Every aspect of our daily lives is influenced by computers. They are the basis of our modern world.

Did You Know That Computers Have Been Around Since the 1800s?

Computer history and evolution are remarkable. Defense contracts were the foundation of many early computing technology innovations. This information was kept secret over many decades.

Mid-1800s-1930s Early mechanical computers

Charles Babbage was the inventor of the first computers, in the mid-1800s. They are collectively known as the Babbage engines. The Analytical Engine, and 2. The Difference Engine No.

2. Charles Babbage created the Difference Engine. Photo: Allan J.

Cronin

Babbage died in 1899 and the early computers were never completed. Their entire designs were however preserved and one was built in 2002.

While these early mechanical computers weren’t a direct copy of the modern computer they helped to create many technologies. 

Z1 was used for the 1890 U.S. Census.

Important mechanical computers include the Automatic Electrical Tabulating Machine (used in U.S. Census 1801) to process data from more than 62 million Americans and Konrad Zuse Z1, which was the first binary computer. It was built in 1938 and was the precursor to the first electro-mechanical computer.

The 1930s: Electro-Mechanical Computers

Most electro-mechanical computers used vacuum tubes and relays to operate.

There are some electro-mechanical computers like the Differential Analyzer, which were built in 1930. They used only mechanical internals and used electric motors to power their electronic components.

These early electro-mechanical computers were digital or analog. George Stibitz created the Model K and Complex Number Calculator.

Stibitz also was responsible for the first remote computing experience at Dartmouth College. He left New York City with a computer and brought a teleprinter. Problems were entered on the keypad, which returned the solutions.

Z3 used floating-point numbers to increase the accuracy of calculations.

Many of the technologies and concepts that are still being used today were created during the early days of electro-mechanical computers. It descends from Konrad Zuse’s Z1.

The Z3 was the first digital computer capable of being controlled by programs. It used floating point numbers to compute.

There are also Bombes, which were used to decrypt German codes during WWII.

The 1940s: Electronic Computers

Colossus was created during World War II. Its name was appropriate because of its size.

Electronic computers were developed during World War II. The Colossus is the first electronic computer. It was used to decrypt secret German codes during World War II.

It could use vacuum tubes and paper tape, as well as perform many Boolean operations, such as True/false or yes/no logic operations.

Williams Tube used RAM for its calculations.

A second early electronic computer, also called “The Baby”, was known as the Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine.

The earliest electronic computers used a decimal numeric system (such as ENIAC or Harvard Mark 1), while other models, such as the Atanasoff–Berry Computer, or the Colossus Mark 2, used binary systems. 

The 1950s: The First Commercial Computers

Computers were commercially first introduced in the 1950s. Until then, computing was used primarily for mathematical, scientific, and defense purposes. Computers that could be used for business functions like accounting and banking were however created.

The J. Lyons Company invested heavily in these early computers.

LEO was Lyons Electronic Office’s first computer that could run a routine office job. It was also the first computer to be able to do so in 1951.

UNIVAC is the first mass-produced computer.

UNIVAC, the first American commercial computer, was launched in the United States. It was also the first computer to have been mass-produced. 

The IBM 701, IBM’s first mainframe, was another notable innovation in early commercial computing.

The 704 was also released simultaneously with the Fortran programming language.

The IBM 650 will set you back $4,000,000.

A smaller IBM 650 was developed in the 1950s. The smaller size and footprint of the IBM 650 made it popular, while it weighed more than 900kg and had an additional 1350kg power supply.

They have a value of approximately $4 million, adjusted for inflation.

Transistor Computers Mid-1950s

The invention of transistors made it possible to replace vacuum tubes with smaller computers. Although they were initially less reliable than their predecessors, they use significantly less power.

IBM 350 RAMAC used a disk drive.

These transistors were the catalyst for innovations in computer peripherals. The IBM 350 RAMAC was first introduced in 1956. Remote terminals became more popular with second-generation computers.

The 1960s – The Microchip, the Microprocessor

The microchip is one of the most important advances in computing technology. There was a lot of overlap between transistor-based and chip-based computers during the 1960s.

Microchips are used to create smaller computers.

Ioan Somali Photo: A microchip was what triggered the development of minicomputers and microcomputers. These computers were small enough that they could be afforded by small businesses and individual owners.

The microchip also catalyzed the microprocessor, which was an important breakthrough technology in personal computer development.

