Module 1 :

Introduction to
computers
Dr Caroline KIPTOO
Objectives

The objectives of the module are:

1) Basic computer terminologies
2) Historical evolution of computers
3) Significance of computer evolution
4) Adaptation of computers in contemporary society
Basic computer terminologies

• Computer
• Data
• Information
• Knowledge
…What is a computer?

• "an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form,
according to instructions given to it in a variable program (Oxford dictionary)
• “A computer system consists of hardware and systems software that work together to
run application programs.” (Bryant R. E., O’ Hallaron D. R ; 2010; Computer Systems,
A Programmer’s Perspective )
• “A computer is a machine that can be programmed to carry out sequences of
arithmetic or logical operations automatically.” Wikipaedia
• “A computer is a programmable electronic device that accepts raw data as input and
processes it with a set of instructions (a program) to produce the result as output.”

NOTE: The term "computer" is derived from the Latin word "computare" which means
to calculate.
…Data

• data is a collection of discrete or continuous values that

convey some characteristic/property/feature /attribute of a
target subject
• The features could be quantity, quality, fact, statistics,
other basic units of meaning, or simply sequences of
symbols that may be further analysed / interpreted formally
• Data is individual facts about a phenomenon
• Computers store, retrieve and analyse data
…Information

• Processing of data results in information. Information is

therefore processed data
• Information is created when data are processed, organized, or
structured to provide context and meaning.
• For reliable information, data must be
• accurate
• adequate
• Applicable / relevant for the context

• Discussion: Difference between data and Information

…Knowledge

• Knowledge is what we know. Knowledge is unique to each

individual and is the accumulation of past experience and
insight that shapes the lens by which we interpret, and
assign meaning to information.
• Knowledge is therefore subjective, applies to specific
contexts / purpose, is processed and understood, is not
quantifiable
Historical evolution of computers

• The desire to count is inherent in humans

• Early literature indicates that counting is among human
developmental stages.
• Primitive communities did counting is done through fingers,
stones, sticks and bones.
• Emergence of computers is seen from 300BC with a
precursor to the abacus found in Salamis Greece – Called
Salamis Tablet
Historical periods

• Before 17th Century – Manual tools

• 17th Century – 18th Century – Mechanical Computers
• 19th Century – More Mechanical computers, emergence of
electronic computers
• 20th Century to date – Electronic Computers
Abacus - 1300

• Believed to be the first computer

• Traced to persia and from there spread to neighboring regions including
India and China
• It is a a wooden rack which has metal rods with beads mounted on them
• The beads are moved by the abacus operator (Abacist) according to
some rules to perform arithmetic calculations
• Still used in some countries
• Cranmer abacus is commonly used by visually impaired users - invented
by Tim Cranmer. A piece of soft fabric or rubber is placed behind the
beads, keeping them in place while the users manipulate them.
…Abacus
Napiers Bones – (1550-1617)

• manually-operated calculating device which was invented by

John Napier (1550-1617) of Merchiston
• used 9 different ivory strips or bones marked with numbers to
multiply and divide
• was also the first machine to use the decimal point.
…Napiers Bones
17th – 18th Century

• Emergence of Mechanical Computers

Wilhelm Schickard (1623-1624)

• 1623 Wilhelm Schickard attempted to build the first version

of mechanised calculations
• Objective was to simplify multiplications and divisions
described in 1617
• The mechanical part was a dialed pedometer (step counter)
to perform additions and subtractions
• The machine jammed after a few entries and got damaged
if the calculations had a carry forward propagated over
afew digits
• Schickard abandoned the project in 1624
Pascaline (1642-1644)

• In 1642 Blaise Pascal (French Mathematician) solved

Schickard problems and invented pascals calculator also
called pascaline.
• also known as Arithmetic Machine or Adding Machine
• Pascal was motivated by the need to help his tax collector
father the tedious arithmetic calculations.
Stepped Reckoner

• In 1672 Gottfried Liebniz designed an entirely new machine,

Stepped Reckoner.
• Used a stepped drum that he built and named Liebniz wheel.
• He built two stepped reckoners, in 1964 and 1706. The Liebniz
wheel was used in many machines for 200 years.
• Liebniz was also the first to promote the idea of
pinwheel calculator.
• In mid 1970s, the Liebniz wheel concept was used in the Curta
hand held calculator that was compact and widely used until the
arrival of the electronic calculator
…Curta Calculator
19th Century

• More commercialised mechanical computers

• Emergence of electronic computers
Arithmometer - 1851

• Thomas’ Arithmometer was developed in 1851 (over 100

years later).
• First commercially successful machine was manufactured.
• More successful Odhner Arithmometer was produced in
1890.
Comptometer

