12-08-2014, 01:09 PM
HISTORY OF THE COMPUTER
[attachment=66573]
ABSTRACT
This paper takes a keen look at the history of computer technology with a view to
encouraging computer or electrical electronic engineering students to embrace and learn the
history of their profession and its technologies. Reedy (1984) quoted Aldous Huxley thus:
“that men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the
lessons that history has to teach.” This paper therefore emphasizes the need to study history
of the computer because a proper study and understanding of the evolution of computers will
undoubtedly help to greatly improve on computer technologies.
INTRODUCTION
The word ‘computer’ is an old word that has changed its meaning several times in the last
few centuries. Originating from the Latin, by the mid-17th century it meant ‘someone who
computes’. The American Heritage Dictionary (1980) gives its first computer definition as “a
person who computes.” The computer remained associated with human activity until about
the middle of the 20th century when it became applied to “a programmable electronic device
that can store, retrieve, and process data” as Webster’s Dictionary (1980) defines it. Today,
the word computer refers to computing devices, whether or not they are electronic,
programmable, or capable of ‘storing and retrieving’ data.
The Techencyclopedia (2003) defines computer as “a general purpose machine that processes
data according to a set of instructions that are stored internally either temporarily or
permanently.” The computer and all equipment attached to it are called hardware. The
instructions that tell it what to do are called "software" or “program”. A program is a detailed
set of humanly prepared instructions that directs the computer to function in specific ways.
Furthermore, the Encyclopedia Britannica (2003) defines computers as “the contribution of
major individuals, machines, and ideas to the development of computing.” This implies that
2the computer is a system. A system is a group of computer components that work together as
a unit to perform a common objective.
MICROCOMPUTERS
The Microcomputer has the lowest level capacity. The machine has memories that are
generally made of semiconductors fabricated on silicon chips. Large-scale production of
silicon chips began in 1971 and this has been of great use in the production of
microcomputers. The microcomputer is a digital computer system that is controlled by a
stored program that uses a microprocessor, a programmable read-only memory (ROM) and a
random-access memory (RAM). The ROM defines the instructions to be executed by the
computer while RAM is the functional equivalent of computer memory.
The Apple IIe, the Radio Shack TRS-80, and the Genie III are examples of microcomputers
and are essentially fourth generation devices. Microcomputers have from 4k to 64k storage
location and are capable of handling small, single-business application such as sales analysis,
inventory, billing and payroll.
MICROCOMPUTERS
The Microcomputer has the lowest level capacity. The machine has memories that are
generally made of semiconductors fabricated on silicon chips. Large-scale production of
silicon chips began in 1971 and this has been of great use in the production of
microcomputers. The microcomputer is a digital computer system that is controlled by a
stored program that uses a microprocessor, a programmable read-only memory (ROM) and a
random-access memory (RAM). The ROM defines the instructions to be executed by the
computer while RAM is the functional equivalent of computer memory.
The Apple IIe, the Radio Shack TRS-80, and the Genie III are examples of microcomputers
and are essentially fourth generation devices. Microcomputers have from 4k to 64k storage
location and are capable of handling small, single-business application such as sales analysis,
inventory, billing and payroll.
Third Generation (1963-1972)
Technology changes in this generation include the use of integrated circuits, or ICs
(semiconductor devices with several transistors built into one physical component),
semiconductor memories, microprogramming as a technique for efficiently designing
complex processors and the introduction of operating systems and time-sharing. The first ICs
were based on small-scale integration (SSI) circuits, which had around 10 devices per circuit
(or ‘chip’), and evolved to the use of medium-scale integrated (MSI) circuits, which had up to
100 devices per chip. Multilayered printed circuits were developed and core memory was
replaced by faster, solid state memorie
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Researching, studying and writing on ‘History of the Computer’ has indeed been a fulfilling,
but challenging task and has brought about greater appreciation of several work done by
scientists of old, great developmental research carried out by more recent scientists and of
course the impact all such innovations have made on the development of the human race. It
has generated greater awareness of the need to study history of the computer as a means of
knowing how to develop or improve on existing computer technology.
It is therefore strongly recommended that science and engineering students should develop
greater interest in the history of their profession. The saying that ‘there is nothing absolutely
new under the sun’ is indeed real because the same world resources but fresh ideas have been
used over the years to improve on existing technologies.
