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Chapter 2:Â History of Computer Development
In the early days, there were no facilities to count and calculate. People, at that time used different means to count informally, such as using pebbles, drawing lines, scratching on walls, etc.
As there is a saying, necessity is the mother of invention. The saying holds true for computers also; computers were invented because of human in search for fast and accurate calculating devices. We know that, the history of computer begins from counting or computations.
There is a great contribution of scientists, mathematicians, philosophers, engineers and many organizations to bring the computer at present stage.Â
Computers have come a long way from simple counting tools to the advanced machines we use today. The historical development of computers can be divided into three main eras: the Mechanical Era, the Electromechanical Era, and the Electronic Era.
Let’s explore each era and some important inventions and inventors.
A. Mechanical Era
This was the era in which several mechanical devices were used for the purpose of counting and computing manually. The devices developed in this era became the basis for the invention of electromechanical devices or electromechanical computers. This era is called mechanical era because the machines were based on moving parts, operated completely by machines and they did not have any logical control in operation. The major inventions of this era are discussed below in terms of different calculating devices. They are:
Abacus (Before 2500 to 3000 years ago)
The abacus is one of the earliest tools used for counting and calculations. It is a simple device made of beads and rods. People used it to perform basic arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction.
Napier’s Bones (1617 AD)
Napier’s Bones, invented by John Napier, was a manual calculating device. It used rods inscribed with numbers to help with multiplication and division. It made calculations easier for people before electronic calculators were invented.
Slide Rule (1620 AD)
The slide rule is a mechanical analog computer used primarily for multiplication and division. Invented by William Oughtred, it looks like a ruler with a sliding central strip. It was widely used by engineers and scientists until electronic calculators became common.
Pascaline (1642 AD)
The Pascaline, created by Blaise Pascal, was an early mechanical calculator. It could perform addition and subtraction. It used gears and wheels and is considered one of the first mechanical computing devices.
Leibniz Calculating Machine (1671 AD)
Invented by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, this machine could perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It improved upon Pascal’s design and used a stepped drum mechanism.
Jacquard’s Loom
Joseph Marie Jacquard invented the Jacquard loom, which used punched cards to control the weaving of patterns in textiles. This idea of using punched cards influenced later computer technology.
Charles Babbage [Father of Computer Science]
Charles Babbage is known as the father of computer science. He designed two important machines: the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine, which became the milestones for the development of modern computers. He also kept the concept of using binary digits in his machine.
Difference Engine (in 1822)
The Difference Engine was designed to perform mathematical calculations. Although it was never completed during Babbage’s lifetime, it was an important step towards automated computing.
Analytical Engine (in 1833)
The Analytical Engine was a more advanced design that included concepts like a control unit and memory. It is considered the first general-purpose computer design.
| Parts | Purpose |
|---|
| |
| a. Punch Cards: | To input data and instructions. |
| b. Mill: | To perform basic mathematical computations. |
| c. Mechanical memory unit: | To store data and instructions. |
| d. Gears and shafts: | To control and transfer data between Mill and storage section. |
| e. Suitable output device: | To output information. |
Lady Augusta Ada Lovelace [First Programmer]
Ada Lovelace worked with Charles Babbage and is known as the first computer programmer. She wrote algorithms for the Analytical Engine and predicted its potential beyond more calculation.
Herman’s Tabulating Machine (in 1887)
Herman Hollerith invented a tabulating machine that used punched cards to process data. This machine was used for the 1890 U.S. Census and laid the groundwork for modern data processing.
B. Electromechanical Era
This was the era in which the parts of computers were electronic and mechanical based. This era was the outcome of the mechanical era so the computational devices were partly programmable. In this period, scientists discovered electrical charges as a way to represent data in this period. For the first time, electricity was used to operate the computers but computers still had many mechanical components. Programming in computers did not involve using the software. Since both electrical and mechanical components were used this era is known as the electromechanical era. The major inventions of this era are discussed below.
Mark-I
The Mark-I, also known as the Harvard Mark I, was an early electromechanical computer. It was created by IBM and used for calculations during World War II. It combined mechanical and electrical components. The special features of Mark I are:
- It used 1800 vacuum tubes.
- It consisted of seven lakh and fifty thousand parts.
- It was 51 feet long, 8 feet high, and 3 feet wide.
- It consumed a huge amount of electricity.
Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC)
The ABC, created by John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry, was the first electronic digital computer. It used binary representation and electronic switches, which influenced later developments in computer design.
C. Electronic Era:
This is the modern era of computers, in which mechanical devices were replaced by fully electronic circuits and calculations were based on digital mechanisms. The development of this era is the result of specific technologies, people, and motivation. The major inventions of this era are:
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integration and Calculator)
ENIAC was the first general-purpose electronic digital computer. It was used to solve complex calculations for the U.S. Army. ENIAC was much faster than earlier mechanical computers and could be programmed for different tasks.
EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer)
EDSAC was an early British computer that was one of the first to store programs in its memory. It used mercury delay lines for memory storage and was a significant advancement in computer technology.
EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer)
EDVAC was one of the first computers to use binary numbers and store programs. It improved the design of ENIAC and influenced future computer architecture.
