...HISTORY OF THE COMPUTER ARTICLE WRITTEN BY: ADEBOWALE ONIFADE ELECTRICAL ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN NIGERIA REGION 8 HISTORY OF THE COMPUTER 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...
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...The Digital World The digital world of today can be understood as a product of late-Victorian construction of the machinery of information organization combined with Modernist visual forms. In his doctoral dissertation, The Engineering of Vision from Constructivism to Computers, Lev Manovich, professor of New Media at the University of San Diego, states it is the influence of Modernist visual forms, mainly Soviet era Constructivism, that shapes the look of the current digital world (e.g. the Internet). Professor Simon Cook of Duke University, in his recent paper, Late Victorian Visual Reasoning and a Modern History of Vision, argues that Manovich overlooks the importance of the Victorian period in influencing the aesthetics of our present digital design. Cook bases his argument on the concept of an orderly and well-catalogued Internet, as if the system had been developed in nineteenth century Britain. However, due to the chaotic, disorganized and ever-changing look of the digital world, the argument of a Victorian based system is flawed. The late nineteenth century does not have the impact Cook believes it does, whereas Manovich remains on track in his original argument. Still, Manovich’s ideas can only be regarded on a temporary basis, because the face of the digital world has changed drastically since its development, and will continue to in the near future. Before exploring the look of the current digital world, it is first important to look at its physical development...
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...For other uses, see Computer (disambiguation). "Computer system" redirects here. For other uses, see Computer system (disambiguation). "Computer technology" redirects here. For the company, see Computer Technology Limited. Computer | | A computer is a general purpose device that can be programmed to carry out a finite set of arithmetic or logical operations. Since a sequence of operations can be readily changed, the computer can solve more than one kind of problem. Conventionally, a computer consists of at least one processing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU) and some form of memory. The processing element carries out arithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit that can change the order of operations based on stored information. Peripheral devices allow information to be retrieved from an external source, and the result of operations saved and retrieved. The first electronic digital computers were developed between 1940 and 1945 in the United Kingdom and United States. Originally they were the size of a large room, consuming as much power as several hundred modern personal computers (PCs).[1] In this era mechanical analog computers were used for military applications. Modern computers based on integrated circuits are millions to billions of times more capable than the early machines, and occupy a fraction of the space.[2] Simple computers are small enough to fit into mobile devices, and mobile computers can be powered by...
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...hardware evolved from machines that needed separate manual action to perform each arithmetic operation, to punched card machines, and then to stored-program computers. The history of stored-program computers relates first to computer architecture, that is, the organization of the units to perform input and output, to store data and to operate as an integrated mechanism. Before the development of the general-purpose computer, most calculations were done by humans. Mechanical tools to help humans with digital calculations were then called "calculating machines", by proprietary names, or even as they are now, calculators. It was those humans who used the machines who were then called computers. Aside from written numerals, the first aids to computation were purely mechanical devices which required the operator to set up the initial values of an elementary arithmetic operation, then manipulate the device to obtain the result. A sophisticated (and comparatively recent) example is the slide rule, in which numbers are represented as lengths on a logarithmic scale and computation is performed by setting a cursor and aligning sliding scales, thus adding those lengths. Numbers could be represented in a continuous "analog" form, for instance a voltage or some other physical property was set to be proportional to the number. Analog computers, like those designed and built by Vannevar Bush before World War II were of this type. Numbers could be represented in the form of digits, automatically...
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...Electronic and Digital Media Industry Paper Com/225 September 23, 2013 Role of Electronic and Digital Media In this paper I will discuss the role of technology in electronic and digital media. . I will give historical and contemporary roles of media in society and describe how the chemical and electronic technology of photography, recording, and transmission has advanced from the initial discovery to the present day. I will also describe how mass media uses these technological innovations, analyze how the development of digital technology has affected the content, distribution, and style of electronic media and finally discuss how it has evolved overtime and made each and every one of us dependent on them. Historical and contemporary roles of media in society Technology plays a very important role in electronic and digital media and it is forever evolving. Digital and electronic media today is readily available with the invention of the Internet. The introduction of the Internet into the society’s everyday lives have brought about a convenience that has simplify the process in which we retrieve answers to questions. Society has grown dependent on electronic products, spending less time with people and more time on the Internet. Prior to the introduction of Internet; people would have to go to the local library to research to retrieve the answer to questions. People would also participate in face-to-face...
