What did the first computers perform?

Answer 1

The first computer was an Chinese abacus.

A computer is defined as A device that computes that assembles, stores, correlates, or otherwise processes information.

An abacus is a manual computing device consisting of a frame holding parallel rods strung with movable counters.

Word History: The adjective dusty, with its connotations of disuse and age, might seem an appropriate word to describe the abacus, since this counting device was used for solving arithmetical problems in the days before calculators and computers. Originally the abacus was, in fact, dusty. The source of our word abacus, the Greek word abax, probably comes from Hebrew 'bq, "dust," although the details of transmission are obscure. In postbiblical usage 'bq meant "sand used as a writing surface." The Greek word abax has as one of its senses "a board sprinkled with sand or dust for drawing geometric diagrams." This board is a relative of the abacus with movable counters strung on rods that is familiar to us. The first use of the word abacus, recorded in Middle English in a work written before 1387, refers to a sand-board abacus used by the Arabs. The difference in form between the Middle English word abacus and its Greek source abax is explained by the fact that Middle English borrowed Latin abacus, which came from the Greek genitive form (abakos) of abax.

Answer 2

I did a little research and found the first personal computer was called, "Simon" (not to be confused with the popular game). It was developed by Edmund Berkeley. He first wrote about the idea in his book, "Giant Brains, or Machines That Think," published in 1949. The construction of the machine was conducted mostly by, William A. Porter and Robert A. Jensen. The purpose of the machine was to create a mechanical brain that could create interest for others to make more creations of its kind. The machine could perform some functions like a calculator addition and subtraction. Source: http://www.blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml

Answer 3

count Edit: Actually, the first computer ever invented was called the Antikythera, invented in 150-100 BC, and it was used to predict astronomical locations in the solar system (find the moon, other planets, etc.).

Answer 4

The first computers were designed to calculate mathematical tables. These tables were used for navigation and being calculated by hand made them error prone. These first computers were mechanical difference engines. The first electronic computers were built during WW2 to decode German encrypted transmissions.

Answer 5

The first electronic digital computer, ABC completed in 1942, was used to solve systems of simultaneous equations for the University's Statistics department in Ames Iowa.

It could do up to 30 additions/subtractions per second on 50 bit binary numbers. Data was entered in decimal on conventional IBM punchcard (inserted manually one at a time), intermediate results were punched/read using electric sparks on standard 8.5 by 11 sheets of paper, 30 numbers of 50 bits each per sheet. Final results were read out on an electromechanical counter device.

Answer 6

1. ABC: 1942 - solve systems of simultaneous equations of up to 29 variables.
2. Colossus: 1944 - crack german messages sent using the lorenz sz42 cypher machine. Note: it could not decipher them, all it did was find the key for 5 of the 12 keywheels, the remaining 7 keywheels were cracked by hand, then the message and key were entered into a different machine to be deciphered.
3. ENIAC: 1946 - calculate anything that can be done with only 20 variables.
4. Manchester Baby: 1948 - first stored program computer. limited by a memory of only 32 words.

Answer 7

im researching and as soon as i find out i will get back to this site... hopefully im back and this is what i found it was made for solving computing problems

Answer 8

In 1942 the ABC, built by John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry solved systems of simultaneous equations for the Statistics Dept. at the University of Iowa in Ames Iowa.