Finally, it is hoped that this paper is found suitable as a good summary of ‘the technological
history and development of computer’ and challenging to upcoming scientists and engineers
to study the history of their profession
[attachment=66573]
ABSTRACT
This paper takes a keen look at the history of computer technology with a view to
encouraging computer or electrical electronic engineering students to embrace and learn the
history of their profession and its technologies. Reedy (1984) quoted Aldous Huxley thus:
“that men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the
lessons that history has to teach.” This paper therefore emphasizes the need to study history
of the computer because a proper study and understanding of the evolution of computers will
undoubtedly help to greatly improve on computer technologies.
INTRODUCTION
The word ‘computer’ is an old word that has changed its meaning several times in the last
few centuries. Originating from the Latin, by the mid-17th century it meant ‘someone who
computes’. The American Heritage Dictionary (1980) gives its first computer definition as “a
person who computes.” The computer remained associated with human activity until about
the middle of the 20th century when it became applied to “a programmable electronic device
that can store, retrieve, and process data” as Webster’s Dictionary (1980) defines it. Today,
the word computer refers to computing devices, whether or not they are electronic,
programmable, or capable of ‘storing and retrieving’ data.
The Techencyclopedia (2003) defines computer as “a general purpose machine that processes
data according to a set of instructions that are stored internally either temporarily or
permanently.” The computer and all equipment attached to it are called hardware. The
instructions that tell it what to do are called "software" or “program”. A program is a detailed
set of humanly prepared instructions that directs the computer to function in specific ways.
Furthermore, the Encyclopedia Britannica (2003) defines computers as “the contribution of
major individuals, machines, and ideas to the development of computing.” This implies that
2the computer is a system. A system is a group of computer components that work together as
a unit to perform a common objective.
MICROCOMPUTERS
The Microcomputer has the lowest level capacity. The machine has memories that are
generally made of semiconductors fabricated on silicon chips. Large-scale production of
silicon chips began in 1971 and this has been of great use in the production of
microcomputers. The microcomputer is a digital computer system that is controlled by a
stored program that uses a microprocessor, a programmable read-only memory (ROM) and a
random-access memory (RAM). The ROM defines the instructions to be executed by the
computer while RAM is the functional equivalent of computer memory.
The Apple IIe, the Radio Shack TRS-80, and the Genie III are examples of microcomputers
and are essentially fourth generation devices. Microcomputers have from 4k to 64k storage
location and are capable of handling small, single-business application such as sales analysis,
inventory, billing and payroll.
MICROCOMPUTERS
The Microcomputer has the lowest level capacity. The machine has memories that are
generally made of semiconductors fabricated on silicon chips. Large-scale production of
silicon chips began in 1971 and this has been of great use in the production of
microcomputers. The microcomputer is a digital computer system that is controlled by a
stored program that uses a microprocessor, a programmable read-only memory (ROM) and a
random-access memory (RAM). The ROM defines the instructions to be executed by the
computer while RAM is the functional equivalent of computer memory.
The Apple IIe, the Radio Shack TRS-80, and the Genie III are examples of microcomputers
and are essentially fourth generation devices. Microcomputers have from 4k to 64k storage
location and are capable of handling small, single-business application such as sales analysis,
inventory, billing and payroll.
Third Generation (1963-1972)
Technology changes in this generation include the use of integrated circuits, or ICs
(semiconductor devices with several transistors built into one physical component),
semiconductor memories, microprogramming as a technique for efficiently designing
complex processors and the introduction of operating systems and time-sharing. The first ICs
were based on small-scale integration (SSI) circuits, which had around 10 devices per circuit
(or ‘chip’), and evolved to the use of medium-scale integrated (MSI) circuits, which had up to
100 devices per chip. Multilayered printed circuits were developed and core memory was
replaced by faster, solid state memorie
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Researching, studying and writing on ‘History of the Computer’ has indeed been a fulfilling,
but challenging task and has brought about greater appreciation of several work done by
scientists of old, great developmental research carried out by more recent scientists and of
course the impact all such innovations have made on the development of the human race. It
has generated greater awareness of the need to study history of the computer as a means of
knowing how to develop or improve on existing computer technology.
It is therefore strongly recommended that science and engineering students should develop
greater interest in the history of their profession. The saying that ‘there is nothing absolutely
new under the sun’ is indeed real because the same world resources but fresh ideas have been
used over the years to improve on existing technologies.
Finally, it is hoped that this paper is found suitable as a good summary of ‘the technological
history and development of computer’ and challenging to upcoming scientists and engineers
to study the history of their profession