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...The History of Information Technology March 2010 Draft version to appear in the Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, Vol. 45, 2011 Thomas Haigh thaigh@computer.org University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Thomas Haigh The History of Information Technology – ARIST Draft 2 In many scholarly fields the new entrant must work carefully to discover a gap in the existing literature. When writing a doctoral dissertation on the novels of Nabokov or the plays of Sophocles, clearing intellectual space for new construction can be as difficult as finding space to erect a new building in central London. A search ensues for an untapped archive, an unrecognized nuance, or a theoretical framework able to demolish a sufficiently large body of existing work. The history of information technology is not such a field. From the viewpoint of historians it is more like Chicago in the mid-nineteenth century (Cronon, 1991). Building space is plentiful. Natural resources are plentiful. Capital, infrastructure, and manpower are not. Boosters argue for its “natural advantages” and promise that one day a mighty settlement will rise there. Speculative development is proceeding rapidly and unevenly. But right now the settlers seem a little eccentric and the humble structures they have erected lack the scale and elegance of those in better developed regions. Development is uneven and streets fail to connect. The native inhabitants have their ideas about how things should be done, which sometimes...
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...Computer The word'computer ' is an old word that has changed its meaning several times in the last few centuries.The Techencyclopedia(2003) defines computer as " a general purpose machine that processes data according to a set of instructions that are stored internally either temorarily or permanently" Computer history The trem history means past events.It indicates the gradual development of computers.Here we will discuss how this extraordinary machine has reached of it's apex. In the begining............................... The history of computers starts out about 2000 years ago, at the birth of the 'abacus' a wooden rack holding two horizontal wires with breads strung on them.Just like our present computer,abacus also considered a digit as a singal or codeo and processed the calculation. Blasie Pascal ists usually credited to building the first digital computer in 1942.It added numbers to help his father.In 1671,Gottofried Wilhelm Von Leibniz invented a computer that was built in 1694.It could add,and, after changing somethings around,multiply. Charles Babbage: A serious of very intersting developement in computer was started in Cambridge,England,by Charles Babbage, a mathmatics proffessor.In 1982,Babbge realized that many lng calculations,espically those need to make mathematical tabes ,were really a series of predictable actions that were constantly repated.From this he suspected that it should...
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...design called cast plate, which would be adjusted to bring the desired letter into position and a hammer would force paper against the plate, inspired him to re-invent typewriter. It took only a week to determine the basic premise of his typing machine. A single letter of type, carved onto a short metal bar could be made to strike upward against a glass plate. The first model came out with the help of a draftsman called Glidden and a civil engineer called Samuel Soule. It only typed the letter "W", but its basic design would become the trio's first typing machine. They made a workable prototype, which was built by the fall of 1867. The invention of typewriter contributed to the blooming of capitalism and inspired the development of industrial, mechanical, computer...
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...Term Paper: History of Intel and its microprocessors The microprocessor is a chip made of silicon that holds a central processing unit. Both the term’s central processing unit or CPU and microprocessor can be used and mean the same thing. The human brain has been compared to a microprocessor. Microprocessors are ultra fast calculators and what makes a microprocessor appear intelligent is the speed at which it can process data. The electronics industry names, microprocessors first by makers name and then model family name or number. A recent example, are the Intel Core i7 and AMD FX 8 Core Black Edition. Microprocessors provides scientist, engineers, architects, graphic designers, researchers, and other professionals with the processing power users to perform all the many functions needed to do their jobs and make new discoveries and explore what before could not have been even imagined. The history of microprocessors will be covered; this includes the history of Intel Corporation, important highlights in the development of the microprocessor. All digital computers use electronic switches. These switches represent binary digits or bits. The first computers used vacuum tubes as switches to represent on-or-off binary data, but vacuum tubes had many problems. Without the invention of the transistor, microprocessors and the modern computer would not be possible. Bell Laboratory engineers John Bardeen and Walter Brattain invented the transistor in 1947 (transistor). Transistors...
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...(IT) is the application of computers to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data,[1] often in the context of a business or other enterprise.[2] IT is considered a subset of information and communications technology (ICT). In 2012, Zuppo proposed an ICT hierarchy where each hierarchy level "contain some degree of commonality in that they are related to technologies that facilitate the transfer of information and various types of electronically mediated communications.".[3] Business/IT was one level of the ICT hierarchy. The term is commonly used as a synonym for computers and computer networks, but it also encompasses other information distribution technologies such as television and telephones. Several industries...
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...Natural History through Game Based Learning Zainal A. Hasibuan, Yugo K.Isal, Baginda Anggun N.C., Mubarik Ahmad, and Nungki Selviandro phase to implementation phase. Next, experimental games to study the influence of game culture on students. Finally, the conclusions of the article and future research. Abstract—Indonesia is a country consisting of thousands of islan. With many islands in Indonesia then there are many cultures of various ethnic groups scattered across Indonesia. With the cultural diversity that exist in Indonesia, then the existing culture must be preserved because the culture is a very important element in representing the personality of a country. There is a tendency that Indonesian young generation do not recognize their cultures. "Desa Maya Budaya Indonesia" (DayaBaya) : Virtual Village with Indonesian Culture - is a game developed to introduce Indonesian culture to young generation. This game simulates a virtual village located in a region in Indonesia that can be developed according to the player’s desires and wishes. The simulation will help young generation to know various cultures of Indonesia at the early stage. This game has also been tested on 48 students from Vocational High School,and a result from this experiment shows that the game improves user’s knowledge about cultures. II. PREVIOUS STUDY In the previous studies, the DayaBaya game has been developed. In this section, the game for education, game plan, game design and game development will be...
