Computer History
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ScribdTranslationsCOMPUTER HISTORY
The history of the computer, contrary to what many may imagine, begins a long time ago, when man discovered that he
could make beads with his fingers, or with other objects, such as stones or pieces of wood. These calculations became
increasingly more complicated as humanity learned, and soon men realized that they would need some device that
would allow them to perform more complex calculations at greater speed.
Around 1671 in Germany, Gottfried Leibnitz invented a machine very similar to the Pascaline, which performed
multiplication and division calculations, and which was the direct predecessor of manual calculators.
In 1802 in France, Joseph Marie Jacquard used punch cards to control his loom machines and automate them. At the
beginning of the 19th century, more specifically in 1822, an English scientist named Charles Babbage developed a
difference machine that allowed calculations such as trigonometric and logarithmic functions, using Jacquard cards.
In 1890, at the time of the US census, Hermann Hollerith realized that he would only be able to finish processing the
census data when it was time to begin the new census (1900). He then perfected the system of punched cards (those
used by Jacquard) and invented m machines to process them, thereby achieving results in record time, that is, 3 years
later.
Based on the results obtained, Hollerith, in 1896, founded a company called TMC – Tabulation Machine Company,
which came to associate, in 1914, with two other small companies, forming the Computing Tabulation Recording
Company which would become, in 1924, at the well-known IBM, International Business Machines.
Manchester Mark 1, Harvard Mark I, Z3 and Z4: The beginning of the computing age
With the arrival of the Second World War, the need arose to design machines capable of executing ballistic calculations
quickly and accurately so that they could be used in the war industry.
With this, in 1944, the first electromechanical computer (built at Harvard University, by the team of Professor H. Aiken
and with the financial help of IBM, which invested US$500,000.00 in the project), had the name MARK I, was controlled
by programs and used the decimal system.
GENERATIONS
FIRST GENERATION (1951 TO 1958)
First Generation computers used bulbs to process information .
Programming was done through machine language . The memories were constructed with thin tubes of liquid
mercury and magnetic drums. Operators entered data and programs in special code using punch cards . Internal
storage was accomplished with a rapidly rotating drum, upon which a read / write device placed magnetic marks .
These computers used the vacuum valve. Therefore, they were extremely large, heavy equipment and generated a lot
of heat .
SECOND GENERATION (1959-1964)
The Limited Compatibility Transistor replaces the vacuum tube used in the first generation. Second generation
computers will be faster, smaller and require less ventilation. These computers also used networks of magnetic cores
instead of rotating drums for primary storage. These cores contained small rings of magnetic material, linked
together, in which data and instructions could be stored.
THIRD GENERATION (1964-1971)
Integrated Circuits, Compatibility with Major Equipment, Multiprogramming, Minicomputer
Third generation computers emerged with the development of integrated circuits (silicon chips) in which thousands
of electronic components are placed in a miniature integration . Computers again became smaller, faster, gave off
less heat, and were more energy efficient.
FOURTH GENERATION (1971 TO 1981)
Microprocessor, Memory chips, Microminiaturization
Two improvements in computer technology mark the beginning of the fourth generation: the replacement of
memories with magnetic cores, with those with silicon chips, and the placement of many more components on a
chip: a product of the microminiaturization of electronic circuits. . The reduced size of the microprocessor and chips
made the creation of personal computers (PC) possible.
In 1971, Intel Corporation, which was a small semiconductor manufacturing company located in Silicon Valley,
presented the first 4-bit microprocessor or chip, which contained 2,250 transistors in a space of approximately 4 x 5
mm. This first microprocessor, shown in figure 1.14, was named 4004.
FIFTH GENERATION AND THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (1982-1989)
It is becoming increasingly difficult to identify computer generations , because great advances and new discoveries
no longer surprise us as they did in the mid-20th century. There are those who consider that the fourth and fifth
generations have ended, and place them between the years 1971-1984 for the fourth, and between 1984-1990 for the
fifth. They consider that the sixth generation is in development from 1990 to date.
Following technological events in computing and information technology , we can point out some dates and
characteristics of what could be the fifth generation of computers.