Evolution and Generation of Computers
Introduction: Evolution of Computers
Earlier computers were very expensive and takes large sapce of installation so that only some organization could buy this computers.But in recent years, newer technologies and advancements in the field of Information Technology (IT in short) his made computers within reach of individuals also because todays computers are small in size and easy to invidually installatio.
The history of computer starts as far back 5000 BC.
Abacus (5000 B.C.)
The abacus is a calculating tool also called counting frame. It is used for mathematical calculation.
It is a advance device, before abacus the mathematical calculation done by pencil, paper and fingers.
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| ABACUS |
The exact origin of the abacus is still unknown. It is not known whether the 'abacus' originated in China, Arabia, Europ or independently in the several parts of the world However, the abacuss are still ussd in different parts of the world namely Malaysia, China , Japan in spite of this prerit electronic boom, Abacus used for fast calculations and is still in use.
This machine was further improved by Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibriuiz Germany in the year 1671 after the death of pascal. Gottfried Leibniz started to work on his own calculator.
The original idea of using succesive addition for multiplication was useful for developing this multiplication calculator by Leibniz.
Charles Babbage was a leading mathematician of his days. Having had a Cambridge education, in 1928 he was appointed Lucasian Professor, a honour held by Newton earlier.
Though this high reputation in mathematics, Babbage was essentially a practical man and an expert mechanical engineer.
Even as a student, Babbage started working on what he called a "different engine ", this was a mechanical engine using gear wheels and his interplay, to mechanise the production of final values in a mathematical table.
This was the first time that machine can arithmetic computations automatically. The bisic principle in the babbage is the difference in the formula for calculating the value between level difference using Table.
Table shows the level difference between values of y in the formula y = x*x.
You should note that the second level difference is a constant 2.
This fact makes it possible for y to be found for any values of x by simply addition .
For example: x=5 then y=2+7+16=25. Further the values in first difference can be found by successive addition of 2, from which further value of y can be determined.
Babbage difference engine explcited in these procedures in a gear wheel mechanism.
However, it was the first step of computing that led Babbage to leap forward in the next develapment.
A machine of this type was adopted by insurance companies for computing life tables.
Punch cards were widely used through much of the 20th century in what became known as the data processing industry.
In 1881, Herman Hollerith began designing a machine to tabulate census data more efficiently than by traditional hand methods.
In 1908, Hollerith developed a rertical sorting machine which processed almost 200 punched cards per minute.
The punch cards devised by Herman In 1587 underwent changes and around 1920, the Internaticnal Business Machines (IBM) introduced a particular type of card, the design of which was used for some orangisations for a very Iong time.
It was built by Howard Aiken in International Business Machines (IBM),
this computer was called the IBM Mk1.
Howard Aiken was a professor of applied mathematics at Harvard University, U. S A Hollerith cards containing data or instructions were fed into the machine - a few at a time - and results were brought out on to punched card machine or electric typewriter.
Prof. Aiken also developed a punched paper as input medium
All these machine were based on electro-mechanical devices.
This machine used large amount of electricity energy.
This machine was named as ENIAC that means Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator.
This machine was designed and completed in 1946 by John Mauchl and Presper Eckert at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
This machine was thirty times more powerful than the previous machines. It contains about 18,000 electronic valves. It could per form 5, 000 additions per second and consumed 150 kilo watts of power. This model remained in use till 1955.
The first machine, UNIVAC - 1 built by this company was made operational in 1951 at the Bureau of Census.
This machine used the input and output. It was so rugged that it could be run for 24 hours a day and the work successfully till 1963.
A similar machine was produced in bulk and put to business applications in 1954. These machines are known as the first generation computers.
Heavy power consumption and not very high reliability The computers we discussed so far In the vinology, we will discuss the characteristics of further generations of computers. .
Pascal and Leibniz Calculation
Pascal calculator is a mechanical adding machine was inveted by Blaise Pascal in 1642.
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| Pascal's Calculator |
The original idea of using succesive addition for multiplication was useful for developing this multiplication calculator by Leibniz.
