Computers over the years-
Computers have been around for centuries but not as we now know them.
The Abacus-
The first computer was considered to be the abacus. It was the first device that helped calculate different equations; the first abacus was made out of wood and beads in China. People used to use their fingers and toes but when larger numbers were invented they could not cope and the abacus helped them in everyday activities such as counting flocks of sheep. The abacus itself did not calculate the problem but would help the human. Although the exact date remains unknown, it is estimated that it was first used in China about 5000 years ago.
The Abacus-
The first computer was considered to be the abacus. It was the first device that helped calculate different equations; the first abacus was made out of wood and beads in China. People used to use their fingers and toes but when larger numbers were invented they could not cope and the abacus helped them in everyday activities such as counting flocks of sheep. The abacus itself did not calculate the problem but would help the human. Although the exact date remains unknown, it is estimated that it was first used in China about 5000 years ago.
The first mechanical computer-
The first “mechanical” computer was invented in 1822 by Charles Babbage. It was considered to be the first automatic computing engine. It was able to compute several sets of numbers without the help of a human. Unluckily, due to funding he was never able to complete a completely functional version of the machine. In 1991, the Museum of London Science completed the machine for the bicentennial year of Charles Babbage’s birthday.
The first digital computer-
The first digital computer was invented in 1947 and wasn't completed until 1946. It was invented by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania, they called it the ENIAC. It took over 1,800 square feet (167.23 square metres) and used over 18,000 vacuum tubes. It weighed about 5 tonnes!
In 1942, a few years before John Mauchly and J.Presper Eckert made their computer, the ABC was made. It was invented by Professor John Vincent Atanasoff and graduate student Cliff Berry at the Iowa State College. Although it wasn't fully functional, the US Federal Judge Earl R. Larson decided the ABC was the first digital computer whereas many people consider the ENIAC, the first computer.
The first digital computer was invented in 1947 and wasn't completed until 1946. It was invented by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania, they called it the ENIAC. It took over 1,800 square feet (167.23 square metres) and used over 18,000 vacuum tubes. It weighed about 5 tonnes!
In 1942, a few years before John Mauchly and J.Presper Eckert made their computer, the ABC was made. It was invented by Professor John Vincent Atanasoff and graduate student Cliff Berry at the Iowa State College. Although it wasn't fully functional, the US Federal Judge Earl R. Larson decided the ABC was the first digital computer whereas many people consider the ENIAC, the first computer.
The first computer company-
The first computer company was founded in 1949, by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly (the same inventors of the ENIAC) and was called the Electronic Controls Company. It was soon renamed to the EMCC or Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, the company made a few computers under the UNIVAC name.
The first computer company was founded in 1949, by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly (the same inventors of the ENIAC) and was called the Electronic Controls Company. It was soon renamed to the EMCC or Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, the company made a few computers under the UNIVAC name.
The first Laptop-
The first laptop/ portable computer was invented on September in the year of 1975. It was the IBM 5100 and weighed 55 pounds (24947.58035 grams).It had 64KB (kilobytes) of RAM (computer memory- Random Access Memory).
The first laptop/ portable computer was invented on September in the year of 1975. It was the IBM 5100 and weighed 55 pounds (24947.58035 grams).It had 64KB (kilobytes) of RAM (computer memory- Random Access Memory).
Advertiserment of the IBM 5100
Although the IBM 5100 was an excellent model, the first truly portable computer or laptop was the Osborne 1, which was created by Adam Osborne. It was released on April 1981 (6 years after the IBM 5100) It weighed 24.5 pounds (11113.01306500000101 grams) and cost $179 US dollars.
Soon, many companies started making computers and laptops.There are also many operating systems (the most current is Windows 8) Some of the most well known computer/ laptop companies include:
- Apple
- Acer
- Toshiba
- Dell
- Lenovo
- Compaq
- eMachines