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First Computer - Beads on a rob used to count

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Based on Napier's rules for logarithms

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How to Use a Slide Rule - Easy Explanation / Lesson - 1957

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First stored program

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History of computing (Slide rule), (Pascaline), (Jacquard looms)

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Made the difference Machine, Analytical Engine

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1st generation computers had no air circulation to protect circuitry

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Modern computer era owes much to the great technological advances that took place during World War II. Thus, the invention of electronic circuits, vacuum tubes and capacitors replace the generation of mechanical components while numerical calculation replaces analog calculation. The computers and products of this era constitute the so-called first generation of computers.

Characteristics of the first generation of computers

The first generation of computers generated in the mid-twentieth century had the first indication or antecedent of modern computers, but among its main characteristics were its large size as well as its high cost of acquisition, and the recurrent theme of failures and errors for being experimental.

The computers counted with the use of vacuum tubes to process the information, punched cards for data entry and exit and programs, and used magnetic cylinders to store information and internal instructions.

The first ones on the market cost approximately $10,000. Due to their large size, their use implied a great amount of electricity, generating an overheating in the system, requiring special auxiliary air conditioning systems (in order to avoid this overheating). For example, the large ENIAC computer weighing up to 30 tons.

The first-generation computers used magnetic drums as data storage elements to be changed later in the second generation by ferrite memories.

History of the first generation of computers

The historical development of the first generation of computers does not have an exact beginning, since it is the result of previous discoveries and experimentation from different authors, but in this case would begin to take its development since the twentieth century.

The design of Charles Babbage's analytical machine collected ideas as a primitive way of giving orders to the machine for the automatic performance of calculations and the introduction of data storage systems. These ideas were incorporated into the design of the ENIAC, the first electronic computer to be built. In it, they were later based for the UNIVAC I, which was the first computer to be manufactured commercially, as well as being the first to use a compiler to change the language from program to machine language.

Its main advances were the system of magnetic tapes, which were read back and forth, and the possibility of checking errors. The introduction of integrated circuits allowed the appearance of the first desktop computer in 1974. This immediate success led to the appearance of the IBM PC in 1981.

First generation of computers inventors

Howard Aiken (1900- 1973), developed the Automatic Sequence Controller Calculator (ASCC), where, at the same time, he relied on Babbage's work with the analytical machine, managing to build the Mark 1, the first electro-mechanical computer (1944), which had a speed of a couple of tenths of seconds to add or subtract, two seconds to multiply two numbers of 11 digits and divide in a term of more or less 4 seconds.

Eckert and Mauchly contributed to the development of first-generation computers by forming a private company and building UNIVAC I, which the Census Committee used to evaluate the 1950 census. IBM had a on punch card data processing equipment.

Von Neumann, the first to use a binary or double arithmetic in an electronic computer. Although his greatest contribution occurs with the collaboration with Arthur W. Burks and Herman. H. They write Discussion of the logical design of an electronic computing instrument, which served as a basis (even today) for computer construction. Ideas such as: the central concept, which allowed programs and data to be organized in the same medium (memory) and the use of the first machine to use magnetic tapes, such as the EDVAC design, Electronic discrete variable automatic computer.

Featured PCs from the first generation of computers

Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC): The first automatic electronic digital computer developed between 1937 and 1942, which was named in honor of its two authors, John Vicent Atanasoff and his assistant, Clifford Berry. It was able to perform with a high level of accuracy equations of up to 29 unknowns.

MARK I: The first electro-mechanical order, which was the product of Howard Aiken, who based his research in the field, such as Babbage's work. Which leads him to be the founder of the ASCC, Automatic Sequence Controller Calculator. This computer had a magnitude of 15 meters long x 2.4 meters high, as it was made up of about 800,000 pieces and more than 804 km of wiring. Its speed was not the best, however, was a breakthrough for the time and later came to build the MARK II and MARK III.

UNIVAC: Universal Automatic Computer opened the way for the explosive development and improvement of computers that would be produced. It first appeared in 1951, being the first digital computer for commercial Its creators were John Mauchly and John Presper Eckert, taking around 5 years for its realization. It was characterized, like all computers of this generation, by its magnitude because it weighed 7,257 kg, consisting of 5,000 vacuum tubes and could perform about 1,000 calculations per second, being quite fast for his time.

