Premium Essay

The History and Future of Computers

In:

Submitted By maverickwtr
Words 999
Pages 4
With the advances in computer technology it is now possible for more and more Canadians to have personal computers in their homes. With breakthroughs in computer processing speeds and with computer storage capacity, the combination of this with the reduced size of the computer have allowed for even the smallest apartment to hold a computer. In the past the only places to have computers were military institutes and some universities; this was because of their immense size and price. Today with falling computer prices and the opportunity to access larger networks, the amount of computers has grown from just 10% in 1986 to 25% in 1994. Also, of the 25%, 34% of them were equipped with modems, which allow for connection to on line services via telephone lines.

The primitive start of the computer came about around 4000 BC; with the invention of the abacus, by the Chinese. It was a rack with beads strung on wires that could be moved to make calculations. The first digital computer is usually accredited to Blaise Pascal. In 1642 he made the device to aid his father, who was a tax collector. In 1694 Gottfried Leibniz improved the machine so that with the rearrangement of a few parts it could be used to multiply. The next logical advance came from Thomas of Colmar in 1890, who produced a machine that could perform all of the four basic operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. With the added versatility this device was in operation up until the First World War.

Thomas of Colmar made the common calculator, but the real start of computers as they are known today comes from Charles Babbage. Babbage designed a machine that he called a Difference Engine. It was designed to make many long calculations automatically and print out the results. A working model was built in 1822 and fabrication began in

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Genesis to Revelation

...am going to explain about Genesis to revelation of computers evolution in the world. Computers are information systems, which has an operating system, and supports input, processing, output, and persistent memory. The changes taken place in computer technology since the time of invention and extension, conversion, revelation, subversion, diversion, emersion, and aspersion related to computers. Genesis Charles Babbage invents modern computer with a general purpose to carry out logical and arithmetic operations automatically. In the beginning stage computer has no operating system operated on hardware basis later on stages operating system has been invented to increase the functionality of computers. Growing of applications and hardware programs lead to situation as a necessity to create operating system. Extension Computers are the part of living in today’s modern world; Computer technology has been changing very rapidly because of the competition as well as the requirement of consumers. Some of the popular organizations are Apple, Dell, Sony, Lenovo, which are the market leaders and each company has different standards. Apple computers are the most popular and has good brand image because of the speed, reliability and for a very good battery backup. Dell and Lenovo computers have both expensive and less expensive computers with considerable quality and good brand image in the market. Conversion Conversion of computers was taken place by the invention of laptops in the year...

Words: 660 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Computer Innovation

...Start of the Future Spencer Joudrey University of Central Florida CGS 2100 November 12, 2010 Abstract The computer illustrates how when man pulls together their technologies and abilities they can accomplish anything. The computer has created many specialized training abilities that will be used for thousands of years in the future. There is some controversy over it though. Some people think that the computer is getting too sophisticated ad that it might one day replace the human mind. Start of the Future The invention of the computer started around 2,000 years ago. The computer started out as an abacus. An abacus is a rack made of wood with two wires running parallel to each other. On the wires there are beads. By moving the beads, anyone can solve simple math problems. Next, there was the Astrolabe, used for navigating. The first digital computer was invented in 1642 by Blaise Pascal. It consisted of numbers entered in dials but, it could only add. However in 1671 a computer was invented that was eventually was built in 1694. The man to credit for this invention is Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz. Unlike Pascal’s Leibniz’s could add and multiply. Perception and Data Entry Until the start stored programing computers in the 1950s, punched card machines were the state-of-the-art. During 1890 in U.S. Census, Hollerith developed a punched card reader that could repeatedly tabulate and sort (Jobs, 2007). The key event that signaled the end of the punched card era...

Words: 1296 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

A Machine to Think for Us.

...reality. Talking, thinking, responsive computers and tiny personal communication devices, for example, just seemed like science fiction. Now they are not only a reality, but they are an indispensable part of everyday life. I can hardly imagine the developments in technology that my children will experience. Thinking of the future and trends in technology, at this time I believe there is almost no limit to what humans are capable of creating. Technology developments happen faster and faster each day. This is especially true for computers, both personal and business and industry based models. My first computer was Commodore 64 and it was a neat thing to have but it didn’t do much. After I joined the Navy, I worked with an aircraft guidance radar system that was powered by a UNIVAC computer. In fact the Navy somehow kept that system running well past the year 2000. Now, we have progressed well past these dinosaurs. Computer developments are the wave of the future, and development in that respect will shape events worldwide. Moore’s Law, formulated in 1965, predicts that the number of components in an integrated circuit chip will double every 18 months (Shahan, 2013). Considering the power of computers today, if Moore’s Law continues to hold true, the developments in computing power will produce computers that are exponentially more powerful than today’s computers (Moore’s Law, n.d.). Considering this, I believe that in the future, computers will become thinking machines that...

