Lesson 2 Title of lesson: Evolution of computer

Learning Area
Information and communication technology and society

Topic
Introduction to Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Learning outcomes
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
o learn the brief history of evolution of the computer
o discuss how the computer technology develops over generations

Before the era of computer begins, counting machine was invented to help people with business industry. The usage of counting machine,
begin as early as 200 B.C. Evolution of computers can be traced at 7 stages:
a) The early years
b) First generation
c) Second generation
d) Third generation
e) Fourth generation
f) Fifth generation
g) New era generation

The early years

Timelines of Counting Machine
Year Invention
200 BC Chinese Abacus (First counting machine)
500 BC Egyptian Abacus
1620 John Napier invented Napier’s Bone (Multiplication table carves on bones)
1653 Blaise Pascal invented Pascaline
1673 Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz invented Leibniz’s Rechner (which use first binary mathemathic calculating
machine)
1801 Joseph Marie Jacquard invented weaving loom (using punch card technology)
1823 Charles Babbage invented mechanical calculator machine.
1941 Mark 1 was invented in Harvard University. The first computer which is slow, expensive and unreliable. It
uses mechanical switches

Timelines of counting machine

In the early years, before the computer was invented,there were several inventions of counting machines.
First generation(1940-1956)

o The first generation computer was huge, slow, expensive & often a reliable
o In 1946 Presper Eckert and William mauchly, built the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer)
o It use vacuum tubes instead of mechanical switches of MARK 1
o In 1951 Presper Eckert and William mauchly, built the the UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) which could calculate at the
rate of 10 000 addition per second.

New Hardware Technology

Vacuum tube Punch card Magnetic tape

Vacuum tube
In a computer a vacuum tube which is an electronic tube about the size of light bulbs, was used as the internal computer components.
Thousands of them were used.

Punch card
Punch card was used to store data

Magnetic tape
Magnetic tape was introduced in 1957. it was faster & more compact method of storing data.

Problems
o The vacuum tubes generated a great deal of heat causing many problems in the temperature regulation and climate control.
o The tube also burnt out frequently.
o People operating the computer did not know that the problem was in the programming machine
o The second generation computer scientists invented something new due to lots of problem created by vacuum tubes.
Second generation (1956-1963)
The famous computer scientists during the second generation era were:

Transistors
o The creations of transistor were spot the production a wave of second generation computers.
o Transistors were small devices use to transfer electronic signals across the resistor
o Transistors had many advantages compared to other hardware technology:

Advantages
o Transistors were smaller than vacuum tubes
o They needed no warm up time
o Consumed less energy
o Generated much less heat
o Faster and more reliable

Third generation (1964-1971)

o In the third generation era the IBM370 series were introduced in 1964,it came in several models and sizes.
o It was used for business and scientific programs. Other computers models introduced were CDC7600 and B2500.

Silicone Chip

o Silicone chips were manufactured in 1961 at the silicone valley

o Then came the integrated circuit technology, which had reduced the size and cost of computers
o Other than that, the magnetic Core Memory was replaced by a device called the microchip

Advantages
o Silicone chips were reliable, compact and cheaper
o Sold hardware and software separately which created the software industry
o Customer service industry flourished (reservation and credit checks)

Software Technology
o more sophisticated
o several programs run at the same time
o sharing computers resources
o support interactive processing.
Fourth generation (1971-present)
o It took only 55 years for the 4 generation to evolve.
o The growth of com[uter industry developed technologies of computer inventions. There are many types of computer models such
as: apple macintosh, IBM, DELL, ACER
o In1971 Intel created the first microprocessor.
o In 1976, Steve Jobs built the first apple computer.
o Then in 1981.IBM introduced its first personal computer.
o Among the famous inventor during the fourth generation were:

Steve jobs- Apple Macintosh Bill gate-Microsoft Michael dell -Dell

Hardware technology invented in fourth generation were

a) Silicone chip
b) Microprocessor
o a specialised chip developed for computer memory and logic
o it is a large-scale integrated circuit which contained thousands of transistors
o the transistors on this one chip are capable of performing all of the functions of a computer’s central processing unit.
c) Storage devices

Advantages
o Computers become 100 times smaller than ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrate and Computer) the first computer.
o Gain in sped, reliability and storage capacity.
o Personal and software industry boomed.

