Explain breifly the evolution of computers Class 11
Answers
Answer:
,Although computers seem like a relatively modern invention, computing dates back to the early 1800s.
Throughout computing history, there has not been a lone inventor or a single first computer. The invention of the computer was incremental, with dozens of scientists and mathematicians building on their predecessors. The modern computer, however, can be traced back to the 1930s.
Keep reading to learn how the computer has changed throughout the decades.
The 1930s marked the beginning of calculating machines, which were considered the first programmable computers.
computer in the 1930s
A calculating machine in the 1930s. AP
Konrad Zuse created what became known as the first programmable computer, the Z1, in 1936 in his parent's living room
John Mauchly created the ENIAC during World War II to help the Army with ballistics analytics. The machine could calculate thousands of problems each second. The large-scale ENIAC weighed 30 tons and needed a 1,500-square-foot room to house the 40 cabinets, 6,000 switches, and 18,000 vacuum tubes that comprise the machine.
Some call this invention the beginning of the computer age.
In the 1950s, computers were strictly used for scientific and engineering research, like the JOHNNIAC, which was once described as a "helpful assistant" for mathematicians.
computer from 1950s
A man working at a computer in the '50s. AP
The JOHNNIAC was completed in 1954 and was used by RAND researchers. The massive machine weighed just over two tons with over 5,000 vacuum tubes. This early computer operated for 13 years or 51,349 hours before being dismantled.
In the 1960s, everything changed when the Programma 101 became the first desktop computer sold to the average consumer.
Programma 101
Programma 101. Pierce Fuller/ Wikimedia Commons
Up until 1965, computers were reserved for mathematicians and engineers in a lab setting. The Programma 101 changed everything, by offering the general public a desktop computer that anyone could use. The 65-pound machine was the size of a typewriter and had 37 keys and a printer built-in.
The Italian invention ushered in the idea of the personal computer that would last to this day.
As personal computers became popular in the 1970s, the Xerox Alto helped pave the way for Steve Jobs' Apple.
Xerox Alto
Xerox Alto. Francisco Antunes/ Flickr
The Xerox Alto was created in the '70s as a personal computer that could print documents and send emails. What was most notable about the computer was its design, which included a mouse, keyboard, and screen. This state-of-the-art design would later influence Apple designs in the following decade.
The Alto computers were also designed to be kid-friendly so that everyone — no matter the age — could operate a personal computer.
In the '80s, Apple's Macintosh was described as a game-changer for the computer industry.
The Macintosh. Raneko/ Flickr
When Steve Jobs introduced the first Macintosh computer in 1984, Consumer Reports called it a "dazzling display of technical wizardry." Like the Xerox Alto, the Macintosh had a keyboard, a mouse, and a small 9-inch screen. The computer — which weighed in at 22 pounds and cost $2,495 — was applauded for its interface of windows and icons.
As the '90s marked a period of self-expression, Apple released the famous iMac G3, which was customizable.
imac g3
iMac G3. Marcin Wichary/ Flickr
The iMac G3 was launched in 1998 after Steve Jobs' return to Apple in 1997. The computer quickly became known for its Bondi blue, clear casing. The 38-pound iMac included USB ports, a keyboard, and a mouse. It was meant to be portable and customizable.
The company sold 800,000 computers in the first five months, saving Apple from extinction. The iMac is also notable because it was the first time Apple used the "I" to name its products, explaining it stood for "internet," "innovation," and "individuality."
In the early 2000s, laptops became increasingly popular, especially after Apple launched its MacBook Air.
macbook air
MacBook Air. Tim Malabuyo/ Flickr
Answer:
First generation computer consisted of vacuum tubes and they were used from 1943-1958. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) computer is an example of first generation computer.
Second generation (1959-1965) computer consisted of transistors i.e. vacuum tubes were replaced by transistors. Thus the size of the computer got reduced considerably.
Third generation (1966-1973) computer consisted of integrated circuits (IC) i.e. many transistors in single silicon chip. A single IC has many transistors, registers and capacitors built on a single thin slice of silicon.
With the invention of microprocessor (1971), fourth generation of computer evolution started and present day computers are also categorized in the fourth generation.
The fifth generation computers are under development. They are going to be based on principles of artificial intelligence and natural language recognition. Developers are aiming at computers capable of organizing themselves. The evolution of computer continues.