History of Computer

The computer is one of the most advanced discoveries of making has got a long history, Around 3000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, there were no any kind of number system . So people had to remember a lot of information. They felt the need to count the cattle. Then they started counting using their fingers. But the limited numbers of finger had made difficult for them to remember more facts. So they used stone for counting. As result around fifth century Hindu philosophers could develop new methods of counting using numbers 1 to 9. In 8^th Century Alkhawarism of raq developed 0. Since there are ten digits there are ten digits these number systems methods was called decimal system.

Generations of Computer

A generation of computer refers to the state of improvement in the development of a computer system. In terms of technological development of computer systems. In terms of technological developments over times, computer has been broadly classified into five generation. A major technological development that fundamentally has changed the way computer operate, resulting in increasingly , smaller, cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable devices characterize each generation of computer. In the history of computer there is four generation of computer. The generation of computer can be classified by the device used in memory and processor.

First generation (1946-1955) [vacuum tubes/thermionic valves]

The first generation computer operated on the principle of thermionic emission. They used thermionic valves also known as vacuum tubes and machine language was used for giving instructions. The first generation computers used stored program concept. First, the programming of first generation computer was done in machine language (instruction were written in binary digits 0s and 1s)

Features of first generation of computer

-The electronic circuitry was based on thermionic valves and vacuum tubes.

-Occupied very large space, slow, inefficient and unreliable due to low accuracy.

-The power consumption was very high and generated much heat.

-Electrostatic tubes (internal), paper tape, punched cards, magnetic tapes are were used.

-Programming mainly at the hardware level.

-Operating instructions were different in different computer depending upon the task for which the      computer was to be used.

-Used stored program concept.

-The computer of this generation were very large in size called mainframe computer or room sized computer.

Examples of first generation of computers:

Harvard Mark I (electromechanical), Whirlwind, ENIAC, EDSAC, UNIVAC I, UNIVAC II, UNIVAC 1101, RCA BIZMAC, NCR CRC 102A, NCR CRC 102D, Honeywell Datamatic 1000, Burroughs 220, IBM models 604, 650 (drum memory), 701, 702, 704, 705, 709.

Second Generation (1956-1965) [Transistor/electronic switching device]

The second generation of electronic computers began with the development of the transistor (transistor also called electronic switching device). A transistor transfer electric signal across a register. Transistor was highly reliable compared to tubes. Transistor was far more superior in performance on account of their miniature size, smaller power consumption and heat production.

Features of the second generation computer were:

-They were compact and hence occupied less space.

-Because of absence of heating the power required to operate them was very low.

-The operating speed was much higher.

-Transistor reduced the size-1/200^th

-Magnetic core, magnetic drums- (main memory and storage device)

-Much faster, more reliable, better speed and could handle enormous amount of data.

-Machine independent “high level language” such as COBAL (Common Business Oriented Language) and -FORTRAN (Formula Translator) were introduced to simplify programming.

-Transistor is also termed as electronic switching device.

The examples of second generation computers;

UNIVAC 1107, UNIVAC III, RCA 501, Phil co Transact S-2000, NCR 300 series, Honeywell 800, 400 series, General Electric GE 635, GE 645, GE200, Control Data corp. CDC 1604, 3600, 160A, LARC, Burroughs B5000, 200 series.

Third Generation (1964-1975) [Integrated Circuit, LSI and MSI]

The third generation of computer began with the development of the integrated circuit. The input and system of third generation computer are keyboard and Monitor respectively. High level language is used in those computers. Improved disk storage was used for storage purpose.

Characteristics of third generation computers:

-Large Scale integrated circuits.

-10 million circuits per square foot.

Examples of third generation computers:

Burroughs 6700, Control Data 3300, Control Data 6600, Control Data 7600, Honeywell 200, IBM system/360, system 3, system 7, NCR century series, RCA spectra 70 series, UNIVAC 9000 series, General Electric GE 600 series, GE 235.

Fourth Generation (1975-current) [VLSI, Microprocessors]

The technology used in fourth generation computer very large scale integrated circuits (VLSIC_s) and microprocessors. The input units are keyboard, Mouse, Scanner. The output unit Monitor.

High level language and Non procedural language are the language use in those computers. The storage unit is hard disk.

Characteristics of fourth generation computers:

-Very large Scale Integration.

-Continued miniaturization.

-Billions of circuits per cubic foot.

Examples of fourth generation computers:

IBM system 3090, IBM RISC 6000, IBM RT, ILLIAC IV, Cray 2 XMP, HP 9000

Fifth generation computer (coming generation) [Artificial Intelligence, Neural Network, Expert system, ULSI]

These computers are incomplete. Researchers are going on the development of this computer. These computers will have been developed that will be able to converse with people and will able to mimic human sense, manual skills, and intelligence. For this purpose the concept of artificial intelligence is being used. Researchers are planning to produce biochips also called organic chip that are to be used in fifth generation computers.

Many projects have been created in the world for the fifth generation of computer.

