Saturday, October 29, 2011
Dream Dot
Computer has undoubtedly been one of the most influential inventions of all time. Whilst going through the history of computers you will realize that several different types of computing machines have been used for different purpose over the period of time. This makes it all the more difficult to trace the evolution of computers to find out who invented the computer or when was the first computer invented. While answering questions like when was the first home computer invented can be easy as there is a proper definition of the same, trying to figure out when was the first computer made is quite difficult owing the generic definition which encompasses several different types of computers.
When was the First Computer Invented and by Whom?
The answer to what year was the first computer invented depends on what you would define a computer as. Early historians are of the opinion that Abacus - a calculator which performed arithmetic functions by manual sliding counters on rods, was the first computer. That, however, doesn't quite hold ground as our definition of computer has evolved significantly to reach what it is today, i.e. a machine which performs calculations automatically. Confusing? Going through the interesting computer facts given below will make the concept easier for you to understand.
Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine
In order to find out which was the first computer invented, we have to go back to 1837 wherein a British mathematics professor Charles Babbage came up with the concept of Analytical Engine - which was a programmable mechanical computer powered by a steam engine. The machine used punched cards to program mechanical looms in it. The fact that the Analytical Engine was programmable made it one of the most unique inventions in computer history.
Konrad Zuse's Z Series
The lack of financial support proved to be a hindrance in the development of Analytical Engine, and eventually Babbage was forced to give up on the same. It took another 100 years for the mankind to see the first electrical binary programmable computer - the Z1. It was invented by the German engineer - Konrad Zuse, in 1936. Sadly, however, this computer, along with its construction plans, was destroyed during the Second World War. Zuse followed the Z1 computer with Z2, in 1939, and Z3, in 1941.
Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)
The first fully electronic digital computer was the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, abbreviated as ABC, developed in 1942. The credit for the invention of this computer goes to the American electronics engineer and professor - John Vincent Atanasoff, and his student - Clifford Berry, who went on to become a famous American inventor. While the idea of this machine was conceived by Atanasoff in 1939, it was only in 1942 that computer was fully developed. While the Atanasoff-Berry Computer is regarded as the first electronic digital computer today, it had to go through quite a few legal tangles against the developers of ENIAC to get this distinction.
Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer (ENIAC)
Before Atanasoff-Berry Computer was rediscovered in 1970s, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, abbreviated as ENIAC, was considered to be the first digital computer ever developed. This computer, which was developed by John Presper Eckert & John W. Mauchly in 1946, was financed by the United States Army. It was designed to calculate artillery firing tables in the U.S. Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory. The ENIAC was first used in calculations for the development of hydrogen bomb. It was regarded as the first electronic digital computer until a U.S. District Court invalidated its patent, and declared ABC the first computer in 1973.
That brings us back to the intricate question that we were trying to answer - when was the first computer invented, and who invented it. If the concept of Analytical Engine is taken into consideration it is safe to say that Charles Baggage invented the first computer in 1830's. Many historians are of this opinion, and that's exactly the reason why Charles Baggage is considered the 'Father of Computing'. If we talk about the modern computers, the Z1 developed by Konrad Zuse in 1930s gets the credit, and if we talk about digital computers Atanasoff and Berry's - Atanasoff-Berry Computer, which they developed in 1942 becomes the first. Still wondering when was the first personal computer invented? The answer is 1970s, when the two stalwarts of computing - IBM and Apple entered the field.
When was the First Computer Invented and by Whom?
The answer to what year was the first computer invented depends on what you would define a computer as. Early historians are of the opinion that Abacus - a calculator which performed arithmetic functions by manual sliding counters on rods, was the first computer. That, however, doesn't quite hold ground as our definition of computer has evolved significantly to reach what it is today, i.e. a machine which performs calculations automatically. Confusing? Going through the interesting computer facts given below will make the concept easier for you to understand.
Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine
In order to find out which was the first computer invented, we have to go back to 1837 wherein a British mathematics professor Charles Babbage came up with the concept of Analytical Engine - which was a programmable mechanical computer powered by a steam engine. The machine used punched cards to program mechanical looms in it. The fact that the Analytical Engine was programmable made it one of the most unique inventions in computer history.
Konrad Zuse's Z Series
The lack of financial support proved to be a hindrance in the development of Analytical Engine, and eventually Babbage was forced to give up on the same. It took another 100 years for the mankind to see the first electrical binary programmable computer - the Z1. It was invented by the German engineer - Konrad Zuse, in 1936. Sadly, however, this computer, along with its construction plans, was destroyed during the Second World War. Zuse followed the Z1 computer with Z2, in 1939, and Z3, in 1941.
Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)
The first fully electronic digital computer was the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, abbreviated as ABC, developed in 1942. The credit for the invention of this computer goes to the American electronics engineer and professor - John Vincent Atanasoff, and his student - Clifford Berry, who went on to become a famous American inventor. While the idea of this machine was conceived by Atanasoff in 1939, it was only in 1942 that computer was fully developed. While the Atanasoff-Berry Computer is regarded as the first electronic digital computer today, it had to go through quite a few legal tangles against the developers of ENIAC to get this distinction.
Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer (ENIAC)
Before Atanasoff-Berry Computer was rediscovered in 1970s, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, abbreviated as ENIAC, was considered to be the first digital computer ever developed. This computer, which was developed by John Presper Eckert & John W. Mauchly in 1946, was financed by the United States Army. It was designed to calculate artillery firing tables in the U.S. Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory. The ENIAC was first used in calculations for the development of hydrogen bomb. It was regarded as the first electronic digital computer until a U.S. District Court invalidated its patent, and declared ABC the first computer in 1973.
That brings us back to the intricate question that we were trying to answer - when was the first computer invented, and who invented it. If the concept of Analytical Engine is taken into consideration it is safe to say that Charles Baggage invented the first computer in 1830's. Many historians are of this opinion, and that's exactly the reason why Charles Baggage is considered the 'Father of Computing'. If we talk about the modern computers, the Z1 developed by Konrad Zuse in 1930s gets the credit, and if we talk about digital computers Atanasoff and Berry's - Atanasoff-Berry Computer, which they developed in 1942 becomes the first. Still wondering when was the first personal computer invented? The answer is 1970s, when the two stalwarts of computing - IBM and Apple entered the field.
Posted in: Computer
0 Comment:
Post a Comment