Words: 1303 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Advance Networking Technology

... |Advance Computer Networking | Question 1. What does computer networking accomplish? 2. How does networking improve the usefulness of computers? 3. What are the drawbacks of networking computers? 4. What is the future of networking computers? 5. Is computer networking still at infancy, Discuss? Question 1: What does computer networking accomplish? Computer networking is the interconnection of two or more computers to share resources. Computer networking has evolved beyond the sharing of resources; it allows people and machines to communicate, using some of the advanced features or services. Computer networking has brought about increased productivity, cost reduction and synergy between users. Other accomplishments of the computer networks include: • File sharing and management: One of the major accomplishments of computer networking is file sharing, which includes remote file accessing. Organizations or individuals can share documents irrespective of their location provided their PCs are interconnected. It saves time, and provides a more efficient means of transferring data, rather than using storage device to copy and transport data to the other user. • Resource sharing and management: Another important achievement of computer networking is resource sharing. All computers in a network can share resources...

Words: 3610 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

What Is Internet and How Does It Work?

...02/13/12 We can't imagine our lives without it anymore, by having one using it from hour to hour on a daily basis. Multi-purpose as it had accustomed us, right from the beginning, the "Internet" has pushed well-established limits forward, in terms of jobs, socializing, financing, information or entertainment. Its full potential is not used, yet it will be discovered in future, it is predictable. However, there are numerous limitations reported to using such technology, as it creates dependancy. Deaths have been found out of children or teenagers spending 24 hrs. or more on the internet. Another serious problem would be the inverse effect of virtual socializing. Instead of having people talking to each other, you get messengers in form of (computer and internet), speaking for yourself. This affects not only the youth but also adults as it tends to change their moods/emotions and bring introverts out of them. However, it is important to look at the internet's history, how it all started, how it did progress over such a short period of time and most important, the complexity of its system. The history of the internet has its roots to as early as 1957, right after URSS successfully managed to launch the world’s first artificial satellite on the orbit and the U.S....

Words: 1401 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Technology in Education

...additional tools to enhance their learning. Technology allows us to demonstrate teaching strategies and also provide teachers with skills to succeed in the classroom. It changes the structure and the manor in which we learn. Such technologies used in education from the past, present and beyond are the typewriter, computer games, Internet, and communication. Technology and Education (the relationship) The relationship between technology and education can be characterized as a process of change and innovation. In the beginning societies depended on oral communication then the written language was developed. Making an alphabet made learning to read and write much easier then in the past. As technologies of written language became prevalent and more people became literate social structures formed. The next big step towards a better education was the industrial revolution. The technology that occurred during the revolution created a need for workers in the newly created factories shifting learning to prepare kids to work in such factories. Technologies such as the typewriter and printing press made it easier to make documents instead of doing them by hand. Next was the computer, which requires some...

Words: 3062 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Artificial Intelligence

...Intelligence: Past, Present and Future Alana Boggan INF 103 Sabahudin Tricic July 25, 2011 Abstract Technology, over time, has become more advanced. As technology has risen, so has man’s curiosity for advancement of what technology can do for mankind. In this exploration, artificial intelligence was created. In researching and exploring the past of artificial intelligence, mankind can make assumptions about the advances in the future. The past, with curiosity of humans, has lent itself to the artificial intelligence we have today and the endless possibilities for artificial intelligence in the future. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a constant part of life as technology advances. Webster defines artificial intelligence as “the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it” (Wikipedia, 2010). When assessing AI, one must look at the past and present. Acquiring knowledge about the past and present of AI, the future of this ever-changing field of science allows thoughts of endless possibilities and unimaginable devices of the future; therefore, by studying and researching the advancement of this field from its past to its present, predictions for this field can be made. Method I researched information on the past, present, and future for the field of Artificial Intelligence. In researching the past of the scientific and computer field of artificial intelligence, I was...