-The ICOT program in Japan.

-DARPA project in USA Defense Advanced Research Project Agency.

-MCC project in USA Microelectronic and Computer Technology Corporation.

-Intelligent Knowledge Based System (IKBS) is the central elements of fifth generation’s computers.

-These will no superconductor technology with little or no resistance greatly improving the speed of information flow.

-The machine will incorporate Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI)

-Aim to able to solve highly complex problems, which require great intelligence and expertise when solved by people.

-They are intended to be able to cope with large subset of natural language and draw on very large -knowledge and draw on very large knowledge base.

-Neural network, export system, set of natural language are the central element of this generation.

-Biochips are also called termed as organic chips.

-          Parallel processing

-          High speed logic and memory chips

-          High performance, micro- miniaturization

Super Computer

-Most powerful, fastest, largest and expensive computer in the world.

-A single structure is primarily found on super computer.

-A number of RISC (Reduced instruction set computer) processor is used in super computer and its word length 64 bit.

-They are the state of the art machines designed to perform calculations as fast as the current technology allows.

-It is used to solve extremely complex and large scale problem, simulations of atomic explosions, aircraft design, movie animation, mathematical calculation or number crunching, satellite communication, fluid dynamics, geological data, rocket launching in space.

-Other name of super computer is number crunching.

-It was developed by Cray in the one year of 1976. It was the first in the history of the computer.

-Number of processor is 4-16.

-Multiple numbers of users.

-Most expensive (ten millions of dollars)

-The manufacturers of super computer are: IBM, SILICON, GRAPHICS, FUJSTU, INTEL, etc.

-These are fastest as they employ 1000’s of processors,

-100’s of GB of RAM, 1000’s GB of secondary storage.

-Used only by governmental agencies and large international corporations.

-Examples: CRAYI/II/III, CYBER-205, HITACHI-810/20, CRAY-XMP and NEC-500 are some popular super computers.

Mainframe computer

-Mainframes are computer that supports 100 or 1000 of user simultaneously.

-They are also called “Enterprise Server”.

-Multiple no. of users.

-Word Length = 32 bit to 64 bit.

-Number of processor is 1-4.

-Clock speed is greater than 100 MHZ.

-Process data at very high rate.

-They can run multiple operating systems. Hence they are called – VIRTUAL MACHINES.

-They handle a large amount of I/O device which are arranged in separate CABINETS or FREMES hence the name.

-Less expensive than super computer.

-Used for processing large amount of data, business and for specific purpose.

-User work with terminal [An input/output device at which data centers or leaves a computer system] e.g. may be bank mainframe.

-Generally consists of multiple processors, GB’s of memory and TB’s of storage.

-Cost in millions of dollars.

-It was developed by J.Presper Eckert and John Mauchly in the year of 1951. It was the first mainframe computer in the history of computer.

-Examples: ICL 2950/10, IBM 1401, IBM 4381, 1CL 39 series.

-The first UNIVAC I mainframe computer was delivers to the Census Bureau.

Applications

-They are used in large financial transactions.

-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

-Industry and consumer statistics.

-Census.

Mini Computers:

-These were introduced by digital equipment Corporation (DEC) [first Minicomputer 12 bit, PDP-8] in 1960.

-Introduces by Kenneth H. Olsen in 1965.

-They can process more data and can support more I/O devices.

-They are less powerful than mainframe computers but more powerful than micro computer. Hence they are called MID-RANGE COMPUTERS.

-They cater to the needs of 4-200 users at a time.

-They are used in business as a centralized computer or as an internet server.

-They are less expensive than Mainframe computers. Examples include PDP 11, IBM 8000 series, etc.

Microcomputer

Depending on size, Microcomputers are of three types:

1.      Desktop computers:

They are used in single location, cheap, and have good storage. Example includes: Apple, IBM.

2       Laptop computers:  

      Portables computer are also called as the notebook computers or mobile computers. They are smaller in size, more expensive and are rechargeable. Examples include Apple, Acer, and Hewlett Packard (HP).

3         Hand-held computers:

Also called as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s), palmtop or mobile device. They are smaller in size, have smaller in size, have smaller display and input device is generally and electronic stylus. Their storage capacity is small. Example includes Apple Newton, Franklin eBook man. These are the history maker computers.

  

Mechanical Era/ the age of mechanical calculator

The significant early computing tools is ABACUS, was developed in 1000-1500 AD, a wooden rack holding parallel rods on which different sizes balls are stung. The arithmetic operation can be carried out with the help of beads on the wire. The frame consists of upper parts and lower parts. The upper part is called heaven and lower is called earth. Each part consists of five beads. This is used for addition and subtraction. In 1500, Leonardo Da Vinchi develops mechanical calculator, which was very heavy. A Scottish mathematician, John Napier (1614) invented another calculator which was made up of bone had more functionally add and multiplication of numbers. These are analog computer which have been replaced modern times by pocket calculators. The significant evolution of computing system was the invention by French mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1642). La Pascal machine could also multiply, divide and square root. In 1822 a professors of mathematician, Thomas (Charles Xavier Thomas) developed a machine called differential engine was the first commercially mechanical calculators. Charles Babbage (1792-1871) at Cambridge was developed the first digital computer. By 1822 he built an automatic mechanical calculator called difference engine. Unfortunately, Babbage analytical engine was never completed because its design required fabrication precision beyond that was feasible at that time. In 1840 Augusta (first programmer) suggested binary storage.

