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Computer History
This category includes questions and answers about the history of the computer. Ask questions about the first computer and major developments in computing.
5,564 Questions
First generation computers were built with vacuum tubes. The capabilities were about the same as that of modern computers, except limited by very small memories and slow speed. Typical first generation computer memory cost from $2 to $20 per byte equivalent, whereas today's computer memory costs less than a micro-penny per byte.
Why call this machine computers?
The term "compute" has been around a long time, meaning to "devise an answer to a problem by evaluating data, following a prescribed series of steps, and arriving at a logical, proveably correct answer." In the 40's, women (and to a lesser extent, men) were hired by the government to endlessly work out mathematical problems for figuring artillery trajectories, and they were actually called "computers"...
What are the upcoming inventions in computers?
in my knowledge
computers might be a laptop, a size of a mobile and 200 gb memory because the first computers had a colassal glass monitor with a few kb memory!
and now a palm os
a laptop with more than 1 gb of memory form DELL
What did Augusta Ada King-Noel Countess of Lovelace contribute to computing?
Ada Lovelace is widely recognized as the world's first computer programmer, and as writing the world's first computer program. In 1842-1843 she translated an Italian work on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine design for a general-purpose computer. in the translation, Lovelace included her own set of notes (longer than the original work), which detail how to correctly calculate a sequence of Bernoulli numbers with the Engine, had it ever been built. She also correctly predicted that computers in the future would have abilities beyond just number calculation, which many in the field, including Babbage, discounted.
The computer language Ada created by the United States Department of Defense is named after her, and March 24th has been commemorate as Ada Lovelace Day, to recognize women's achievements in technology and science.
How the development of personal computer has extended the use of computer in todays world?
Computers have become part of our everyday lives in most of everthing that we use. For example our cars, our alarm clocks and there's many more to name. Some colleges use computers for online classes especially for the mothers that can't go to the campus like myself.
What did the second generation computers use for memory?
Most used ferrite core magnetic memory, but some other memory technologies also used were:
- plated wire magnetic memory
- thin-film magnetic memory
- rotating magnetic drum or disk memory
- magnetostrictive wire delayline memory
- etc.
Who built super computers in the 1980s?
IBM (also known as "Big Blue") built supercomputers in the 1980s.
What was the first name of computer maker Dell?
Good grief no! Early computers originated in the 1940s and there is lots of debate on which was first, mostly depending on an individual's definition of "computer". Here are a list of a few, but it is far from complete:
- ABC in 1942
- Harvard Mark I in 1944
- Zuse Z3
- ENIAC in 1945
- EDSAC
- EDVAC
- UNIVAC I in 1951
- Princeton IAC
- SEAC
- NORC
- IBM 701 in 1952
- UNIVAC 1101
- IBM 704 in 1954
- UNIVAC 1103
What is function of difference engine and analytical engine?
A machine first proposed by Charles Babbage in 1837 that is considered the concept for the first general mechanical computer. The Analytical Engine contained an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), basic flow control, and integrated memory and is the first general-purpose computer concept. Unfortunately because of funding issues this computer was also never built while Charles Babbage's was alive. However, in 1910 Henry Babbage, Charles Babbage's youngest son was able to complete a portion of this machine and was able to perform basic calculations. In the picture to the right, is a public domain picture of the Analytical Engine.
What did first and second generation computers use for input?
There were many methods used, but the most common for early computers were punch cards. They would be "written" by a special typewriter, then fed in large stack into a large computer. Then we eliminated this intermediate and a typewriter like device was hooked up, this later became the keyboard.
Who made the hand-held computers?
Hewlett Packard introduced the first handheld scientific calculator in 1972 and that became the first ever handheld computer to be invented.
What are the new discoveries in computer world?
I think there is not a single thing one can point out as a new discovery in computer world as there are many but the major breakthrough technology is the "Siri Voice Assistant Software" that Apple bought, now its on integration to cars. I see the next generation of computers being more task accomplishe-rs than executors
Ten years ago people used computers but not as much as right know. Now days the percentage would be more then 90 but 10 years ago it was only 43%!
How do you empty a computer recycle bin?
Go into the recycle bin and under recycle bin tasks click empty recycle bin. Or click on the Recycle Bin with the right mouse button and select "Empty Recycle Bin" from the pop-up menu.
Formula and volume of a cylinder?
to find the volume of a cylinder you use the formula = Pi multiplied by radius squared multiplied by height.
Who invented the Analytical Engine?
Never and it is highly unlikely one will ever be made.
Its inventor, Charles Babbage, never completed the plans and was unable to convince anyone to fund its construction (largely because he had frustrated those funding the construction of his earlier difference engine by not completing it when promised then effectively doing what they considered a "bait and switch" when he decided to stop work on the difference engine and offer them what he claimed to be the "better" analytical engine instead).
There is no serious reason to consider building an analytical engine now as it would be painfully slow, be far larger than the largest vacuum tube computer ever built, require dozens of mechanics and machinists to maintain it and keep it running, etc. compared to modern highspeed electronic microprocessor based computers. Also much of the analytical engine would have to be designed from scratch as Babbage's drawings do not cover the complete machine.
Two copies of Babbage's Difference Engine #2 were built in 1991 and 2008 by the London Museum of Science. This machine was much simpler and used fewer parts than Babbage's original Difference Engine #1 (using ideas and designs derived from his work designing the analytical engine) and had an apparently complete set of plans, making it ideal to research the question of if these machines could actually be built and function reliably using the tolerances that machinists in the 1830s were able to do. They succeeded in building both machines and found that they worked very reliably, however it also showed that the machines do not survive transportation well (but this would not have been a problem in the 1800s as they would have been constructed onsite and never moved), also a "minor" change made to make it easier to crank the machine by hand (one that Babbage would not have made himself as he probably designed it that way to limit the torque in the machine) permitted the machine to be overtorqued and breaking several carry arms accidentally.
What is the example of 5th generation of computers?
The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.
Second Generation (1956-1963) TransistorsTransistorsreplaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented 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. Though the transistor still generated a great deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output.
Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated CircuitsThe 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.
Fourth Generation (1971-Present) MicroprocessorsThe microprocessorbrought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. 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.
Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial IntelligenceFifth 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. Quantum computation and molecular andnanotechnologywill radically change the face of computers in years to come. The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.
How many generations of computers do you have and what are their distinguishing features?
First Generation (1940-1956) Vacuum Tubes
Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors
Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits
Fourth Generation (1971-Present) Microprocessors
Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial Intelligence
What was the name of the place where Colossus was made?
The Colossus computer was originally made at the Post Office Research Station at Dollis Hill in London, then after checkout and testing dismantled and transported to Bletchley Park where it was reassembled. However once the Colossus was proven they began being made directly at Bletchley Park to eliminate the delay of assembly, disassembly, and reassembly.