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer): created in 1943 by John W. Mauchly and John Presper Eckert, with the purpose of providing help or facilitating problems in the military field, since it required an instrument that was used as a medium. Its implementation took about 3 years and still generated a good number of problems apart from its enormous size and energy consumption required for its operation. In addition to that, it also presented problems with the programming as it was very complex to modify, being a model quickly surpassed.

Written by Gabriela Briceño V.

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First generation of computers | What is, characteristics, history, inventors

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The first generation of computers was launched in the middle of the 20th century, specifically between 1946 and 1958, a period that generated great technological advances based on the search for an aid instrument in the scientific and military fields.

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Moth stuck in relay stick

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"First actual case of bug being found," according to the brainiacs at Harvard, 1945. The engineers who found the moth were the first to literally "debug" a machine.

Photograph courtesy Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Virginia

Background Info Vocabulary

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Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

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Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

Last Updated

July 15, 2020

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Writer

Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

Producer

Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

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"First actual case of bug being found," according to the brainiacs at Harvard, 1945. The engineers who found the moth were the first to literally "debug" a machine. Photograph courtesy Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Virginia Background Info Vocabulary Credits Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.

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Used silicon, won Nobel Peace Prize

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Programmed UNIVAC, first recipient of Computer Science's "Man of the Year" Award.

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First fully electronical digital computer

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2nd generation computer replaced vacuum tubes with transistors

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The second generation of computers covered the period from 1959 to 1964. This generation marked a new era that was defined by the replacement of vacuum valves by transistors, which implied the creation of more reliable computers with less ventilation needs, making them commercially accessible and powerful. In addition, the use of high level languages allowed the improvement in program implementation and its use in airline reservation systems, air traffic control and general purpose simulations. Large companies began to use the computer for storage, registration, inventory management, payroll and accounting.

Characteristics of the second generation of computers

The invention of the transistor made possible a new generation of computers with the following characteristics:

They were built with transistor electronics.

They took up less space and produced less heat than computers that operated with vacuum tubes.

More powerful, more reliable, and less expensive, which made them more commercial.

They were programmed with high level languages which allowed new utilities in which they could be used.

They used networks of magnetic cores instead of rotating drums for primary storage, containing small rings of linked magnetic material in which data and instructions could be stored.

History of the second generation of computers

The creation of transistors and their use in computer manufacturing, triggered a series of events in the of computing, not only because it represented a significant technological advance, but also initiated a new stage in equipment commercialization.

In 1956, IBM sold its first magnetic disk system, the RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control). This equipment was characterized for using 50 metal disks of 61 cm, with 100 tracks per side. It had a storage capacity of 5 megabytes of data. IBM developed the first high-level -purpose programming language, FORTRAN.

Subsequently, in 1959, IBM continued its evolution and created the most successful machine in computing history (12,000 units sold): the IBM 1401 transistor-based mainframe. It used punched cards and a 4000 character magnetic core memory.

By 1960, IBM launched the IBM 1620 mainframe. This transistor-based equipment used a perforated paper ribbon which quickly changed to punched cards. It proved to be a popular scientific computer reaching sales of approximately 2000 units. It used a magnetic core memory with more than 60,000 decimal digits.

A couple of years later, in 1962, Spacewar! was developed, the first computer game. In addition, DEC launched the PDP-1, its first machine primarily aimed at laboratory technicians and research staff.

Finally, in 1964, IBM released the 360 series, made up of computers that were characterized by running the same software in different combinations of speed, capacity and price. It also implemented the commercial use of microprograms, and user-friendly instructions for their use to process many types of data, not just numerical (arithmetic). IBM had two product lines, a "commercial" product line and a "scientific" line, which were unified into one.

Second generation of computer size

The first computers used vacuum tubes and occupied a considerable space (up to 30m long). In the second generation, the size of the computers began to decrease thanks to the creation of transistors to process information. Computers could store more data in less space, 200 transistors could be accommodated in the same amount of space as a vacuum tube. This advance made computers faster, smaller, lighter, more reliable and with less need for ventilation, making them also commercially accessible and powerful. However, acquisition costs remained high.

Inventions of the second generation of computers

Physicists John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley, who knowing the properties of the silicon found in quartz stones, after years of research finally conceived the transistor.

The term transistor derives from the combination of the English words transfer resistor, and is an electronic, semiconductor device with multiple functions such as amplify, oscillate, switch or rectify. Its original components were very simple. Each of them was soldered on top of a circuit board that served to connect to other individual components.

