
Super-Computers are widely used in scientific applications such as aerodynamic design simulation, processing of geological data.
• Supercomputers are the most powerful computers. They are used for problems requiring complex calculations.
• Because of their size and expense, supercomputers are relatively rare.
• Supercomputers are used by universities, government agencies, and large businesses.

MAINFRAME COMPUTERS:
Main frame Computers are usually slower, less powerful and less expensive than supercomputers. Mainframes are used by banks and many business to update inventory etc. Mainframe computers can support hundreds or thousands of users, handling massive amounts of input, output, and storage. Mainframes are also used as e-commerce servers, handling transactions over the Internet.

MINICOMPUTERS:
Mini computers are smaller than mainframe, general purpose computers, and give computing power without adding the prohibitive expenses associated with larger systems. It is generally easier to use. Minicomputers usually have multiple terminals. Minicomputers may be used as network servers and Internet servers.

WORKSTATIONS:

Workstations are powerful single-user computers. Workstations are used for tasks that require a great deal of number-crunching power, such as product design and computer animation. Workstations are often used as network and Internet servers.

MICROCOMPUTERS, OR PERSONAL COMPUTERS :

Is the smallest, least expensive of all the computers. Micro computers have smallest memory and less power, are physically smaller and permit fewer peripherals to be attached. Microcomputers are more commonly known as personal computers. The term “PC” is applied to IBM-PCs or compatible computers. Notebook (laptop) computers are used by people who need the power of a desktop system, but also portability. Example of PCs are Desk Top, Lap Top, Palm Top, PDA etc.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS ACCORDING TO USAGE
>General purpose Computers
>Special Computers

GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS
A ‘General Purpose Computer’ is a machine that is capable of carrying out some general data processing under program control. Thus virtually all computers from micro to mainframe are general purpose. Even computers in toys, games and single-function devices follow instructions in their built-in program.

SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS
A computer that is designed to operate on a restricted class of problems.
Use special purpose computer equipment to obtain patient diagnostic information.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS ACCORDING TO SIGNAL

According to usage, computers are classified as:
• Analog Computers
• Digital Computers
• Hydride Computers

ANALOG SIGNAL PROCESSING

Analog computers are used to model mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic quantities of nature to simulate problems or models to be solved. A running computation process is an end in itself. Using the analog clock as an example, the minute and hour dials are constantly on the move, to tell time. We can visually measure time gone by or time to come without having to cycle between digits 0 to 9 as is in digital clocks. They were and can be used to manipulate the following physical quantities: voltage, temperature, pressure, distance, acceleration, velocity, simulation and force.

Analog computers are solution oriented towards differential equations, where time is the most importantvariable. Since they produce only continuous signals, computation and output happen simultaneously. The first major analog signaling computers were used to model and test various kinds of aircraft, ICBM (Intercontinental ballistic missiles), and in numerous industrial installations. Examples of Analog Devices and Computers are:Slide rule, Speedometer, Tide Predictor, Thermometer, Analog clock, Nomogram: a graphical calculating device, Operational amplifier, Mechanical Integrator etc

DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING

As the words suggest, data representation is done by use of binary digits which are represented in numerals and non-numeric letters and symbols.Unlike analog computers which measure data to information in an infinite form, digital signal processing operates by estimating data input and output using the 0 and 1 binary mode, or discrete ON and OFF electric transmission.

HYBRID SIGNAL PROCESSING

This is a combination of favored features in analog and digital signal processing. A hybrid system is capable of inputting analog data and outputting digital information, or vice-versa. From a perspective point of view, hybrid computers have both the speed of analog systems and the accuracy and memory of digital gadgets. For example, an analog device could be used to measure patient blood pressure and temperature in a medical facility and derived data is converted into meaningful digital data.

REFRENCES

ByteNotes. Computer Science learning platform

http://www.byte-notes.com/what-computer

Bryan D. History of Computer.http://people.bu.edu/baws/brief%20computer%20history.html

Wasaa (2008). Classification of Computers

http://wasaa.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/classification-of-computers/

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