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...designs, manufactures and markets personal computers and related software, services, peripherals and networking solutions. Apple computers also designs, develops, and markets a line of portable digital music players along with related accessories and services. The company’s situation, marketing strategies and mix relate to the quality value of Apple products and services such as the Macintosh line of desktop and notebook computers, the iPod line of portable digital music players, the Xserve server and Xserve RAID storage products, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the Mac operating system, the iTunes Store, portfolio of peripherals that support and enhance the Macintosh and iPod product lines, and a variety of other service and support offerings and sells its products worldwide through its online stores, its retail stores, its direct sales force and third party wholesalers, resellers and value-added resellers and sells products for the purpose of education, consumer, creative professional, business as well as government customers. Situational Analysis History/Background Apple Computers was incorporated under the laws of the State of California last January 1977 as Apple designs, manufactures and markets personal computers and related software, services, peripherals and networking solutions. The Company also designs, develops and markets a line of portable digital music players along with related accessories...
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...accomplished this by starting the Eastman Dry Plate Company, which was a global leader in mass producing dry plates for many years. Within four years of of the commencement of research, negative paper was introduced and would be used for the next century. Film became so efficient and cheap, Eastman invented the first commercial camera called the “Kodak” which revolutionized the “point and shoot” concept as the world know its today. 1 The Kodak camera was so popular that Eastman decided to integrated Kodak into the company name. The newly founded and named Eastman Kodak Company in 1892 became so big they had to expand their facilities to New Jersey for access to new trade routes. This was the beginning of Kodak and the start of photography. Kodak’s history is mainly responsible for making the Kodak name what it is today. The initial products invented by Kodak like the camera and film opened doors and provided a foundation for innovation and success in the photography and developing industry. Furthermore, Kodak’s business model, although a failure, taught the world of business how to run a business. In today’s world, cameras range from expensive professional models to dollar store disposables. In the late 19th century there was only one kind of camera. It was called the Kodak and was marketed along side the slogan, “You press the button, We do the rest”. 1 Soon...
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...Critical Assessment Of �Apple Inc.� Table of Contents Page A. Company History, Overview of Primary Business Operations, and Its Fortune 500 Ranking 3 B. Assessment of Apple Inc.�s Vision, Mission and Strategic Goals/Objectives 5 C. SWOT Analysis and Assessment of Apple Inc. 7 D. Value Chain Analysis of Apple�s iPhone 10 E. BGC Matrix for the Macintosh Computer and iTunes 12 F. Overview Analysis of Apple Inc. and Investment Recommendation 16 G. References 18 A. Company History, Overview of Primary Business Operations, and Its Fortune 500 Ranking Apple Computer Inc. was founded in April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in order to sell hand built personal computer kits called the Apple I. By today�s standards, Apple I would be considered a motherboard, which was marketed at $666.66 and included the CPU, RAM and basic textual video chips. On April 16, 1977, the Apple II was introduced with color graphics, and the introduction of the five-quarter-inch floppy disk drive. In the late 1970s, the Apple II took off due to its compatibility with the latest spreadsheet program at the time, the VisiCalc. In May 1980, the Apple III was introduced to compete in the market along side IBM and Microsoft.[1] In 1983, Apple successfully introduced the first personal computer with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) called the �Lisa� (Local Integrated Software Architecture)...
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...The Digitizing Process: How it works Introduction: With the development of multimedia technology comes the need to provide a system where visual art forms such as drawing, video, and photography have a way to be produced and represented by computer programs. And because computers store and manipulate data in a digital format, the process of digitizing has become central to the world of art and multimedia. History of Digitizing: Digital image processing began with work done through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California in the 1960s and consisted of digitizing television images of the moon’s surface sent by the spacecraft Ranger 7. Other uses included military intelligence, urban planning, medicine (such as the CAT Scan and the MRI), and of course digital video and photography (Digital Imaging, 1997). Digital Cameras: how they work When you take a picture with your digital camera it splits the light that passes through the lens into red, green and blue, various combinations of which make up all of the colors that we see with the naked eye. Then it focuses this light onto a very small area. Unlike film cameras, that direct the light onto a piece of film coated with silver, digital cameras must convert the light it registers into voltage. It does this by using photodiodes, devices coated with crystalline silicon that produce an electrical charge proportional to the amount of light that hits it. Many photodiodes strategically placed together make up a charge-coupled...
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