History of Computers
Brief History of Computers
(A Look Back at Computing)
Computers have become one of the most important parts of modern society. Nearly everything that is modern required or uses computer related technology in some way. But how did computers as we know them come to exist? Did someone sitting in his lab just one day say, "Aha! I've got it! The computer?! Well, no, that is not how this happened. Rather, many years of brilliant ideas and research from many different individuals contributed to modern computing. The field is constantly evolving at a pace unlike anything before it as techniques are polished and new breakthroughs are made.
The Early days (1,000 B.C. to 1940)
“Ancient Civilizations”
Computers are named so because they make mathematical computations at fast speeds. As a result, the history of computing goes back at least 3,000 years ago, when ancient civilizations were making great strides in arithmetic and mathematics. The Greeks, Egyptians, Babylonians, Indians, Chinese, and Persians were all interested in logic and numerica l computation.
The Greeks focused on geometry and rationality, the Egyptians on simple addition and subtraction, the Babylonians on multiplication and division, Indians on the base-10 decimal numbering system and concept of zero , the Chinese on trigonometry, and the Persians on algorithmic problem solving. These developments carried over into the more modern centuries, fueling advancements in areas like astronomy, chemistry, and medicine.
Pascal, Leibnitz, and Jacquard
During the first half of the 17th century there were very important advancements in the automation and simplification of arithmetic computation. John Napier invented logarithms to simplify difficult mathematical computations. The slide rule was introduced in the year 1622, and Blaise Pascal spent most of his life in the 1600's working on a calculator called the Pascaline. The
(A Look Back at Computing)
Computers have become one of the most important parts of modern society. Nearly everything that is modern required or uses computer related technology in some way. But how did computers as we know them come to exist? Did someone sitting in his lab just one day say, "Aha! I've got it! The computer?! Well, no, that is not how this happened. Rather, many years of brilliant ideas and research from many different individuals contributed to modern computing. The field is constantly evolving at a pace unlike anything before it as techniques are polished and new breakthroughs are made.
The Early days (1,000 B.C. to 1940)
“Ancient Civilizations”
Computers are named so because they make mathematical computations at fast speeds. As a result, the history of computing goes back at least 3,000 years ago, when ancient civilizations were making great strides in arithmetic and mathematics. The Greeks, Egyptians, Babylonians, Indians, Chinese, and Persians were all interested in logic and numerica l computation.
The Greeks focused on geometry and rationality, the Egyptians on simple addition and subtraction, the Babylonians on multiplication and division, Indians on the base-10 decimal numbering system and concept of zero , the Chinese on trigonometry, and the Persians on algorithmic problem solving. These developments carried over into the more modern centuries, fueling advancements in areas like astronomy, chemistry, and medicine.
Pascal, Leibnitz, and Jacquard
During the first half of the 17th century there were very important advancements in the automation and simplification of arithmetic computation. John Napier invented logarithms to simplify difficult mathematical computations. The slide rule was introduced in the year 1622, and Blaise Pascal spent most of his life in the 1600's working on a calculator called the Pascaline. The