They contained a semi-conductor material that could change its electrical state when pulsed. In its normal state, the semi-conductor was not conductive, but when a certain voltage was applied to it, it became conductive and the electric current flowed through it. In computers, they functioned as an electronic switch or bridge.

The creation of the transistor made possible a new generation of computers, faster and much smaller and, moreover, with less need for ventilation. However, the cost remained high. Second generation computers also used magnetic core networks instead of rotating drums for primary storage. These cores contained small rings of linked magnetic material in which data and instructions could be stored.

Inventors of the second generation of computers

William Bradford Shockley (13/02/1910 - 12 /08/1989), the physicist Walter Houser Brattain (Amoy, China, 10/02/1902 - 13/10/1987), and the electrical and physical engineer John Bardeen (Madison, United States 23/05/1908 - Boston, 30/01/1991), were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956.

Featured computers from the second generation

In order to create the first flight simulator, the U.S. Navy used second-generation computers. Some of the computers that were already built with transistors in this period were:

IBM 1401

Honeywell 800 and 5000 series

UNIVAC M460

The IBM 7090 and 7094

NCR 315

The RCA 501 and 601

The Remington Rand UNIVAC LARC and IBM Stretch supercomputers (1961) are also built in this generation, as well as many others, which constituted a competitive market with a boom in its growth.

Written by Gabriela Briceño V.

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Second generation of computers | What is, characteristics, history, inventions

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The second generation of computers covered the period from 1959 to 1964. This generation marked a new era that was defined by the replacement of vacuum valves by transistors, which implied the creation of more reliable computers with less ventilation needs, making them commercially accessible and powerful.

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Instructions for a computer when it is opened.

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3rd generation computers had Integrated Circuits that were made of transistors, resistors, capacitors.

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The third generation of computers covered a period between 1964 and 1971. It marked a new era that was defined by the improvement of the C.I., that is to say, integrated circuits that were created in 1958, which are silicon chips or tablets that allow the placement of enormous quantities of electronic devices in a minimum space, managing to diminish again the size of the computer and incorporating multiprogramming. Its use revolutionized the way of building computers, which is still used today in the manufacture of cell phones and calculators.

Characteristics of the third generation of computers

The incorporation of integrated circuits made possible a new generation of computers with the following characteristics:

Much smaller.

They emanated less heat and therefore reduced cooling requirements.

As they were smaller, they also required a reduced electrical energy consumption.

The interconnections of the integrated circuits are much more reliable than the soldered connections generating more flexible computers.

Minicomputers, cheaper and with greater processing capacity.

Teleprocessing (processing of data from terminals in a central unit).

Multiprogramming (a technique in which two or more processes are executed simultaneously by the CPU while housed in the main memory).

Peripheral Renewal.

The number π (Pi) was calculated to give more than five hundred thousand decimals.

History of the third generation of computers

The third generation of computers began to be created with the invention of integrated circuits better known as microchips.

In 1964, two physicists, Jack St. Claire Kilby and Robert Noyce were its creators and with it, they revolutionized the electronic industry and gave origin to the beginning of a high technology era. From this moment on, events were triggered that made history.

First, Intel's hardworking physicist Ted Hoff invented the microprocessor. Then, thanks to George Gamow, a new way of programming emerged, and with the discovery of the structure of DNA, the Russian physicist and astronomer proposed that the sequence of it formed a code.

On April 7, 1964 IBM announced the S/360, designed by chief architect Gene Amdah. It was one of the first commercial computers to use integrated circuits. The 360 was considered one of the most important in history, as it influenced the design of computers in later years and marked the starting point for the third generation of computers.

It is a mainframe computer system designed to cover applications, regardless of their size or environment (scientific, commercial). This first group of machines built with integrated circuits was called the Edgar series, and could perform both numerical and administrative analysis or file processing. The models ranged in speed from 0.034 MIPS to 1.700 MIPS (50 times the speed) and between 8 KB and 8 MB of main memory. In the design, a clear distinction was made between architecture and implementation, allowing customers to buy a smaller system knowing that they could always migrate to a higher-capacity system, making it a resounding success in the marketplace.

Control Data Corporation introduces to the market the CDC, a supercomputer capable of executing multiple instructions per second making it the most powerful at that time.

New storage units appear, 9-channel magnetic tapes, and although some still used punched cards for data entry, they had fast readers.