There were three different microprocessor designs released simultaneously. Soon after, models from Texas Instruments (the TMS 1000) and Garret AiResearch (the Central Air Data Computer, or CADC) followed.

4-bit processors were the first to be developed. In 1972, however, the 8-bit model was quickly adopted.

In 1973, 16-bit models became available. 32-bit models followed soon.

AT&T Bell Labs created the first 32-bit single-chip microprocessor. It was fully 32-bit. It was able to use 32-bit busses and 32-bit data paths, as well as 32-bit addresses, in 1980.

64-bit microprocessors were first introduced in some markets in the early 1990s. However, they didn’t appear on the PC market until 2000.

1The 970s: Personal Computers

Personal computers first appeared in the 1970s. 

The personal computer Commodore PET existed in the 70s.

Altair 8800 was the first computer to utilize a single-chip microprocessor. The purchasers were able to assemble their computers.

Clones were soon available, and there was a market for machines that were based on the design. A club that focuses on computer builders was also created

1977 saw the fall and rise of the “Trinity”, based upon a Byte Magazine reference: The Commodore PET, the Apple II, the Tandy Corporation TRS-80, and the Commodore PET.

These three models were sold millions of times. The Apple II was the first computer to offer full-color graphics.

The 1980s-1990s – The Early Notebooks and Laptops

A portable computer that was commercially available in 1980 was a significant innovation.

Osborne 1 was small enough that it could be easily transported. Photo: Tomislav Medak

1981 saw Osborne 1 is the first computer. It had a small monitor of 5″. It was heavy at 23.5 lbs. But portable computers continued to improve and became smaller and more portable, much like the notebooks we have today.

These portable computers weren’t portable in the technical sense. 

Gavilan SC is the first computer to be sold “laptop-style”.

The first flip-from laptop was created in 1982. The GavilanSC, however, was the first portable computer that was marketed in 1983 as a “laptop”.

While early models had monochrome displays, color displays became available with the Commodore SX-64 in 1984.

Laptops became smaller and lighter, increasing their popularity. They could display 256 colors by 1993.

It was amazing how fast resolutions and colors could be developed. 

These Macbooks illustrate that there are three types of laptops.

These are the three main types of laptops:

• Replacements for desktops
• Notebooks in standard size
• Subnotebooks

These desktop alternatives usually have larger displays, often between 15-17 inches, and comparable performance.

Standard notebooks usually have 13-15 inch displays and offer great portability and performance.

Subnotebooks are netbooks that have smaller displays than 13 inches. These notebooks also have fewer features than standard notebooks.

The 2000s: Mobile Computing Is on the Rise

Mobile computing is one of the most important milestones in computer history.

Smartphones of today have faster processor speeds than desktop computers ten years ago and more memory than smartphones of a similar age. 

The Droid smartphone can perform basic computing tasks such as emailing and surfing the web.

In the 1980s, pocket computers were introduced. Many of these devices were abandoned in the 1990s.

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) were very popular in the 1990s.

There was a wide range of models, from Apple to Palm. The touchscreen interface was the main feature of PDA, and they can still be made today, but have been mostly replaced by smartphones. 

The smartphone revolutionized mobile computing.

Smartphones are capable of performing most computing functions including browsing the internet, emailing, and uploading photos and videos.

Late 2000s: Netbooks

Another recent development in computing history is the creation of netbooks. Although netbooks can perform many of the same functions as regular laptops, such as managing email, using basic office software, and browsing the Internet, Many netbooks also have WiFi connectivity and mobile broadband options.

The Asus Eee PC 700 was the first netbook to go mass-produced.

The Asus Eee PC 700, the first mass-produced netbook was released in 2007. Although initially released in Asia, these netbooks were quickly released in the USA.

Other designers followed their example and produced additional models between 2008-2009.

The price of netbooks is generally lower, usually between US$200-US$600. Comcast offered a 2009 promotion that included free netbooks for customers who signed up for their cable internet service.

Netbooks are available with Windows or Linux installed as standard. Soon, netbooks with Android-based technology will be available from Asus and other manufacturers.

Computing’s history stretches over almost two centuries. This is more than most people know.

Computers’ history has seen a lot of changes, from the mechanical machines of the 1800s to large mainframes in the mid-20th century to modern netbooks and smartphones.

Over the last 100 years, computing has evolved exponentially. It is impossible to predict the future 100 years from now.