History of Computing Devices

History of Computing Devices

• Humans have used tools for computations and calculations since ancient times.
• Primitive devices like fingers, stones, and sticks were used for counting and keeping track of livestock.

Early Computing Devices

• The first computing devices were mechanical, not electronic, and did not have plugs, circuits, memory, or use electricity.
• Their primary function was to assist humans with simple arithmetic.

Abacus

• An abacus is a frame with rods and beads that can be moved for counting purposes.
• The exact history of the abacus is unknown, but it was used by the Babylonian, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian civilizations.
• Each row on the abacus represents a power of ten with ten beads on each row.
• The abacus had the following rows: tens, hundreds, thousands, 10 thousands, 100 thousands, millions, 10 millions, 100 millions, billions, and ones.

Leonardo da Vinci's Calculating Device

• Leonardo da Vinci designed a calculating device to perform basic arithmetic in approximately 1500 A.D.
• The device operated with wheels and pulleys.
• Da Vinci's sketches were complete and correct enough for modern engineers to build a calculator based on them.

Napier's Bones

• John Napier created a device called "Napier's Bones" or "Napier's Rods" in 1614.
• The device used rods to perform multiplication of any number by a number 2 through 9.
• For example, it could be used to calculate 7 x 846.