Computer
History Like most information on this site, this history comes from the sites that I have added links here. My only original history is found on "Free Consultation" in the menus. I do thank, by way of links, all of the people that have put time & effort into this. Paul Today's visionaries weren't always right
It’s hard to fathom that in 1943, Thomas Watson, then IBM chairman, said, “I think there is a
world market for maybe five computers.” That can elicit a laugh, as today’s typical techie
has at least five computers stashed around his home office and basement—which also
blows away Ken Olson’s 1977 statement that “there is no reason anyone would want a
computer in their home.” At the time, Olson was president, chairman, and founder of Digital
Equipment Corp.
He wasn’t the only tech leader whose vision was a bit limited in the "early days."
Remember when Bill Gates pontificated that “640K ought to be enough for anybody” back
in 1981?
Investigating the history of computing, and developments in technology overall, puts a
unique perspective on what’s being accomplished in today’s enterprises and businesses.
The tech community has clearly answered the question posed in 1968 by an engineer at the
Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM: “But what is it [the computer] good for?” PDF version of History, written in 1996, 50th Anniversary of IEEE (click to see or right click & "save target as ......")
HTML version of History, written in 1996, 50th Anniversary of IEEE
http://www.computer.org/history/development/index.html <click above or copy & paste this.
Ultimate Computer Source
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113882/timeline.shtml
<click above or copy & paste this.>
Below is information found on the above sites, there are many links from there which seems to go on forever
(at least I spent hours there). History
Learn about the history of computers, all the way back to the abacus! Check out the very
complete time-line.
How Does It Work?
"How does it work?" you might wonder. Find out how things like a computer, the Internet,
e-mail and web-pages work.
How Does It Work?
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113882/ <click above or copy & paste this.>
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How Does It Work? Have you ever wondered how computers actually work? How, when
you click a simple button, your e-mail message can travel to wherever you want in the
world? In this section you can find easy to understand explanations for how things work
that you want to know.
How Computers Work
How The Internet Works
How E-Mail Works
How Software Works
Glossary
Browse through our computer Glossary, with a few hundred terms and full definitions.
Internet
The Internet is a vast world. Learn about the "information superhighway," how to use it,
what's on it, and more. Includes information about e-mail, Internet safety, Internet security,
searching, etc.
Operating Systems
Windows, Mac, Linux... learn about the various operating systems available with guides
and tutorials. All user levels; from beginner to advanced.
Programming
Explore the world of programming, with tutorials, tools, resource links and documentation.
Featured languages include Basic, HTML, Javascript, Perl, Pascal, and more!
Issues
Issues such as future technology, free speech and Y2K decide the fate of the computer
world, both now and in the future. Catch up on issues which affect, or will affect us all.
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Timeline
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113882/timeline.shtml
<click above or copy & paste this.>
Timeline of Historic Computer Events
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3000 BC: Dust abacus is invented
1800 BC: Algorithms to Solve Numeric Problems
500 BC: Bead and wire abacus, Egypt
1000: More efficient abacus.
1617: Napiers Bone's
1622: William Oughtred - slide rule, England.
1624: Wilhelm Schickard - four-function calculator-clock
1642: Blaise Pascal - first numerical calculating machine, in Paris
1673: Gottfried Leibniz - Calculator: multiplies, divides, adds and subtracts
1805: Joseph-Marie Jacquard - perforated card for loom.
1822: Charles Babbage - Difference Engine, never built.
1833: Charles Babbage - Analytical Machine
1854: George Boole - Binary, Boolean Algebra
1855: George and Edvard Scheutz - first practical mechanical computer
1890: Hollerith - Punch Cards for US Census
1928: Vladimir Zworykin - cathode ray tube (CRT).
1937: George Stibitz - First binary calculator, Bell Tel. Labs
1939: John J. Atanasoff first automatic digital computer
1940: George Stibitz - Complex Number Calculator
1940: First remote terminal
1941: Alan M. Turing - Colossus Computer
1941: Konrad Zuse - Z3 Calculator
1944: Colossus Mark II is built in England.
1944: Mark I (IBM ASCC) is completed.
1944: Grace Hopper - First programmer for the Mark I.
1945: John von Neumann - stored-program concept for EDVAC.
1946: ENIAC built at Moore School of Electrical Engineering in Pennsylvania
1946: Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation to design a Universal Automatic Computer
(UNIVAC).
1946: The term "Bit," for a binary digit is used for first time by John Tukey.
1947: Alan M. Turing - article on Artificial Intelligence
1948: EDSAC developed by Maurice V. Wilkes.
1948: 3 men invent transistor.
1949: EDVAC - Uses magnetic disks.
1950: Symbolic assembly language used on EDSAC.
1951: UNIVAC I installed at the Bureau of Census
1951: Whirlwind computer at MIT.
1952: IBM - 701 computer
1952: UNIVAC I predicts an Eisenhower landslide
1953: Remington-Rand - First high-speed printer
1953: IBM - First magnetic tape device.
1954: FORTRAN is created by John Backus at IBM.
1958: John McCarthy - LISP programming language.
1960: COBOL runs on UNIVAC II.
1960: Removable disks first appear.
1964: BASIC created at Dartmouth.
1965: First computer science Ph.D. granted
1966: Texas Instruments - first solid-state hand-held calculator.
1969: PASCAL compiler written by Nicklaus Wirt
1971: Intel - First Microprocessor.
1972: First electronic pocket calculator.
1975: Cray-1 supercomputer is introduced.
1975: Homebrew Computer Club - first personal computer users group.
1975: Microsoft is founded (Bill Gates).
1977: Apple - Apple II PC.
1979: Dan Bricklin - VisiCalc, first spreadsheet program.
1984: Apple - Macintosh.
1990: Microsoft - Windows 3.0
1991: Notebook PCs are introduced by most PC vendors.
1991: Microsoft - DOS 5.0
1991: Pen-based notebook computers.
1992: IBM releases OS/2.
1992: Microsoft - Windows 3.1
1992: Microsoft - Windows for Workgroups.
1993: Novell - NetWare 4.0
1993: Microsoft - Windows NT.
1993: Pentium-based systems start shipping.
1994: Macintoshes using the PowerPC start shipping.
1994: Intel - 486DX4 clock-tripling microprocessor .
1999: Intel - Pentium III
Operating Systems
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113882/
<click above or copy & paste this.>
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Operating Systems are large programs that allow users to run other programs. Most let
users run more than one program at a time, which is very useful for the active user. Popular
operating systems include MS-DOS, Windows, Macintosh and Linux, but there are many.
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ThinkQuest Internet Challenge Library
http://www.thinkquest.org/library/ <click above or copy & paste this.> The library contains unique educational web sites that have been created through
ThinkQuest competitions and programs. The library currently contains more than 5,000 web
sites to search and surf. Built by kids for kids (This is amazing, I could not believe it when I read it)
to use and learn. It is also a great place to get
ideas for your own project in one of our many programs around the world.
You can view some of the winning sites from the past here. The sayings below are just my personal opinion, not from these WEB sites.
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"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and
better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots.
So
far, the Universe is winning."
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Amateurs built Noah's Ark and Professionals built the Titanic!
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Couldn't get my Black and White TV fixed so I threw it away!
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email me with your thoughts,
they may end up on the WEB.
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