ENIAC, first US Electronic ENIAC, first US Electronic Computer, 1946Computer, 1946

ENIAC “circuit board”ENIAC “circuit board”

The Intel 4004 microprocessor, which was introduced in 1971. The 4004 contained only 2300 transistors and performed 60,000 calculations per second. Courtesy: Intel.

Intel 4004, 60 kilohertzIntel 4004, 60 kilohertz

Babbage’s Differential EngineBabbage’s Differential Engine(1830)(1830)

In 1640, Pascal started developing a device to help his father add sums of money. The first operating model, the Arithmetic Machine, was introduced in 1642, and Pascal created fifty more devices over the next ten years. (In 1658, Pascal created a scandal when, under the pseudonym of Amos Dettonville, he challenged other mathematicians to a contest and then awarded the prize to himself!)

Pascal’s 1642 Arithmetic EnginePascal’s 1642 Arithmetic Engine

IBM 701A notable first: The IBM 701

Fifty years ago -- on April 29, 1952 --- IBM President Thomas J. Watson, Jr., informed his company's stockholders at the annual meeting that IBM was building "the most advanced, most flexible high-speed computer in the world." Known as the Defense Calculator while in development, the new machine emerged from the IBM Poughkeepsie Laboratory later that year and was formally unveiled to the public on April 7, 1953 as the IBM 701 Electronic Data Processing Machines.*           What was so special about the 701? Well, a few things. The 701 was a landmark product because it was: •The first IBM large-scale electronic computer manufactured in quantity; •IBM's first commercially available scientific computer; •The first IBM machine in which programs were stored in an internal, addressable, electronic memory; •Developed and produced in record time -- less than two years from "first pencil on paper" to installation; •Key to IBM's transition from punched-card machines to electronic computers; and •The first of the pioneering line of IBM 700 series computers, including the 702, 704, 705 and 709.

Some of the early milestones in Some of the early milestones in small computerssmall computers

1975 Bill Gates founded Microsoft1975 Bill Gates founded Microsoft

1976 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built 1976 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built the first Apple Ithe first Apple I

1977 the Apple II came out for $13001977 the Apple II came out for $1300

1977 Commadore and the Tandy/Radio 1977 Commadore and the Tandy/Radio Shack (TRS-80) computers came outShack (TRS-80) computers came out

1981 First IBM PC (8088 architecture)1981 First IBM PC (8088 architecture)

How things changeHow things change

In 1975, an IBM mainframe computer that could In 1975, an IBM mainframe computer that could perform 10,000,000 instructions per second (10 perform 10,000,000 instructions per second (10 MegaHertz) cost around $10,000,000. In MegaHertz) cost around $10,000,000. In

1995 (only twenty years later), a computer video 1995 (only twenty years later), a computer video game capable of performing 500,000,000 (500 game capable of performing 500,000,000 (500 MegaHertz) instructions per second was MegaHertz) instructions per second was available for approximately $500! available for approximately $500!

In 2006 a 3 GigaHertz processor (3,000,000,000 In 2006 a 3 GigaHertz processor (3,000,000,000 instructions per second) costs around $1200instructions per second) costs around $1200

A punch card machine, a card reader, and a card…

NASA’s fastest computerNASA’s fastest computer

Wed, 27 Oct 2004 - Wed, 27 Oct 2004 - NASA unveiled its new NASA unveiled its new supercomputer on supercomputer on Tuesday, which took the Tuesday, which took the lead as the fasted lead as the fasted computer in the world. computer in the world. Named "Columbia", to Named "Columbia", to commemorate the space commemorate the space shuttle, the shuttle, the supercomputer is built up supercomputer is built up from 10,240 Itanium 2 from 10,240 Itanium 2 processors, and is processors, and is capable of capable of 42.7 teraflops 42.7 teraflops (trillion calculations per (trillion calculations per second). second).

Rank Site (www.top500.org)

Computer Processors/Year/Rmax/ Rpeak

1. DOE/NNSA/LLNLUnited States BlueGene/L - eServer Blue Gene Solution IBM 131072 2005 280600 367,000,000,000,000

2. IBM Thomas J. Watson Research CenterUnited States BGW - eServer Blue Gene Solution IBM 40960 2005 91290 114,688,000,000,000

3. DOE/NNSA/LLNLUnited States ASC Purple - eServer pSeries p5 575 1.9 GHz IBM 10240 2005 63390 77,824,000,000,000

4. NASA/Ames Research Center/NASUnited States Columbia - SGI Altix 1.5 GHz, Voltaire Infiniband SGI 10160 2004 51870 60,960,000,000,000

5. Sandia National LaboratoriesUnited States Thunderbird - PowerEdge 1850, 3.6 GHz, Infiniband Dell 8000 2005 38270 64,512,000,000,000

So the DOE/NNSA/LLNL supercomputer has 131,072 processorsWas built in 2005,and had a peak performance of 367,000,000,000,000 calculations per second.

The fastest computers…The fastest computers…

Lots of patentsLots of patents

Thomas Edison built Thomas Edison built an “invention factory” an “invention factory” to turn out a new to turn out a new invention every 10 invention every 10 days.days.

At one point he and At one point he and his company received his company received a new patent every 5 a new patent every 5 days for 4 straight days for 4 straight years!years!

Edison received 1093 Edison received 1093 patentspatents

A patent is a legal A patent is a legal way of protecting your way of protecting your ideasideas

Founder of FIRSTFounder of FIRST(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and

Technology)Technology)

150 patents150 patents

Founded FIRSTFounded FIRST

Developed the Segway Developed the Segway “people transporter”“people transporter”

Developed a wheel chair Developed a wheel chair that could climb stairsthat could climb stairs

Developed a kidney Developed a kidney dialysis machine the size dialysis machine the size of a suitcase.of a suitcase.

Computers in EverythingComputers in Everything

Can you list some places that computers Can you list some places that computers (even if they don’t look like computers) (even if they don’t look like computers) could be found in your home, school, or could be found in your home, school, or local stores?local stores?

Computers everywhereComputers everywhere

HouseHouse– Alarm systemsAlarm systems– PhonesPhones– MicrowavesMicrowaves– RefrigeratorsRefrigerators– Heating/cooling systemsHeating/cooling systems– DVD players/iPodsDVD players/iPods– TelevisionsTelevisions– ComputersComputers– PrintersPrinters– RadiosRadios– Water, gas, electric metersWater, gas, electric meters

CarsCars

Elevator controlsElevator controls

Traffic signal controlsTraffic signal controls

TelecommunicationsTelecommunications

Mail sorting at the Post Mail sorting at the Post OfficeOffice

GPS (global positioning GPS (global positioning systems)systems)

Weather stationsWeather stations

Network systemsNetwork systems