Computer+3

=__Old Computers and New Computers__=

By Vibhuti

=Research String:= computer + definition computer + history computer + invention

= = =What:= A **computer** is a programmable [|machine] that receives input, stores and manipulates [|data], and provides output in a useful format. - wikipedia

We are all familiar with what a computer is in a specific, contemporary sense. [|Personal computers] are found in most aspects of daily life, and for some it is hard to even imagine a world without them. But the term //computer// means more than simply the Macs and [|PCs] we are familiar with. A computer is, at its most basic, a machine which can take instructions, and perform computations based on those instructions. It is the ability to take instructions — often known as programs in the parlance of computers — and execute them, that distinguishes a computer from a mechanical calculator. While both are able to make computations, a calculator responds simply to immediate input. In fact, most modern calculators are actually computers, with a number of pre-installed programs to help aid in complex tasks. - wise geek

The answer depends very much on what you consider to be a computer. Stonehenge (possibly as early as 3000 BC) was a sort of astronomical computer, for instance; the Antikythera mechanism from approximately 150 BC was a clockwork mechanical computer also designed for astronomical calculations.

 Modern computers date back to the 1930s or 1940s, depending, again, on exactly what qualifications you put on it: does it have to be programmable? Does it have to be entirely electronic, or do electromechanical mechanisms count? (If you put aside the requirement that it has to have actually been built as opposed to merely designed, Babbage's Difference Engine, designed in the 1840s, might qualify; it was programmable, though entirely mechanical.) And so forth.  The first computer was called the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer). The contract to make it was signed on June 5, 1943, and the first one manufactured was on February 14, 1946. It was designed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert of the University of Pennsylvania. For the very earliest computer, see the related link to the Antikythera Mechanism.

=When:= 1936

1939

Unfortunately this question has no easy answer because of all the different types of classifications and types of [|computers]. Therefore this document has been created with a listing of each of the first computers starting with the first programmable computer leading up to the computers of today. Keep in mind that early inventions such as the abacus, calculators, tablet machines, difference machine, etc. are not accounted for in this document.

=Who:= John V. Atanasoff, Clifford E. Berry

Many say the first computer is the "difference engine." The first of these devices was conceived in 1786 by J.H. Müller. It was never built. Difference engines were forgotten and then rediscovered in 1822 by Englishman Charles Babbage..who is known as "the father of the Computer". This machine used the decimal numbers system and was powered by cranking a handle. The British government first financed the project but then later cut off support. Babbage went on to design his much more general analytical engine but later returned and produced an improved design (his "Difference Engine No. 2") between 1834 and 1869. Others point out that this is the first ELECTRONIC computer. The earliest computer known is the Antikythera Machine, a mechanical device that computed the positions of the astrological signs on any given date, past or future. It was discovered in an ancient shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea and dates to approximately 250 BC. The designer/builder is not known, but because of its similarity to other mechanical devices known to have been designed by Archimedes, it is probably his work. Still others will say the abacus is the first computer. They were invented by the Chinese between 2600 BC and 300 BC is considered as the first computer ever. Abacus was used by the merchants and Clerks in China. Here is still more input: > Now, if we're talking technical knowledge and actual precursors to the PC - IBM may have accidentally spread it around when they allowed cloning of the PC architecture. But they were not the first. [This answer refers to desktop "personal" computers. These were far from the first computers.]
 * If you mean Electronic Computer, it was a man called Alan Turing from Cambridge UK, who was drafted in to Bletchley park secret base where they worked at cracking the WWII enigma codes that the Germans used every day. The Germans changed their Enigma machines to a four digit code maker. However, Because what went on at Bletchley Park the computer made from thousands of valves was kept top secret up until recently. The computer, named Colossus was smashed to pieces at the end of the war. The buildings have now been restored as a tourist center.
 * The Collosus Mark I 1943, the world's first programmable, digital, electronic, computing devices... its follow up the Mark II was used by British codebreakers to read encrypted German Enigma codes during World War II (notably D Day)
 * The first computer, or "modern computer" was invented in World War II by a German engineer, Konrad Zuse in 1941 called the Z3. More Info: "I can add some authenticity to this answer. My grandfather was a rocket scientist on Werner Von Braun's team during WWII. He was the technician who actually built the computer described above. It was an analog computer designed to simulate the guidance system for the rockets. It was built in secret because the higher-ups had not given their permission for this project."
 * After doing some research to answer a question for a scholarship I was applying for I found that Babbage failed to build a complete machine. The most widely accepted reason for this failure is that Victorian mechanical engineering were not sufficiently developed to produce parts with sufficient precision.
 * It was Konrad Zuse. He invented the z1, z2, z3, z4 and other ones. The z3 was the first fully functional program-controlled electromechanical digital computer in the world-completed in 1941. Charles Babbage just made a mechanical computing machine.
 * "Who invented the computer?" is not a question with a simple answer. The real answer is that many inventors contributed to the history of computers and that a computer is a complex piece of machinery made up of many parts, each of which can be considered a separate invention.
 * The first electronic computer was invented by Bulgarian John Vincent Ansoff. He named it the Anatasoff Berry Computer, or the ABC. It was the world's first electronic digital computer and built between 1937-42 by John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry at Iowa State University. It used regenerative memory, parallel processing, binary arithmetic and split computing functions (routines) away from memory use and management.
 * These are all pre-IBM machines: MITS ALTAIR 8800, Apple II, TRS80, Atari 800 and the Commodore 64. [This answer refers to desktop "personal" computers. These were far from the first computers.]
 * Purists who claim that the ALTAIR was not the first, will say it was 'Simon' by Berkley Enterprises, 1950, costing $300. [This answer refers to desktop "personal" computers. These were far from the first computers.]
 * The first completely electronic computer was developed in England in 1943. It was known as Colossus. It took up 1,000 Sq. ft. weighed 30 tons/60,000 pounds. And took 150 kilowatts which is enough power to light up a small town.
 * The first computer was developed by Charles Babbage. It was called the Differential and Analytical Engine. The programmer for this computer was Ada Lovelace (first programmer). [Not quite correct. Babbage's Differential Engine was not the same as his Analytical Engine. The Differential Engine came first and was more limited.]
 * The first working computer (in the modern sense) was invented by Konrad Zuse. But others had created machines or ideas close to it before. These were people like Pascal, Leibnitz and Turing.
 * The first patent for a working computer (outside the military) was the ENIAC, created by Drs. John Mauchly and Presper Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania in 1952. They formed the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, which was later bought by Remington Rand. Their computer was used in the 1950 census and by Walter Cronkite in the 1952 Presidential election.