In 1887 an American statistician Herman Hollerith constructed a tabulating machine to compute the statics of 1890 US census. He used the punch card to store data. This machine can read 200 punched cards per minutes. In 1900 Johan Amberose Fleming invents the vacuum tube to store data and instruction, which was very big. The major step in the evolution of computer system is invention of punch cards which was first used during the US similarly; Lee de frost invented triode and semiconductors. After his retirement in 1913 Thomas J Watson becomes president of the company which becomes international business Machine Corporation in 1924.

Electronic Era/Age of Electronic Mechanical Computer

The electronic era was the time when the computers were made with electronics components. Following are some of the historical keys and dates in this invention era.

1937- John V. Attansoff Designed the first special purpose digital electronic computer. Professor Howard Akine constructed electro mechanical computer named mark I, which can perform according to pre programming instructions automatically. It was based on Charles Babbage principle after 100 years of his death. Although it was very huge with 51 feet long and 8 feet height and 3 feet wide using 1800 vacuum tubes, similarly Howard Aiken modified Mark 1 and invented Mark II which was 19000 vacuum tubes.

1945- John W Mauchly and Presper Eckert built ENIAC (Electronic numerical integrator and calculator) for the US Army . ENIAC was the first machine to use more than 2000 vacuum tubes and 18000 vacuum tube ENIAC  was the first high speed general purpose electronic digital computer was produce.

1946- UNIVAC (Universal automatic computer) was designed by Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, inventors of the ENICA. The UNIVAC was completed in 1950. It was the first commercial computer produced in the United States.

1948- Howard Aiken developed the Harvard Mark III, also known as ADEC (Aiken Dahlgrem Electronic Calculator) was an early computer that was partly electronic and partly electronic mechanical. It was built at Harvard University under US Navy.

1950- National Bureau of Standard (NBS) introduced its standards Eastern Automatic Computer with 10000 newly germanium diodes in its logic circuits, and the first magnetic disk drive designed by Jacob Rainow.

1952- Remington Rand bought the ERA in 1951 and combined the UNIVAC product in1952; the UNIVAC 1101 was used to calculate the presidential election.

1953-Tom Watson and IBM introduced model 604 computers, its first with transistors which becomes the basic of the model 608, the first solid state computers for the commercials market.

1964- IBM produce SABRE, the first airline reservation tracing system for American airlines, IBM announce system 360 all purpose computer using for 8 bit character word length.

1968- DEC introduced the first minicomputer, the PD-8 named after the mini skirt, DEC was founded in 1975 by Kenneth H. Olsen who came for the sage project at MIT and began sales of PDP in 1960.

1969-development began son Arpanet, founded by DOD (Department of Defense)

1970- First microprocessors and dynamic RAMs were developed. Hoff developed the first microprocessors 4004.

1971-Intel produces large scale integrated circuits that were used in the digital delay line, the digital device. Gilbert Hyatt at micro computer company introduced 4 bit 4004, a VLSI of 2300 components for Japanese company business to create a single chip for calculator. Similarly IBM introduces the first 8 inch memory disk; it was called then floppy disk.

1972-Intel made the 8 pins 8008 and 8080 microprocessors; Gary Kildall wrote his control program/ microprocessor disk operating system to provide instruction for floppy disk drivers to work with 8080 processors.

1973- IBM developed the first true sealed hard disk drive called Winchester after the rifle company, using two 30 MB plates. Robert Metcalfe at Xerox Company created Ethernet as the basic for Local Area Network.

1975- Bill Gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft Corporation.

1976- Job and woznik developed the Apple Personal Computer; Alan shugart introduced 5.5” floppy disk.

1980-IBM signed a contract with Microsoft Company of Bill Gates and Paul Allen and Steve Ballmer to supply an operating system for IBM PC model.

1984- Apple computer introduced the Macintosh personal computer in January 24.

1985- Microsoft developed Windows 85 was the first Window.

1991- World Wide Web (WWW) was developed by Tim Berner Lee and released by CERN.

1993- The first web browser called Mosaic was created by student Marc Andresen and programmer Eric Bina at NCSA in the first 3 month of 1993. The beta version of 0.5 of X UNIX was releases in Jan 23 1993.

1994- Netscape Navigator 1.0 was released DEC 1994, and given a way for soon gaining 75% world Market.

1996-Intel corporation Introduces pro(X 86) microprocessors

1997-Intel Corporation produced Pentium II

1999-Intel Corporation produced Pentium III

2000-Intel Corporation produced Pentium IV