Words: 1718 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Micro Processors

...MICROPROCESSORS A microprocessor is like the decision maker of computers. Without processors the computer would be useless. It is also known as the Central Processing Unit or CPU. The processor does all the calculations in a computer. If there is an input it calculates and produces and output. “The microprocessor chip is an electronic device that is a computer's central processing unit (CPU) aka the brains of your computer. A microprocessor is a single integrated circuit that is a multipurpose, programmable, clock-driven, register based electronic device that accepts binary data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and provides results as output”, (Bellis, Pg. 1). Just like other computer parts Microprocessors are a recent invention. It’s amazing to know how fast our computers are today and how fast they are getting day by day as new technologies are being invented. The future of microprocessors is bright. To know how microprocessors started lets go back to the first microprocessor invented, the 4004 by Intel. 4004 was the first integrated microprocessor. As like all the inventions it has improved by a lot since its invention. “Intel 4004 introduced in 1971. The 4004 was not very powerful -- all it could do was add and subtract, and it could only do that 4 bits at a time. But it was amazing that everything was on one chip. Prior to the 4004, engineers built computers either from collections of chips or from discrete components (transistors wired...

Words: 716 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

The History of the Computer Mouse

...The History of the Computer Mouse The computer mouse is considered an input device. With a click of a button, the mouse sends information to the computer. The computer mouse is an interesting device that offers an alternative way to interact with the computer beside a keyboard. A typical mouse has two buttons. At the top of the device you will find a left and right button which allows for “clicks”. There is a scrolling wheel between the two buttons. Douglas Engelbart's device was not the first pointing device. In fact, it seems that the first product was a trackball. It was invented a lot earlier, in 1953, by Tom Cranston, Fred Longstaff and Kenyon Taylor for the Royal Canadian Navy. As part of the secret military project DATAR. The name “trackball” comes from the fact that the respective device actually used a standard Canadian five-pin bowling ball. Just imagine how “easy” using such a product really was. (Vochin, 2009) Engelbart created the first prototypes of the now-familiar device in 1963 at Stanford Research Institute, but he first displayed his creation to the public in Dec 6, 1968. ( Edwards, 2008) The mouse was much larger than today's mouse, square, and had a small button in the top right corner. It used two wheels to roll back and forth. It was the also the first mouse that could fit into a user's hand. In 1972, Jack Hawley and Bill English, inspired by Engelbart’s work, designed a digital mouse for Xerox PARC. This new mouse didn’t require an analog-to-digital...

Words: 1266 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Motivational Talk

...I Believe I Can Fly Motivational Speech by Emeagwali in celebration of Black History Month. | Thank your Dr. Carlton Lampkins for the pleasant introduction. Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to visit Willingboro High School and to join you in celebrating this year's Black History Month. Each year, the Black History Month has a nationwide theme. The theme for this year's Black History Month is "Celebrating Life, Building a Future." "Building a Future" is a powerful theme that applies to each student in this audience because you are our future. Everyone one of you has the potential to achieve anything you want in life. You were born with many talents that you don't even know you have. Someone in this audience may become a famous writer, may travel to the planet Mars or discover the cure for AIDS. However, to become successful requires that you set personal goals for yourself and then study and work hard to achieve them. Setting personal goals is very important because those who do not have goals in life do not know where they are going. Those who do not know where there are going could end anywhere. They could end in prison. They could end on illegal drugs. You must never, never, never experiment with any illegal drugs. It will ruin your life and the lives of those that love you. Those drug dealers standing in your street corners are trying to sell you a one-way ticket to nowhere. My advice to every one of you is to write down your goals on a piece paper. Then discuss your...

Words: 1383 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Cultural Studies

...lathes, a piece of faience or a television each provide a wealth of information about the time in which they were manufactured and used. Cultural artifact provides information about the technological processes, economy and social makeup and a host of other subjects. We live among cultural artifacts that have deep roots. Computers There are many inventors that contributed in the history of computers and that a computer is a complex piece of machinery made up of various parts, each of which can be considered a separate invention. The first freely programmable computer was invented by ‘Konrad Zuse’ in 1936. Later different inventors made various inventions throughout the history. First in 1600’s only calculating machines were invented. It had a great impact on computing. The ‘abacus’ was one of the first counting machines. Calculating machines were sold commercially before the advent of steel manufacturing technologies. Papyrus was something to write on, before we had paper. Writing was a way to record mathematical calculations. ‘Babbage’ and ‘Lovelace’ were ‘programming’ machines as early as the 1800’s before any military computer. The modern day computers are the...

