History of Computers

• Computers have revolutionized how people live, work, and communicate, from abaci to artificial intelligence.

Origins of Computing

• Computing history dates back to 4000 BC with arithmetic machines
• The abacus, used by ancient civilizations in China, Greece, and Rome, was an important advancement.

Mechanical Machines

• Blaise Pascal invented the Pascaline, the first adding machine, in 1642.
• Charles Babbage, the "Father of the Computer," developed a differential machine.
• Babbage then developed an analytical machine for basic operations, data storage, and result printing.

Birth of the Digital Age

• Herman Hollerith used punched cards for the 1890 US census, leading to IBM's creation.
• Punched cards became a standard for entering data into early computers.

Early Electronic Computers

• The need to decipher codes during WWII drove creating automatic calculation machines.
• ENIAC, built by John W. Mauchly and J. Prester Eckert Jr. in 1946, was the first electronic computer.

Fun Fact

• ENIAC, the first Turing-complete general-purpose computer, was a 30-ton colossus.
• ENIAC covered 1,800 square feet, used 20,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 resistors, and 10,000 capacitors.
• ENIAC contained 1,500 relays, and 6,000 manual switches, consumed 150 kW of electricity, and needed six programmers (c. 1940s).

Computer Generations

• First Generation (1940-1956): Vacuum tubes, large and slow computers programmed with punched cards (Zuse Z1, EDVAC, ENIAC).
• Second Generation (1956-1964): Transistors replaced vacuum tubes, reducing size and energy consumption while ferrite core memories and magnetic drums were used for data storage.
• Third Generation (1964-1971): Integrated circuits (chips) made from silicon wafers, leading to smaller computers being sold commercially (E.g., IBM S/360 series).
• Fourth Generation (1971-1983): Microprocessors enabled the creation of microcomputers (PCs). PCs met personal and professional needs with Intel, IBM, and Macintosh competition.
• Fifth Generation (1983-2019): Miniaturization of components allowed large data processing, integrated processors, voice recognition, and AI.
• Sixth Generation (2019-future): AI, quantum computing and learning algorithms, business intelligence, and tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Leonardo, and Luvvoice.

Key Advances in Computing History

• The transistor replaced vacuum tubes, enabling smaller, efficient, and reliable computers.

• Integrated circuits enabled miniaturization, creating personal and portable computers.

• The microprocessor's invention started the personal computer era, revolutionizing technology interaction.

• FORTRAN in 1957 enabled computers to perform repetitive tasks. In 1967, Seymour Papert designed LOGO for children, to draw. By 2025, there are ≈ 9000 programming languages, with 50 commonly used.

• IBM introduced the first storage disk, the IBM RAMAC 305 with 5 MB capacity, in 1963 while IBM built the first floppy disk

• Operating systems evolved to simplify program preparation and accelerate job transitions.

• The World Wide Web was created with Tim Berners-Lee's development of HTML in 1990.

Computer Impact

• Computers have transformed education by providing access to information, learning tools, and platforms for collaboration.
• Automated business tasks have improved efficiency and created opportunities.
• Computers have facilitated global communication through email, social networks, and videoconferencing.
• Computers have transformed entertainment, providing access to games, movies, music, and digital content.

The Future of Computing

• AI is automating tasks, improving decision-making, and creating possibilities.
• Quantum computing has the potential to solve complex problems beyond classical computers.
• Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) will transform interaction, creating immersive productivity experiences.
• The Internet of Things (IoT) will connect devices and sensors, using intelligent, automated systems and improve efficiency and security.

Societal Impact of Computing

• Computers have driven innovation in medicine and engineering.
• Computers have contributed to economic growth, creating jobs and improving productivity.
• Computers have connected people worldwide, facilitating communication and collaboration.
• Computers have democratized access to information, allowing everyone to learn and grow.

The Future of Computing

• Computing continues to evolve rapidly with new technologies and applications.
• The future will transform how we live, work, and relate to the world.