Evolution of Computer

The modern electronic computers that we use were not created in a matter of hours or days. As a result of humans' need for quick and precise calculators, computers have developed. Only through the thousands of years of research has the creation of the computer been made possible.

Mechanical computers:

Instead of using electronic components, a mechanical computer is built from diverse mechanical parts like levers and gears. The most prevalent types of mechanical computers are adding machines and counters that elevate output screens by rotating gears. Multiplication, division, and even differential analysis are operations that can be performed in more sophisticated cases.

• Abacus: The abacus is thought to be the earliest known calculator. Unknowingly, the development of the abacus led to the invention of the computer around 5000 years ago. It's a manual tool. Approximately the Tigris-Euphrates Valley, abacus was created in 3500 BC. Far Eastern nations continue to utilize it now. The counting frame is another name for the abacus. It is a calculator typically utilized for arithmetic operations. Beads and wires were employed by this gadget to count. A wooden frame with a rectangular shape and vertical rods holding round beads make up an abacus. By moving the beads from one side to the other, you can count. It was limited to addition and subtraction only.
• Napier’s bone: John Napier introduced the concept of the logarithm in 1614, which was useful for streamlining the multiplication of big numbers. Napier also created a set of four-sided rods with numbers carved in them that could be used in multiplication calculations. There were 11 rods in total. These rods, known as Napier's bones, were made from bones. Napier's bones were put to use for division and reproduction.
• Slide rule: The slide rule is a type of computer device that was created using the concept of logarithm. William Oughtred made the discovery of the slide rule in the year 1620. It has analog capabilities. Engineers used it for division and multiplication. Slide rules have a rectangular shape and are roughly the same size as a ruler.
• Stepped Reckoner: Stepped Reckoner, often known as the Leibniz calculating Machine, was created by German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz. It was merely the Pascal machine codified. The stepwise Reckoner has four operations: multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. It was the first gadget with both multiplication and square root capabilities. The binary number system, which is essential to the operation of modern computers, was first advocated for by Leibniz.
• Jacquard’s loom: Joseph Marie Jacquard, a Frenchman, utilized punched cards to automatically regulate the pattern on woven fabrics. The usage of punched cards was pioneered by this device. Actually, weaving looms were controlled by punched cards to enable the creation of woven fabric with intricate patterns. The technology of the Jacquard loom gave mill owners a significant advantage, but it made many loom operators unemployed. The era of information storage and retrieval began with the adoption of punched cards.
• Calculating machines and Pascal’s calculator: In 1642, a French mathematician named Blaise created the first mechanical calculator. This device was utilized for substation and addition. The device was made up of dials, wheels, and gears. In its day, this machine was quite well-liked. The ability of the Pascal computer to execute automatic carry transfer multiplication and division is one of its key characteristics.

Electromechanical era:

Electricity was employed in the computational sector along with mechanical technology during the electromechanical era.

• Mark - I: The original electromechanical computer is called Mark- I. Electromechanical refers to technology that combines electrical and mechanical components. It was the first machine ever created that could follow pre-programmed instructions without human intervention. Both a punched card and an electric typewriter were used to provide output. It was slow, and multiplication took three to five seconds. But everything was entirely automated. Long computations could be finished without assistance from a person.
• Atanasoft Berry Computer (ABC): In the year 1937 A.D., John Vincent Atanasoft and Clifford Berry created ABC. It was the first special purpose electronic computer. Capacitors were used for the first time in this computer's storage system. Essentially, it was made to be used in systems of linear algebraic equations. 18,000 vacuum tubes were used by the ABC computer.

Electronic computer Era:

In the electronic era, digital calculations took the place of mechanical ones, and electronic circuit components replaced mechanical ones.

• ENIAC (Electronic Numerical and Integrated Calculator):
  • John William Mauchly and George (J) Persper Eckert created the ENIAC computer in 1946 at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. The decimal system was employed. It was made with military applications in mind. It made use of 6000 switches, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 condensers, and 18,000 vacuum tubes. Compared to previous gadgets created up until or about that time, it is 300 times faster. It can multiply two numbers in 2000 microseconds and add two values in 200 microseconds.
• EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer):
  • Professor Murice Wilkes created it in 1949. EDSAC's primary characteristic was that it was the first computer to use the stored program concept. Multiplication operations can be completed in EDSAC in 4000 microseconds and additional operations can be completed in 1500 microseconds.
• EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer):
  • EDVAC was created in 1952 by John Mauchly and JP Eckert. EDVAC was regarded as a versatile computer. It made use of 10,000 crystal diodes and 4,000 vacuum tubes. The stored program notion was employed in the design of the EDVAC.
• ENIAC- Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator:
  • The first large-scale electronic digital computer, known as ENIAC, was finished in 1947 by John Mauchly and Eckart. This computer required a complete rewiring every time a program was changed. It weighed 30 tons, held 18,000 vacuum tubes, and took up between 30 and 50 feet of space.
• UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer): 
  • It was the first general-purpose electronic computer made for sale. A saved program notion was also included. The first digital machine that was unique was called UNIVAC. It has a 7200 decimal digit per second reading speed.

Reference:

Ghishing, Er.Ashim. Computer Science. Kathmandu, Nepal: Benchmark , 2008.