Words: 1800 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

John Lewis Gaddis 'Arguments Historical Consciousness'

...John Lewis Gaddis begins his argument about historical consciousness by describing a scenario from a painting that describes history as a metaphor. I fully agree with the comparison Gaddis made about the relationship with history and the future. The idea that history is abstract and no past event can be redone makes the study of history unique. Gaddis points out that “[historians] pride [themselves] on not trying to predict the future” because the past cannot accurately predict the future (Gaddis 2). Instead, the author illuminates how history can only be represented. Another idea that can be related to everyone’s lives is the fact that we are such a small part of this world and universe. Historical consciousness is said to define...

Words: 497 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

History of Computers

...History of Computers Computer history can be traced back since the 1880s from the advent typewriting and mechanical counting prototype and also companies such as the National Cash Register which made the atm machines we use today to withdraw cash. John Vincent Atanasoff was a physicist who invented the electronic digital computer. The first electronic digital computer was an idea whose time had come; several groups working more or less independently arrived at almost the same place at the same time. Atanasoff was simply a bit ahead of the pack and for him being ahead had a cost. Atanasoff was required to work alone in a place far removed from the mainstream of computer development. He had trouble finding anyone who recognized the significance of his work. Iowa State supported Atanasoff's work, but none of the university officials fully appreciated what he was up to. Computers have been around since World War II used by the military against the enemy. The Germans used the enigma code machine during the war to secretly send code messages. The enigma code machine was one of their secret weapons they used against the allies. The Enigma offered 150 quintillion possible combinations. Computers have changed since then and now have better versions. Then came the Xerox Parc Alto personal computer developed in 1973, which was a breakthrough then with its built-in mouse and the use of windows. The CHM described it as the Macintosh 10 years before it hit the market. In 1976 apple co-founder...

Words: 568 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Artificial Intelligence in Society

...read news articles, journals, books, blogs, and watched online lectures to get this information. The topics that will be discussed are the first mention of anything remotely related in AI in history, then when actual progress was made, what that progress was and its stages, then the most popular artificial intelligence machines created, and finally ending on the discussion of the future of AI and the possibility of the singularity. Artificial Intelligence in Society Introduction Unbeknownst to me at the time my first experience with artificial intelligence was playing video games. I must have been at the ripe age of 5 already feverishly enjoying my Super Nintendo and Mario games. It never occurred to me the coding, algorithms, and all the hard work that was required to have the computer, my “opponent,” be challenging. My only assumption was it was always like that. It wasn’t until years later did I get the opportunity to see how artificial intelligence (AI) began. AI didn’t start so children could have fun; it started because some men had a dream, a dream to create artificial intelligent machine. The topics I will cover will be one of the first mentions of AI, the beginning of what we currently call AI, current AI systems that were used, and the future of what is to come. Ancient History The first mention of anything remotely related to AI involved imagination. It was in an ancient Greek myth by Homer, a poet. “He wrote of mechanical ‘tripods’ waiting on the gods at dinner...

Words: 1513 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Concept of Accounting

...A SHORT HISTORY OF ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS By Gary Giroux September 1999 Preface Overview: Accounting toward the 21st century: Where are we now? How did we get here? 1. From the Ancient World to Pacioli The First Cities Trade Tokens: The First Accounting The Sumerians Complex Tokens and Clay Tablets Cuneiform Writing and Beyond Money, Banking and Credit The Dark Ages and the Rise of the Italian Merchants Luca Pacioli: The Father of Accounting 2. Britain and the Industrial Revolution Prior to 1750 Ironbridge Textiles The Steam Engine Wedgwood and the Importance of Cost Accounting Early Cost Accounting Transportation Development of the Accounting Profession 3. American Big Business and Cost Accounting Early Developments in Manufacturing and Accounting Rockefeller Morgan and Carnegie Cost Accounting in the Era of Big Business Alternative Systems in Asia and Europe Relevance Lost: The Critique of Johnson and Kaplan The American Response 4. Financial Accounting and the Structure of Accounting Regulation The Great Crash and Government Response The New Role of the Accounting Profession The Financial Accounting Standards Board Earnings Management and Economic Consequences Accounting Principles and the Conceptual Framework 5. Auditing Auditing in the U. S. The Big...

Words: 1749 - Pages: 7