Fifth generation (present & beyond)

The fifth generation computer technologically advance & are still being develop to become more efficient

New Hardware Technology

o silicone chips
o robotics
o virtual reality
o intelligent system
o programs which translate languages

New Era Computer

o After the fifth generation computer, the technology of computers are become more advance, modern & sophisticated
 o in the new era of computers, expert systems such as teleconferencing & speech recognition system had been invented as part of
modern word of communication tools.

1. Super Computers
o fastest, most powerful, most expensives.
o Used in applications such as sending astronauts into space, testing safety and aerodynamic features on cars and aircraft,
controlling missile guidance systems, and weather forecasting which required extreme accuracy and immense speed to perform
the complex calculation.

2. Mainframe computers
o large, expensive, powerful computer that can handle hundreds or thousands of connected user stimultaneously.
o use in large organization to handle high volume processing of business transactions and routine paperwork.

3. Mini computer
o medium size computer
o usually used as servers, with several PCs or other devices networked to access the midrange computer’s resources.

4. Personal computers
o small computer system, designed to be used by one person at a time
o widely used in small and large businesses Examples: tracking merchandise, billing customer, manage company accounts.5

5. Mobile computers
o personal computer that you can carry from place to place

6. Expert system
o Teleconferencing, speech recognition system.
Activity

Instruction:Circle the correct answer.

1. ___________ was known as the first computation tool.

A. Mark 1
B. Abacus
C. Weaving Loom
D. Apple Macintosh

2. In 1976, Steve Jobs built the first ________ computer.

A. IBM
B. Dell
C. Microsoft
D. Apple Macintosh

3. The microprocessor was invented during the __________ computer era.

A. first generation
B. third generation
C. fourth generation
D. second generation

4. Silicone chips were manufactured in ______ at the Silicone Valley.

A. 1823
B. 1988
C. 1961
D. 1974
5. The latest invention in the new era of computers is:
A. IBM
B. Weaving Loom
C. Apple Macintosh
D. Robotic computers

6. Which is false?
A. 1941 Mark 1
B. 200AD Abacus
C. 1876 Pascaline
D. 1620 Napier’s Bone

7. __________ is a fourth generation computer scientist.

A. Steve Jobs
B. John Bardeen
C. William Mauch
D. Blaise Pascal

8. Rechner was invented by_______.

A. John Napier
B. Charles Babbage
C. Joseph Marie Jacquard
D. Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz

9. Charles Babbage invented the __________.

A. Abacus
B. Napier’s Bone
C. Weaving Loom
D. Mechanical Calculator Machine

10. In ________, Eckert and Mauchly built the UNIVAC which could calculate at the rate of 10,000 additions per second.
A. 1895
B. 1961
C. 1944
D. 1939
Instruction: Decide whether the statements are TRUE or FALSE.

1. The most powerful personal computers are known as supercomputers. ( )

2. Abacus was first used in Egypt. ( )
3. There are 8 generations in the development of computers. ( )
4. UNIVAC stands for Universal Automatic Computer. ( )
5. The magnetic tape was introduced in 1959. ( )
6. Magnetic cores were first used in the first generation computers. ( )
7. Silicone chips were widely used during the third generation. ( )

Instruction: Underline the correct answers.

8. A scientist named ____________ invented a calculating machine called the Pascaline in 1653.
A. John Napier
B. Michael Dell
C. Blaise Pascal
D. Charles Babbage

9. PDA stands for ________________.

A. primary digital assistant
B. processor digital addon
C. personal digital assistant
D. protocol disk administrator

10. _____________ was one of the first generation computer scientists.

A. Bill Gates
B. Steve Jobs
C. John Napier
D. Presper Eckert

11. The first computer that was delivered to the client was ___________.
A. Mark 1
B. IBM 360
C. UNIVAC
D. CDC2600
12. _______________ was invented to provide memory.
A. The vacuum tube
B. The punched card
C. The magnetic tape
D. The magnetic core

13. Charles Babbage invented the Mechanical Calculator Machine in ________.

A. 1673
B. 1801
C. 1823
D. 1941

14. Rearrange the components below according to their technological advancement:

Integrated Circuit Vacuum Tube Transistor

i. ______________ ii. ______________ iii. _____________