A History of

Computing
The history of computing spans centuries, from the earliest mechanical
devices to the powerful computers we use today. This journey is a testament
to human ingenuity, driven by a constant desire to automate tasks and unravel
the mysteries of the universe.

by Yuan Leinard Torita

Early Mechanical Devices
1 2 3

Abacus Antikythera Mechanism Napier's Bones

The abacus, dating back to ancient Discovered in 1901, the Antikythera In the 17th century, John Napier
Mesopotamia, was one of the earliest Mechanism, a complex astronomical devised Napier's Bones, a set of rods
tools for calculation. This simple calculator from ancient Greece, that simplified multiplication and
device, consisting of beads sliding on showcased the ingenuity of early division. This mechanical aid, using a
rods, allowed for basic arithmetic engineers. This device used a series of system of engraved numbers, was
operations. While seemingly primitive, gears to track the movements of widely used by mathematicians and
the abacus was a vital tool for celestial bodies, demonstrating a scientists of the time.
commerce and administration for sophisticated understanding of
millennia. astronomy and mechanics.
The Renaissance and Early
Calculators
1 Pascaline 2 Leibniz's Stepped
In the 17th century, French Reckoner
mathematician Blaise Pascal German mathematician
invented the Pascaline, a Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
mechanical calculator capable developed the Stepped
of performing addition and Reckoner, a more advanced
subtraction. This was a calculator capable of
significant advancement in multiplication and division.
the history of computing, This machine, however, was
paving the way for more plagued by mechanical issues
sophisticated calculators. and never achieved
widespread use.

3 Jacquard Loom
While not a traditional calculator, the Jacquard Loom, invented in 1801,
employed punched cards to control the patterns woven into fabric.
This concept of using punched cards to store information would later
be adapted to early computers.
The 19th Century
Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine
Difference Engine Babbage later conceived the
English mathematician Charles Analytical Engine, a more
Babbage designed the Difference ambitious design that
Engine, a mechanical computer incorporated a central
intended to calculate processing unit, memory, and
mathematical tables. While input/output capabilities. It was
Babbage was unable to considered the first general-
complete the construction due to purpose computer, but it
funding issues, his work laid the remained unbuilt.
foundation for modern
computing.

Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace, an English mathematician and writer, is considered the
first computer programmer. She developed algorithms for the Analytical
Engine, recognizing its potential to go beyond mere calculation.
Early 20th Century
Year Development Significance

1890 Herman Hollerith's Used punched cards

Tabulating Machine to process census
data, marking the
beginning of
electromechanical
computing.
A theoretical model
1936 Alan Turing's Turing of computation, it
Machine laid the foundation
for modern computer
science.

The first large-scale

electromechanical
1937 Howard Aiken's
computer, used for
Harvard Mark I
scientific
calculations.
The Birth of Modern
Computing
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And
Computer)
Developed during World War II, ENIAC was the first general-
1 purpose electronic digital computer. It used vacuum tubes for
processing and was capable of performing complex
calculations at an unprecedented speed.

Von Neumann Architecture

John von Neumann proposed the stored-program concept,

2 allowing computers to store both data and instructions in

memory. This architecture revolutionized computer design,
paving the way for modern computers.

Transistor
The invention of the transistor in 1947 led to smaller, faster, and

3 more reliable computers. This breakthrough ushered in a new

era of computing, replacing bulky vacuum tubes with compact
semiconductors.
The Transistor Era
Second Generation
The second generation of computers,
High-Level Programming Time-Sharing Systems
using transistors, were significantly
Languages Time-sharing systems allowed multiple
smaller and more efficient than their
The development of high-level users to access a single computer
vacuum tube predecessors. IBM's 1401,
programming languages like FORTRAN simultaneously, making computing
introduced in 1959, became a popular
and COBOL made programming easier resources more accessible and efficient.
business computer. and more accessible, expanding the use
of computers to a wider range of
applications.
The Microprocessor Revolution

Integrated Circuits First Microprocessor Personal Computers Networking

The development of integrated In 1971, Intel released the The microprocessor enabled The emergence of networking
circuits, which packed multiple 4004, the first microprocessor. the development of personal technologies, like Ethernet,
transistors onto a single chip, This single chip contained the computers (PCs), making allowed computers to
led to the creation of entire central processing unit, computing accessible to communicate with each other,
microprocessors. revolutionizing computing by individuals and businesses. laying the groundwork for the
making it smaller, cheaper, and internet.
more powerful.
The Personal Computer Era

IBM PC Apple Macintosh Microsoft Windows

In 1981, IBM introduced the IBM PC, which The Apple Macintosh, released in 1984, Microsoft Windows, released in 1985,
quickly became a standard for personal introduced a graphical user interface became the dominant operating system
computers. Its open architecture allowed (GUI), making computers more user- for PCs, with its intuitive interface and
for compatibility with a wide range of friendly and accessible to the general wide software support.
software and hardware. public.
The Internet and Modern
Computing
World Wide Web
The invention of the World
1 Web in 1989, by Tim
Wide 2 Mobile Computing
Berners-Lee, revolutionized The rise of smartphones and

communication and tablets has brought computing

information sharing. The web into the palm of our hands.

allowed users to access and Mobile devices are now

essential for communication,
share information globally,
entertainment, and
transforming the way we live,
work, and interact. productivity, transforming the
way we access and consume
information.

3 Cloud Computing 4 Artificial Intelligence

Cloud computing has enabled Artificial intelligence (AI) is
access to computing rapidly advancing,
resources, like storage and transforming industries from
processing power, over the healthcare to finance. AI-
internet. This has made powered systems are being
technology more accessible used for tasks ranging from
and scalable, allowing image recognition to language
businesses and individuals to translation, impacting our lives
leverage powerful computing in profound ways.
resources without needing to
invest in expensive hardware.