History of Computers and Their Impact on Civilization

History of Computers and Their Impact on Civilization

History of Computers and Their Impact on Civilization

We as human beings burden ourselves in hope of information that is beyond our time. We have become dependent upon numbers that are much larger than our mind can calculate at any given time. We use mathematics in the form of statistics to justify mean and probability that could add value to the understanding of many discoveries. Due to the fast pace of today's society and the inability to maximize our brain's capacity to process large volumes of data in a timely manner, one could not accomplish a reasonable day's work if it depended on the human anatomy alone for daily demands. The discovery of computers has become the answer to our modern day survival.

Thirty years ago, computers were mostly thought of for usage in business, science, and technology. One could easily list the areas where computers were being used, because their use was very limited. Now, in fact, it may be easier to list the areas where computers are not being used. Today computers have entered almost every aspect of life.

Computers date back as far as the prehistoric times when shepherds tied knots in pieces of string to keep count of their herds. We have always had computers as of the day we starting to think and rationalize our thoughts. Computing is thought of as input and output of information in order to gain a solution. Our brain has performed the function of a computer for quite some time. The brain receives information from various sources and stores it for immediate or future processing; occasionally it does not process as fast as a computer. For the sake of time we will begin our computer history with the invention of the abacus.

The abacus was one of the earliest known computational devices, which consisted of several wires or posts, each strung with seven beads. The abacus was used to perform additions and subtractions by moving the beads on the wire.

Later in the year of 1642, Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and physicist invented the first mechanical calculator. The calculator was operated by gears with the same concept as a car's mileage odometer. Pascal's calculator was only capable of adding and subtracting. Around 1690, Gottfried von Leibnitz, a German mathematician, used Pascal's ideas to invent a device that could add, subtract, multiply, divide, and calculate square roots.

The gears in machines during early years had to be reset by the user for each separate operation. One of the first signs of automation came in France's weaving industry during the early 1800s, when Joseph Jacquard developed a loom controlled by series of punch cards.

Early in 1800, an English inventor, Charles Babbage designed and built an experimental model of a device called the difference engine. The engine was designed to calculate logarithm tables without human intervention. Unfortunately a larger version could not be manufactured because parts could not be produces to meet the machine's requirements. Later, Babbage worked on a new model called the analytical engine which could add, subtract, multiply, and divide according to instructions coded in punched holes on cards. The results were to be kept in a memory unit called the store. Although Babbage died before he could build the analytical engine, his son used his notes and drawings to build a working model of the machine. Because of his inventions, Babbage is known as the father of computers.

There are many other legends who have contributed to pioneering us into a modern world of computer technology. Today computers impact