Chapter Two
Development of Computer
COMPILED BY: ATLAW.M
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2. History of Computer
1. Abacus Earlier abacus Modern abacus
An abacus is a mechanical 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.
It used to perform basic arithmetic operations.
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2. Pascal's calculator
Invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642.
It was its limitation to addition and subtraction.
It is too expensive.
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3. The difference engine and the analytical engine
Charles Babbage, a nineteenth century professor at Cambridge University, is considered to be the father of
modern digital computers.
Babbage designed a “Difference Engine” in 1822, which produce reliable table. The important contribution
of Babbage’s engine was its ability to perform computations and print results automatically, without human
intervention.
In 1842, Babbage comes out with his new idea of Analytical Engine that was intended to be completely
automatic. It was to be capable of performing the basic arithmetic functions for any mathematical problem.
Even though, he is not successful on his idea, his efforts established a number of principles, which have
been shown to be fundamental to the design of any digital computer.
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Cont…
difference engine
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4. Mark I
The Mark I computer (1937-44)
Also known as Automatic sequence controlled calculator and it was the first fully automatic
calculating machine designed by Howard A. Aiken of Harvard University in Collaboration with IBM
Corporation. Its design was based on the technique developed for punched card machinery.
It is very complex in design and huge in size, and was basically an electro-mechanical device.
Both mechanical and electronic components were used in its design, and its operations are controlled
electronically. It is classified as computer because its instructions which were entered by means of
punched paper tape could be altered.
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5. Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator
The ENIAC (1943-46) Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator.
ENIAC is commonly accepted as the first successful high- speed electronic digital computer.
It was constructed at Moore School of Engineering in University of Pennsylvania; U.S.A.
ENIAC was developed as a result of military need. It is very huge took 20x40 square feet room and
use 1800 vacuum tubes.
But it is faster than Mark I Computer.
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6. Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
EDVAC (1946-52) Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer.
Von Neumann contributed a new awareness for how practical, yet fast computers should be organized and
built. These ideas, referred to as the stored – program technique became essential for future generation of
high – speed digital computers. EDVAC was developed by Dr. John Von Neumann.
The basic idea behind the stored program concept is that a sequence of instructions as well as data can be
stored in the memory of the computer for the purpose of automatically directing the flow of operations.
This concept considerably influenced the development of modern digital computer.
Von Neumann has also known for introducing the idea of storing both instructions and data in the binary
form (0 & 1).
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Generation of Computer
Generation in computer language is a step in technology. It provides a framework for the growth of the computer industry. The major
characteristics that distinguish the various generations are:
Dominant type of electronic circuit element used,
Major secondary storage media used,
Computer language used,
Type or characteristic of operating system used,
Memory access time (time to store or retrieve a word of data from memory).
Over generations, computers have shown:
• Increasing speed
• Reduced size
• Increasing reliability
• Reducing cost
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1. First Generation Computers (1944-1955)
ENIAC - Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator
EDSAC – Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator
EDVAC – Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
UNIVAC – Universal Automatic Computer IBM 701.
These computers used vacuum tubes as the principal electronic components i. e. they are based on
vacuum tube technology. Memory access time was expressed in milliseconds, Punched cards were
the primary medium used as secondary storage devices to store data files and input data to the
computer.
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Cont…
In general
•They are fastest calculating device of their time.
•Very large in size, slow in performance and expensive in price.
•Have limited storage capacity.
•Thousands of vacuum tubes are used, hence produce considerable heat. Need special environment or
should be properly air conditioned.
•Vacuum tubes consume much power.
•Prone to frequent hardware failure, due to limited life of vacuum tubes leads to constant maintenance.
•Difficult to program and use, so limited commercial use.
•Mainly used for scientific computation.
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2. Second Generation Computers (1955-1964)
•Second generation computers replaced vacuum tubes with discrete solid-state devices, principally
transistors.
•With transistors, the computers are smaller, faster, more energy efficient, and more reliable than first
generation computers.
•With transistors, memory access times were expressed in microseconds.
•Second generation computers replaced machine language with assembly language.
• Magnetic tape was the dominant form of secondary storage.
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Cont…
In general
Emergence of high-level programming languages, like FORTRAN, COBOL, & ALGOL. (Easy to write).
Batch operating systems is used.
Use for business and industry & for commercial data processing like payroll, inventory control, and
marketing.
New occupation “computer programmers” come into being.
They are more than 10 times faster than 1st generation computers.
They are properly air conditioned.
Consumes less power, more reliable, less prone to hardware failure, has faster and larger primary and
secondary storage capacity than their predecessors.
Commercial production of these computers was difficult and costly.
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3. Third Generation Computers (1964-1975)
•Transistors are replaced by integrated circuits (IC).
•Computers were more powerful, more reliable, less expensive, smaller, and cooler to operate than the 2nd generation
computers.
•Main memory (RAM) and larger capacity magnetic disks and magnetic tapes emerged.
•Standardization of high-level programming languages started.
•Time sharing operating systems are used.
•Unbundling of software from hardware.
•Creation of an independent software industry.
•Other high-level programming languages were introduced, i.e., PL/1, PASCAL and BASIC.
•They need proper air conditioning.
•They were totally general-purpose machines suitable for both scientific and commercial applications.
•Minicomputers introduced and made computers affordable even by small companies
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4. Fourth Generation Computers (1975-1989)
The ability to fit so much to a very small area helped diminish the size and price of computers. It also
increases their power, efficiency, and reliability.
Access time in fourth generation computers is measured in nanoseconds. A variety of mass storage devices is
being introduced. New user oriented languages are being introduced.
Virtual operating systems are used that permits many users to share the use of the computer while
simplifying the programming task.
In general
ICs are replaced by Large Scale Integration (LSI) and also Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)
Creation of MICROPROCESSOR. (for PCs)
The personal computer revolution (introduction of PC), one user at a time.
Spread of high-speed computer networking. (LAN & WAN).
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Cont…
Several new operating systems were developed, like MS-DOS, Ms- Windows, and UNIX.
Graphical User Interface (GUI) provides icons and menus for users.
Multiprocessing operating systems are used.
C Programming language, object oriented software, and object oriented programming languages, C++, etc.
emerged.
Smaller, cheaper, reliable, PCs.
For mainframe & supercomputers air conditioning is needed.
Totally general purpose machines.
Use of GUI for users makes easy the operation of PCs.
PC based applications, made PCs more powerful for office and home use.
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5. Fifth Generation computes (1989- Present)
Fifth generation computer is now being developed and differ from the previous four generations, not only due to its
technology such as new memory organization and new programming languages, but also in its functionality.
These computers are expected to be intelligent computers that will be able to understand speech and process
accordingly.
In general
VLSI technology becomes Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI).
More compact, more powerful and cheaper computers introduced.
Portable notebook computers, powerful desktop PCs, and workstations, powerful servers and supercomputers.
Larger main memory > = 256 Mb, and hard disk >= 80 GB are common.
Optical disks emerged named as CD-ROMs.
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Cont…
Super computers with Parallel Processing technology.
Tremendous growth of computer networks.
Emergence and popularity of Internet.
• Electronic mail (e-mail).
• World Wide Web (www).
• Electronic commerce.
• Virtual libraries.
• Distance education emerged.
Tremendous processing power & massive storage capacity Multimedia applications.
Distributed operating system for computer network.
JAVA programming language introduced & become popular.
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THANK YOU FOR TODAY CLASS!!!
SEE YOU NEXT CLASS!!!
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