• Introduced in 1887. First machine to use keyboard, consisting of

columns of 9 keys for each digit, 1 to 9 keyboard.
• Later in 1902, Dalton adding machine consisting of 10 digit
keyboard was introduced.
• Electronic motors started getting incorporated into mechanical
calculators in 1901. Anita MK VII machine was introduced in 1961
as the first desktop electronic comptometer with an all-electronic
engine. This marked the uprise of electronic calculators and a
decline in production of mechanical calculators in mid 1970s.
Difference Engine - 1820

• Huge automatic mechanical calculator that was powered by

steam engine, designed by Charles Babbage in 1820s.
• Was a sophisticated machine and could tabulate polynomial
functions.
Analytic Engine – 1834-1837

• Charles Babbage developed a second machine, programmable mechanical

calculator in 1834 and by 1837 had sketches of most features of current
computers.
• 1887 - Herman Hollerith develops a tabulating system that uses punch cards to
speed up processing for the 1890 U.S. Census. This technology set the foundation
for later developments in computing.
• In 1937, IBM was convinced by Howard Aiken to build ASCC / Mark I that was
largely based on Babbage’s conceptualizations.
• This was widely celebrated as "Babbage's dream come true". This programmable
machine concept earned Babbage the title ‘ Father of the Computer’.
• Henry Babbage later continued the work of his father and in 1906 gave a
successful demonstration of the mill (Central Processing Unit) which printed the
first 44 multiples of pi with 29 places of figures.
20th Century onwards

• Emergence of electronic calculators in the beginning of 20th

century led to phase out of mechanical calculators in the 1970s
• Rapid milestones in computer evolution is seen in the 20th
century
…20th Century onwards

• 1911 - Herman Hollerith's Tabulating Machine Company merges with two

other companies to form the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company,
which is now called IBM.
• 1937 - George Stibitz, a scientist at Bell Laboratories, builds a
demonstration circuit called the ''Model K'' Adder. This development led to
the 1939 construction of the Model I Complex Calculator.
• 1939 - Bill Hewlett and David Packard found Hewlett-Packard in California.
• 1940 - German engineer Konrad Zuse completes the Z3, a computer that
was used for aerodynamic calculations.
• 1945 - University of Pennsylvania professors John Mauchly and J. Presper
Eckert develop the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC),
an early digital computer. The ENIAC used punch cards and was designed
to help Army gunners aim their weapons with accuracy.
…20th Century onwards

• 1946 - Mauchly and Eckert build the first commercial computer, the Universal
Automatic Computer (UNIVAC), using Census Bureau funding. Business and
government entities used the UNIVAC.
• 1947 - Bell Labs scientists develop the first transistor, a solid state electronic
device with three terminals that can be used to control electric current and voltage
flow between terminals. The transistor is an important component in nearly all
electronics used today.
• 1958 - The integrated circuit debuts. Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce designed the
integrated circuit, which is also known as the computer chip. Kilby received a Nobel
Prize in Physics for his efforts.
• 1971 - Intel introduces the first microprocessor, the Intel 4004. This microprocessor
combined all of the necessary chips onto one chip and made the PC possible.
…20th Century onwards

• 1975 - The Altair 8800 mail order computer kit is featured in Popular Electronics. The
computer sold for $297 without a case and had 256 bytes of memory. Produced by
Telemetry Systems and Micro Instrumentation, the Altair 8800 is considered by many to be
the first personal computer.
• 1975 - Bill Gates and Paul Allen formed Microsoft, a computer software company that
transformed into a global technology corporation. When Microsoft went public in 1987,
Gates became the youngest billionaire in the world at age 31.
• 1976 - Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak found Apple Computers, Inc. to create user-friendly
computers. By 1980, Apple Computers, Inc. had $117 million in sales.
• 1981 - IBM releases its first PC, which gained widespread adoption. The IBM PC ran on
Microsoft Disk Operating System, MS-DOS.
• 1991 - Swiss computer programmer Tim Berners-Lee introduces the World Wide Web, a
network of information that anyone on the internet can access.
• 2010 - The iPad, a handheld tablet produced by Apple, is launched. Handheld computers
became increasingly popular after the release of the iPad.
Significance of computer evolution

• Reflect on where computing has come from

• Understand closely related disciplines
• Reflect on motivations for innovations
• Reflect on influence of computing on other disciplines
Adaptation of computers in
contemporary society

• Records management
• Education
• Health
• Social life
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Religion

• Discussion : Areas where computers have no influence

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, you should have learnt the

following:
1) Define basic computer terminologies
2) Trace the historical evolution of computers
3) Analyze the significance of computer evolution
4) Narrate the adaptation of computers in contemporary
society