History of Computers

First Computer - Analytical Engine

Proposed and partly built by Charles Babbage (English inventor) in the 19th century

Fully program controlled mechanical computer

4 components - mill (calculating unit), store, reader, printer - essential components of every computer today - set the standard for what modern computers are made up of

Data (numbers) were entered on punch cards

1843 - Ada Lovelace (mathematician) wrote the first algorithm for a computer based on the Analytical Engine - called the first computer programmer

ENIAC - Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer

First programmable, electronic, general-purpose digital computer

Built during WW2 in the United States

Programmed via switches and cables

Able to solve a large class of numerical problems through reprogramming

Manchester SSEM - Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine (Manchester Baby)

First electronic stored program computer - first electrical storage

Ran its first program 21st june 1948

Not really for practical use

Cambridge EDSAC - Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator

Ran first programs in 1949

First practical stored-program computer in regular use (from test to tool)

Still used punch cards to load programs

IBM Personal Computer - PC

Released 1981

Led to an era of cheap commodity-based computation

Growing adaptation for PC as a basis for home computers, servers and super-computers

Evolution of Computers

• 1950s/60s/70s there are many incompatible design:

  • Supercomputers, Mainframes, etc

  • Diverse hardware

  • Different system software - applications need to be re-written for each!

• 80s: Micro-electronics lead the reduced costs

  • More companies

  • Kit computers and commodity software appeared

• Late 80s-90s: Wave of commodity microcomputers (PCs)

• 2000s/10s: “Computers everywhere” (phones, watches, etc.)

All are Von Neumann architectures