Brief History of Computer Systems

Early Computing Devices

Abacus

Abacus

The abacus is the earliest counting device. It is made with rods, stones, and beads Abacus is used for calculation.

Husnain: The abacus was the earliest counting device. That was made using beads, stones on wires or bones. It's used for mathematical calculations.

  • One of the earliest counting devices.
  • Consists of beads or stones on rods or wires.
  • Used for arithmetic calculations by sliding beads to represent numerical values.
  • Used in various cultures for centuries.
Napiers Bones

Napier's Bones

The Napier's Bones was made in the Scotland 17th century, and John Napier invented this device and used it for Multiplication and Division.

Husnain: John Napier invented Napier's Bones in Scotland 17th Century. It's only used for Multiplication and Division. Napier's Bones is the first decimal-calculating device.

  • Developed by John Napier.
  • Manually operated calculating device using 9 separate strips (bones) marked with numerals.
  • Used to multiply and divide.
  • First machine to calculate using the decimal point system.
Pascaline

Pascaline

Pascaline's concept started in 1642. Blase Pascal invented this machine. Blase Pascal is a French mathematician, and his father, Étienne Pascal, worked in a tax company, so he had a lot of calculations, so Blase Pascal made Pascaline.

Husnain: Blase Pascal's Father works in a tax company. He needs to make a lot of calculations every day. For this problem, Pascal invented Pascaline, the world's first mechanical device, in 1642. He starts to sell it, but people reject it. Pascal is a French mathematician and Physicist.

  • Invented in 1642 by Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician.
  • Considered the first mechanical and automated calculator.
  • Consisted of a wooden box with gears and wheels.
Leibniz Wheel

Stepped Reckoner or Leibniz Wheel

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz invented this in 1673. He is a German mathematician and Stepped Reckoner or Leibniz Wheel, made in German, and is a calculation & mechanical device.

Husnain: Stepped Reckoner or Leibniz Wheel was invented by German mathematician Wilhelm Leibniz in 1673. It's improved Pascal's invention. It can do Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division. It's a Mechanical Device using grooved wheels.

  • Created in 1673 by German mathematician Wilhelm Leibniz.
  • Improved on Pascal's invention.
  • A digital mechanical calculator using grooved wheels.

Difference Engine

  • Created by Charles Babbage in the early 1820s.
  • A mechanical computer capable of basic computations.
  • Steam-powered calculating machine for solving numerical problems.

Analytical Engine

  • Another invention by Charles Babbage in 1830.
  • A mechanical computer that took input from punch cards.
  • Capable of solving mathematical problems and storing data in memory.

Tabulating Machine

  • Invented by Herman Hollerith in 1890.
  • Punch card-based mechanical calculator.
  • Used for computing statistics and recording data.
  • Hollerith's company eventually became IBM in 1924.

Differential Analyzer

  • Introduced by Vannevar Bush in 1930.
  • The first electrical computer made up of vacuum tubes used as switches.
  • Capable of performing 25 calculations per minute.

Mark 1

  • Invented by Howard Aiken in 1944.
  • A digital computer that could add three numbers with eight digits in one second.
  • Printed results on punched cards or an electric typewriter.
  • Dimensions: 50 feet long, 8 feet high, and weighed about 5 tons.

Computer Generations

First Generation (1940-1956)

  • Relied on vacuum tubes and punch cards.
  • Bulky, expensive, and consumed a lot of power.
  • Examples: ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC-1, IBM-701, and IBM-650.

Second Generation (1956-1963)

  • Transistors replaced vacuum tubes, making computers smaller and more reliable.
  • Examples: IBM-1620, IBM-7094, CDC 1604, and CDC 3600.

Third Generation (1964-1971)

  • Integrated Circuits (ICs) replaced transistors.
  • Computers became smaller, more efficient, and cheaper.
  • Examples: IBM-360 series, Honeywell-6000 series, PDP-8, and PDP-11.

Fourth Generation (1971-Present)

  • Microprocessors replaced ICs.
  • Personal computers became widespread.
  • Examples: Intel 4004, Intel 8086, Apple I, II, III, IBM-PC.

Fifth Generation (Present & Beyond)

  • Based on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Involves machine learning, natural language processing, and quantum computing.
  • Examples: IBM Watson, Google DeepMind, quantum computers, and robotics.