The company Digital Equipment Corporation DEC, foreseeing that IBM had monopolized an important sector of the market, decided to focus on making smaller computers, which were cheaper and easier to operate, reaching popularity. At the end of this technological era, the minicomputer emerged.

Computers size of the third generation of computers

With each invention, the space requirements required by a computer for its operation became less. First was the creation of transistors to process information that replaced the vacuum tubes and marked an era (second generation) considerably decreasing the size of computers by accommodating 200 transistors in the same space. Then, the integrated circuits better known as microchips were created.

Among the most important advantages of integrated circuits is their small size in relation to electronic circuits built with discrete components. By comparison, an integrated circuit can contain thousands to millions of transistors in just a few square millimeters, thus achieving the miniaturization of its components. Thanks to this, the computers reduced their dimensions, increased their operating capacity (faster), emitted less heat, becoming more efficient equipment.

Inventions

Initially computers handled a single function, either math or business, but never both.

The ideas and beginnings of the integrated circuit were given years before this generation. The composition of this small germanium device grouped six transistors that formed a rotating oscillator on the same semiconductor base. They were very economical because they were manufactured by printing them using photolithography in one piece, and also because they could be produced in series almost without defects. They were also very efficient because their energy consumption was considerably lower.

Thanks to integrated circuits, computer manufacturers gained more flexibility in the programs, and were even able to standardize their models.

Today we can see them in multiple electronic devices such as cell phones, clocks, television vehicles, etc.

Inventors of the third generation of computers

Here, we must highlight two of them, the winner of the Nobel Prize in in 2000, Jack St. Clair Kilby, and the co-founder of Intel and Fairchild, Robert Norton Noyce, also known as " the Mayor of Silicon Valley ". The first one was responsible for developing the integrated circuit in 1959. For his part, Robert Norton Noyce, developed his own, only six months later, solving some of the problems presented by the model of Jack St. Clair Kilby.

Featured PCs of the third generation of computers

IBM 360: without a doubt, the IBM 360 was the most relevant machines of this computer generation. Manufactured with integrated SLT technology. It caused such an impact that more than 30,000 units were manufactured. These computers were designed to cover applications regardless of their dimensions or use (scientific, commercial). It was a great success because users knew they could buy a small design that met their needs, and later incorporate a system with greater capacity. It marked a milestone in technology industry by influencing equipment designs in the following years. It was the first computer to be attacked by a virus in the history of computing.

CDC 6600: with a 60-bit CPU, Control Data Corporation launches this computer designed by Seymour Cray, known as the first supercomputer in history. It had 10 peripheral processing units and was considered the most powerful and fastest computer in the world at the time, as it could execute millions of instructions per second with a performance of 1 megaflops. The first CDC 6600 was delivered to the European Organization and its use was mainly for research in high nuclear energy physics (CERN).

DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) PDP-8 (Programmed Data Processor): This was the first minicomputer. Its capacity is 16 bits and was conceived in Reading England.

Written by Gabriela Briceño V.

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Third generation of computers | What is, Characteristics, history, inventions

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The third generation of computers covered a period between 1964 and 1971. It marked a new era that was defined by the improvement of the C.I., that is to say, integrated circuits that were created in 1958, which are silicon chips or tablets that allow the placement of enormous quantities of electronic devices in a minimum space, managing to diminish again the size of the computer and incorporating multiprogramming.

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4th generation computers had micro chips

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In the fourth generation of computers there was a radical change that marked a before and after in the technological revolution, all this due to the arrival of microprocessors that meant a great advance of microelectronics. These are fast, high-density integrated circuits. Economical and reduced in size, the microcomputers extend to the industrial market. With this, the personal computers appear, becoming indispensable in our society, giving the welcome to the "computer revolution".

Characteristics of the fourth generation of computers

The most important characteristic of fourth generation computers is undoubtedly their size, which was due to the use of microprocessor technology / VLSI. Thanks to this, they had other advantageous features:

Much less expensive.

More laptops.

Much smaller size.

Available for any type of person.

Basic Computer Language.

Computer Mouse and GUI make computers more enjoyable.

More powerful and reliable than previous generations.

Fast processing power with less power consumption.

No air conditioning required.

Commercial Production.

The fourth generation of computers runs from 1971 to 1981. It was born with the development of the Microprocessor that opens the doors to personal, commercial and domestic computers. A diversity of games and programs of all kinds appeared. The emergence of software undoubtedly marks an icon in the computer revolution, so this era is also known as the software generation.

