Module-2-Living-in-the-IT-Era

MODULE 2-DEFINITION OF COMPUTERS
Computer is an electronic machine that accepts information (data), processes

it according to specific instructions and provides the results as new information
• Computer is a programmable machine.
• Computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the
ability to store, retrieve, and process data.
• Computer is a machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions
(program).
• Computer is any device which aids humans in performing various kinds of
computations or calculations.
Three principal characteristics of computer:
• It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner.
• It can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions.
• It can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of data
Learning Objective
Trace the evolution of computers, from early mechanical devices to modern digital
systems.
Read This!
EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY
Earliest Computer
Originally calculations were done by humans whose job title were computers.
These human computers were typically engaged in the calculation of mathematical
expression. The calculations of this period were specialized and expensive requiring
years of training in mathematics
The first use of the word “computer” was recorded in 1613, referring to a
person who carried out calculations or computations and the word continued to be
used in that sense until the middle of the 20th century
1. Tally stick – was an ancient memory aid device to record and document
numbers,
quantities or even messages
2. Abacus is a mathematical device used to aid an individual in performing
mathematical calculations. The abacus was invented in Babylonia in 2400 B.C.
the Abacus in the form we are most familiar with was first used in China in
around 500 B.C and is used to perform basic arithmetic operations
3. Napier’s Bones was invented by John Napier in 1614. This allowed the
operator to
multiply, divide and calculate square roots by moving the rods around and
placing them in specially constructed board
4. Slide Rule was invented by William Oughtred in 1622 based on Napier’s
idea about
Logarithms. It is used primarily for: Multiplication, Division, Roots, Logarithm,
Trigonometry. It is not normally used for addition or subtraction
5. Pascaline was invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642. It was its limitation to
addition and subtraction and is too expensive
6. Stepped Reckoner-invented by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in 1672. The
machine that can add, subtract, multiply and divide automatically.
7. Jacquard Loom- is a mechanical loom which was invented by Joseph Marie
Jacquard in 1881. It is as automatic loom controlled by punched cards
8. Arithometer is a mechanical calculator invented by Thomas de Colmar in
1820. This was the first reliable, useful and commercially successful
calculating machine. It could perform the four basic mathematic functions
and it is the first mass-produced calculating machine
9. Difference Engine and Analytical Engine were both automatic, mechanical
calculator that is designed to tabulate polynomial functions and was
invented by Charles Babbage who also is the father of the Computer in 1822
and 1834. This is the first mechanical computer
10. First programmer was known in 1840 named as Augusta Ada Byron who
suggests to Babbage to use the Binary System. She writes programs for the
Analytical Engine
11. Scheutzian Calculation Engine was invented by Per Georg Scheutz in 1843.
This was based from Charles Babbage’s difference engine. This was first
printing calculator
12. Tabulating Machine was invented by Herman Hollerith in 1890 which is
utilized to assist in summarizing information and accounting
13. Harvard Mark 1 or otherwise known as IBM Automatic Sequence
Controlled Calculator (ASCC) was invented by Howard H. Aiken in 1943 and
was known as the first electromechanical computer
14. Z1 is the first programmable computer that was created by Konrad Zuse
in Germany from 1936 to 1938. In order to program the Z1, the user is
required that the user inserts punch tape into the reader and all output is
generated then
15. Atanasoff-Berry Computer was the first electronic digital computing
device that was invented by Professor John Atanasoff who was a Graduate
student in Clifford Berry at Iowa State University between 1939 and 1942
16. ENIAC stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. This was
the first electronic general purpose computer that was completed in 1946.
This was also developed by John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly
17. UNIVAC 1 (Universal Automatic Computer1) was the first commercial
computer that was designed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly
18. Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer was the first stored
program
computer that was designed by Von Neumann in 1952 and it has a memory
to hold both a stored program as well as data
19. Osborne 1 is the first portable computer that was released in 1981 by the
Osborne Computer Corporation
20. First Computer Company was the Electronic Controls Company which was
founded in 1949 by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly

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MODULE 2-DEFINITION OF COMPUTERS

Computer is an electronic machine that accepts information (data), processes

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