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer)
UNIVAC was the first commercially produced computer in the United States. It was used for business and government applications, demonstrating the practical uses of computers beyond scientific research.
History of Computers in Nepal
Computers were introduced in Nepal relatively late compared to other countries. The first computer in Nepal was an IBM 1401, which was brought in by the government in the early 2028 B.S. for population census work.
In the following decades, the use of computers spread to other government departments and private businesses. By 2039 B.S, personal computers became more common, and the internet was introduced, which significantly boosted computer use and literacy in the country.
Today, Nepal continues to advance in computer technology and education, integrating modern computing into various sectors of society.
Some Important Full forms of History of Computer Development
ASCC: Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator
ABC: Atanasoff Berry Computer
ENIAC: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator
EDSAC: Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer
EDVAC: Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
UNIVAC: Universal Automatic Computer
HLCIT: High Level Commission for Information Technology
Complete Chapter 3 (History of Computer Development) Explained
Complete Exercise of Chapter 3 (History of Computer Development)
Very Short Answer Questions.
a. Who is considered the father of computer science?
Charles Babbage is considered the father of computer science
b. When was the abacus developed?
Around 2500 BCE, abacus was developed.
c. Who was John Napier?
A Scottish mathematician known for inventing logarithms and Napier’s Bones, a calculation tool.
d. Is Lady Augusta Ada Lovelace known as the first programmer?
Yes, Lady Augusta Ada Lovelace known as the first programmer.
e. Which was the first computer brought in Nepal?
IBM 1401, was the first computer brought in Nepal.
f. How much time did ICL 2950/10 take to complete the census of 2038 B.S. in Nepal?
Approximately 1 year, 7 months, ICL 2950/10 took to complete the census of 2038 B.S. in Nepal.
g. Which university did Howard Aiken belong to?
Howard Aiken belong to Harvard University.
h. How many vacuum tubes were used in ENIAC?
Approximately 18,000Â vacuum tubes were used in ENIAC.
Short Answer Questions.
a. How did early people calculate?
Early people used simple tools like fingers, stones, and tally marks for basic calculations.
b. Why is Charles Babbage known as the father of computer science?
Charles Babbage is known as the father of computer science because he designed the foundation of modern computers in his Analytical Engine including the concepts of input, processing, output, and storage.
c. Write the features of Mark-I.
The features of Mark-I are
- It used 18000 vacuum tubes.
- It consisted seven Lakhs and fifty thousand parts.
- It was 51 feet long, 8 feet height and 3 feet wide.
- It consumed huge amount of electricity.
d. Draw the figure of Abacus showing its parts.
[Please visualize a basic abacus with a rectangular frame, rods, and beads. Each rod has a certain number of beads that can be moved up and down to perform calculations.]
FIGURE OF ABACUS
e. Write the contribution of Blaise Pascal in the development of modern calculating devices.
Blaise Pascal invented the Pascaline, an early mechanical calculator that could perform addition and subtraction. It used a series of gears and wheels and was one of the first devices to mechanize arithmetic calculations.
f. Mention the major parts with their functions of the analytical engine.
The Analytical Engine included:
| Parts | Purpose |
|---|
| |
| a. Punch Cards: | To input data and instructions. |
| b. Mill: | To perform basic mathematical computations. |
| c. Mechanical memory unit: | To store data and instructions. |
| d. Gears and shafts: | To control and transfer data between Mill and storage section. |
| e. Suitable output device: | To output information. |
Long Answer Questions.
a. Explain the history of computing devices of the mechanical era.
The mechanical era of computing began with simple devices like the abacus around 2500 BCE, used for basic arithmetic operations. In the 17th century, John Napier invented logarithms and Napier’s Bones, which facilitated multiplication and division. Blaise Pascal’s Pascaline, developed in 1642, was a mechanical calculator using gears for addition and subtraction.
Later, in the early 19th century, Charles Babbage designed the Difference Engine for polynomial calculations and the more advanced Analytical Engine, which introduced concepts like the ALU, memory, and programmability, laying the foundation for modern computers.
b. Compare and discuss between electromechanical and electronic era of computers.
| Electromechanical Era | Electronic Era |
| Used mechanical parts combined with electrical components like relays and switches | Used electronic components like vacuum tubes, transistors, and microprocessors |
| Example: Harvard Mark I | Example: ENIAC, UNIVAC |
| Slower processing speeds due to mechanical limitations | Much faster processing speeds are due to electronic circuits |
| Larger and more cumbersome | More compact and efficient |
| Less reliable with frequent mechanical failures | More reliable with fewer component failures |
| Transition period: 1930s to 1940s | Transition period: 1940s to present |
c. Describe the history of computers in Nepal in your own words.
The history of computers in Nepal began with the arrival of the IBM 1401 in 2028 B.S., brought for the purpose of the national population census. This marked the introduction of computer technology in the country. Following this, computers started being used in various government and financial institutions.
The 2039 B.S. saw the introduction of personal computers, which began to spread slowly across businesses and educational institutions. The advancement of the internet in the approximately 2060 B.S. further accelerated computer usage in Nepal.
As a result, today, computers are integral in various sectors such as education, healthcare, banking, and government services, reflecting a significant growth in digital literacy and infrastructure in the country.
Computer Generation Table
