A Brief History Of Computers And Networks
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Submitted by freefortermpapers on 06/24/2008 03:00 PM
- Category: Technology
- Words: 668
- Pages: 3
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A Brief History Of Computers And Networks
A computer is defined as any programmable electronic device that can store, retrieve, and process data. Since the early 17th century, primitive computers have existed and as time progressed, the computer has advanced to become what it is today.
As early as the 1640's, mechanical calculators were manufactured for sale. Records exist of earlier machines, but Blaise Pascal invents the first commercial calculator, a hand powered adding machine.
Then in 1801 a Frenchman, Joseph-Marie Jacquard builds a loom that weaves by reading punched holes stored on small sheets of hardwood. These plates are then inserted into the loom which reads (retrieves) the pattern and creates (process) the weave. Powered by water, this machine came 140 years before the development of the modern computer. A computer similar to this was created by Herman Hollerith to calculate the 1890 census. However, unlike Jacquard's machine, this computer used electric power. In 1943, development begins on the "Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer" (ENIAC) at Penn State. Designed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, the computer, the Mark I, computes complex tables for the U.S. Navy. Working with Thomas J. Watson Sr., this computer was mass-developed by the now famous company, IBM.
Work completes on ENIAC in 1946. To make the machine appear more impressive to reporters during its unveiling, a team member (possibly Eckert) puts translucent spheres(halved ping pong balls) over the lights. The US patent office recognizes this as the first computer.
IBM introduces the 701 the following year, 1947. It is the first commercially successful computer. In 1956 FORTRAN, a computer language, is introduced. Other early languages were then invented which includes LISP, COBOL, ALGOL, and BASIC. Although never widely used, ALGOL is the basis for many of today's languages.
The first transistor powered computer was developed in 1958. Brilliant scientist Seymour Cray...
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