Evolution of Computers: A Brief History of the Year They Were Invented

Introduction

Computers have come a long way since their invention, and the history of computers is a fascinating story. They have transformed the way we live, work and communicate. Today, they are an essential part of our lives, and it’s hard to imagine a world without them. In this article, we will take a look at the evolution of computers and the year they were invented.

The First Computers

The first computers were mechanical and didn’t have the computing power that we are used to today. However, they laid the foundation for the future of computing. The first mechanical computer was developed by Charles Babbage in the 1820s. He called it the Difference Engine, and it was used to perform mathematical calculations. Fast forward to 1937, and we have the development of the first electronic computer. It was called the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, and it was developed by John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry. The Atanasoff-Berry Computer used binary digits to store information and had the ability to solve systems of linear equations.

The ENIAC

The first general-purpose electronic computer was the Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer (ENIAC). It was developed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert and was completed in 1945. The ENIAC was massive, weighing in at over 27 tons, and was used to calculate artillery firing tables for the U.S. Army during World War II.

The UNIVAC

The UNIVAC was the first commercially available computer. It was developed by Mauchly and Eckert, and the first UNIVAC was installed at the United States Census Bureau in 1951. The UNIVAC had a processing speed of 1,000 instructions per second and could store up to 1,000 words of information.

The Birth of the Personal Computer

The personal computer as we know it today was born in 1974 with the development of the Altair 8800. It was marketed as a self-assembly kit, and the user had to program it themselves. In 1977, Apple released the Apple II, which was the first personal computer with color graphics. It was followed by the IBM PC in 1981, which set the standard for personal computers and led to the development of the Microsoft Windows operating system.

The Future of Computing

As we look to the future, the possibilities for computing are endless. We have already seen the rise of the Internet, social media, and mobile computing, but there is so much more to come. From artificial intelligence to quantum computing, the future of computing is exciting and full of possibilities.

Conclusion

Computers have come a long way since their invention, and the history of computers is a testament to human ingenuity and creativity. We have gone from mechanical computers to powerful personal computers, and the future of computing is full of endless possibilities. As we look forward, it’s exciting to think about what new inventions and developments will come next in the world of computing.