Size of the fourth generation computers

Fourth generation computers are modern computers. Size began to decrease with the improvement of integrated circuits. Very Large Scale (VLSI) and Ultra Large Scale (ULSI) ensured that millions of components could be integrated into a small chip. It reduced the size and price of computers at the same time, increasing power, efficiency and reliability. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, took the integrated circuit a step further by placing all of a computer's components (central processing unit, memory, and input/output controls) on a tiny chip.

Inventions of the fourth generation of computers

The idea of information technology changed greatly with the invention of microprocessors and VLSI (large-scale integration) technology. They were the introduction to today's computers, being basically an entire Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer in an integrated circuit. Actually, they are extremely complex and intricate integrated circuits. The first microprocessor was first introduced in 1971 by Intel, invented by its employee Ted Hoff. They called it Intel 4004; the first computer on a chip. These chips allowed computers to fit on a desktop computer.

Inventors of the fourth generation of computers

Steven Paul Jobs: ( Steve Jobs) Born in San Francisco, California, on February 24, 1955, son of two students from the University of Wisconsin, who gave him up for adoption. Jobs was a very intelligent child, but not determined. He joined Steve Wozniak to found Apple in 1976, of which he was president. During his life, he experienced various paths, including abandoning his studies at the University. He was an inventor, designer and entrepreneur. A figure of the computer revolution, he leaves us an inheritance of impressive products of his Apple brand, such as the iPod, iPhone and iPad, icons of modern technology. In 1985, he tried another way and launched Pixar Animation Studios, and years later he returned to Apple. Jobs suffered from a cancer that led to his death in 2011.

William Henry Gates III: (Bill Gates) Born February 28, 1955. The son of a prominent lawyer and a university professor, he grew up with his sister in Seattle. He was a student of a Public Elementary School, and then studied at the outstanding private school called Lakeside, which by 1968 already had a computer. His contact with the machine allowed Gates to become passionate about computers. In Lakeside, during 1975, he met Paul Allen and together they formed Microsoft, an acronym for "micro-computer" and "software". The company stumbled in its early days, but by 1979 Microsoft was paying a significant amount of money. At just 23, Gates was the head of his company, running it with great business sense and insight for software development. Today, Microsoft Windows (in all its versions) is used on most of the world's personal computers.

Featured Computers

ALTAIR 880 0: the first personal computer. It was designed by Ed Roberts, the head of MITS using an Intel 8080 CPU chip (first 16-bit microprocessor) and an elegant metal casing, and produced in 1975 by Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems as a personal computer. Sales increased enormously when sold with a mouse and keyboard, becoming the initial influence of personal computing in the world. He could execute the BASIC language, written by Bill Gates and Paul Allen sold as "Altair BASIC", becoming the first Microsoft product of his company.

Apple I and Apple II series: Steve Wozniak first developed the original Apple computer, Apple I, in 1976. It was Apple's first product; a small personal computer. His friend Steve Jobs helped him sell the computer, and later helped him make the Apple II. Wozniak and Jobs were the real co-founders of Apple. They developed the Apple II, which was one of the first highly productive and successful home microcomputers. It was the first of their Apple II series that ended in 1993. A total of about five million were sold. ROM and Integer BASIC, developed by Wozniak, worked. He also developed Disco II, a floppy disk drive for storage, in 1978.

Macintosh: Apple also introduced the Macintosh in 1984 based on the Motorola 68000 microprocessor. Initially, it was not a commercial success, but it finally was with the introduction to desktop publishing. Apple also produced the Apple III series in 1980 but was unsuccessful due to an overheating problem.

IBM PC: The IBM Personal Computer is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform.

Many other Apple computer models were produced during the fourth generation of computers. Some proved to be successful, while others did not.

Written by Gabriela Briceño V.

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Fourth generation of computers | What is it, characteristics, history, inventions

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In the fourth generation of computers there was a radical change that marked a before and after in the technological revolution, all this due to the arrival of microprocessors that meant a great advance of microelectronics. These are fast, high-density integrated circuits. Economical and reduced in size, the microcomputers extend to the industrial market.

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256 bytes of memory, cost $395-495

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First Commercial computer with graphic user interface GUI and mouse

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First wide selling personal computer
8088 Microchip 29,000 transistors

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-Computers in most homes
-Faster and less pricy
-windows 95 was the first decent GUI

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-Great increase in speed,. storage, and memory
-CD drives
-Cell phones and wireless technology