 * The ENIAC patent was declared invalid on October 19, 1973, by US Federal Judge Earl R. Larson. He attributed Atanasoff and Berry with the invention of the electronic digital computer. For more information see the related Link.

**Charles Babbage** invented the concept of a programmable computer in about 1856.

It partly depends on what you mean by "computer", but the earliest claim is that Charles Babbage invented the first programmable computer in 1822. The machine was called a "difference engine" and it was intended to generate mathematical tables. This machine contained 25,000 parts and weighed 15 tons. Babbage followed this with a "difference engine 2" which, although well funded, was never completed. Babbage also designed a printer to go along with the computer, but this also was never completed. In 1989-1991, the London science museum made a difference engine 2 and printer from Babbage's design. Both worked perfectly. - wiki answers

"Who invented the computer and what year?" The answer to the first part of the question is Charles Babbage. Interestingly, the implementation of the design of what should have been the first computer was actually completed in 1989. But, if the question is "Who invented the computer first and electronically?" then it is John Presper Eckert & John W. Mauchly. They built the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer). Then why is Charles Babbage given the credit of inventing the computer? Charles Babbage was the first person to introduce the idea of "programmable machines". Charles Babbage hardly imagined that his distaste for human errors would one day result in inventions such as [|desktop computers] and [|laptop computers]. - buzzle

=Why:= Computers were made to do the very tedious computations of everyday life and business. The first calculators performed computations in seconds that would take someone using a slide rule minutes if not hours to do. Calculations for NASA entry and exit trajectories would take days or even weeks to calculate by hand and the first mainframe computers would do the calculations in minutes.  For centuries, humans have needed help in calculating. Making trade transactions, taking a population census, or figuring out the distance between two stars takes tons of calculating. And if you want an accurate result, no mistakes are allowed.  Charles Babbage and co. would not have realized that they were making history and were changing the face of the world forever when they were tinkering around with their first prototypes. Babbage was responsible for building the world's first analytical engine in 1837. The first official computer was the [|Numerator] Integrator Analyzer and Computer (ENIAC) which was built in 1945. It was heavier than 25 tonnes and could fill out an entire room or two. Its purpose was to add and subtract. There are some who consider the [|abacus] to be the first computer but the jury is still out on that one.

= = =Where: = US the first computer was invented in the US in 1969 at the Rowayton Library in Norwalk, CT

=How: =

1st
1936 - First free programmable computer

2nd
1954 - The first successful high level programming language.

3rd
1969 - The original Internet.

4th
1971- Nicknamed the "Floppy" for its flexibility.

5th
1973 - Networking.

Computers evolve drastically fast. Every year there are lots of new technology that arises and makes the older technology to phase out so fast. Every now and then there will be a better innovation and technology.

=How is the computer still used?= Back in the early stages of computer technology, it was difficult to imagine the types of computers we have now. Computers used to take up entire buildings in order to complete simple math problems. Now, computers are being used by children as young as five to learn simple mathematics and are being used by scientists to unlock the secrets of the universe as well as discover how to extend human life.

You can literally find anything in the world that you are looking for on the web.A computer can be great and an easy way to find out information but it can also be a bad thing to. You should always be aware to not put to much of your personal information on the web. Also you need to protect your computer from many things. - wiki answers

 Computers today are used in a way people commonly are doing work on it. There is more to computer typing there’s programming, troubleshooting, communications, and many of more uses from them people and I go through. People and myself has me know that there is more to computers then just typing more of it comes where in how other specific devices are used to convert data. Troubleshooting things such as viruses, networking, data loss, putting computer together, etc. has taught me more in depth about computers today. Having to do all of this has shown me that computers are a source of reflection of how it used and done with. - 212 articles

 Computers evolve drastically fast. Every year there are lots of new technology that arises and makes the older technology to phase out so fast. Every now and then there will be a better innovation and technology.

= = =Webliography: =

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