Babbage Difference Engine
Charles Babbage known as father of computer.Charles Babbage was a leading mathematician of his days. Having had a Cambridge education, in 1928 he was appointed Lucasian Professor, a honour held by Newton earlier.
Though this high reputation in mathematics, Babbage was essentially a practical man and an expert mechanical engineer.
Even as a student, Babbage started working on what he called a "different engine ", this was a mechanical engine using gear wheels and his interplay, to mechanise the production of final values in a mathematical table.
 |
| Babbage Difference Engine |
This was the first time that machine can arithmetic computations automatically. The bisic principle in the babbage is the difference in the formula for calculating the value between level difference using Table.
 |
| The lables in a diffrence engine |
Table shows the level difference between values of y in the formula y = x*x.
You should note that the second level difference is a constant 2.
This fact makes it possible for y to be found for any values of x by simply addition .
For example: x=5 then y=2+7+16=25. Further the values in first difference can be found by successive addition of 2, from which further value of y can be determined.
Difference / Analytical Engine
The analytical engine used the theory developed by Charles Babbage.Babbage difference engine explcited in these procedures in a gear wheel mechanism.
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| Analytical Engine |
However, it was the first step of computing that led Babbage to leap forward in the next develapment.
A machine of this type was adopted by insurance companies for computing life tables.
Herman Hollerith: Punch Cards
Herman Hollerith was a statistician with the U.S. Bureau Census. He designed a set of machines to help process the result of 1890 cersus in USA. He used 3 'x 5" punched cards to record data.Punch cards were widely used through much of the 20th century in what became known as the data processing industry.
In 1881, Herman Hollerith began designing a machine to tabulate census data more efficiently than by traditional hand methods.
In 1908, Hollerith developed a rertical sorting machine which processed almost 200 punched cards per minute.
 |
| The punch card tabulator |
The punch cards devised by Herman In 1587 underwent changes and around 1920, the Internaticnal Business Machines (IBM) introduced a particular type of card, the design of which was used for some orangisations for a very Iong time.
Howard Aiken (1937): 1BM Mk l
First computer capable of automatic performance of a long sequence of arithmetic and logical calculations.It was built by Howard Aiken in International Business Machines (IBM),
this computer was called the IBM Mk1.
 |
| IBM Mk 1 |
Howard Aiken was a professor of applied mathematics at Harvard University, U. S A Hollerith cards containing data or instructions were fed into the machine - a few at a time - and results were brought out on to punched card machine or electric typewriter.
Prof. Aiken also developed a punched paper as input medium
All these machine were based on electro-mechanical devices.
This machine used large amount of electricity energy.
ENIAC (1946) : Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator
Main problem of electro mechanical devices was overcome in the year 1946 when the vacuum tubes were used for first time in large sized computer. |
| ENIAC |
This machine was named as ENIAC that means Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator.
This machine was designed and completed in 1946 by John Mauchl and Presper Eckert at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
This machine was thirty times more powerful than the previous machines. It contains about 18,000 electronic valves. It could per form 5, 000 additions per second and consumed 150 kilo watts of power. This model remained in use till 1955.
UNIVAC - 1 (1951) : Universal Automatic Computer
Ecker and Mauchly established a new company in 1946. This company was incorporated as the UNIVAC Division of Remington Rand in 1949.The first machine, UNIVAC - 1 built by this company was made operational in 1951 at the Bureau of Census.
 |
| UNIVAC |
This machine used the input and output. It was so rugged that it could be run for 24 hours a day and the work successfully till 1963.
A similar machine was produced in bulk and put to business applications in 1954. These machines are known as the first generation computers.
Heavy power consumption and not very high reliability The computers we discussed so far In the vinology, we will discuss the characteristics of further generations of computers. .
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Generation of computers
Classification on the basis of generation computers can be classify according to major changes in the development of computers Industries.
These major changes in the hardware and software technology in termed as generations... read more
Evolution and Generation of Computers
Reviewed by Jai kumar
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July 24, 2019
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Reviewed by Jai kumar
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July 24, 2019
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