History & Developmentof the

Electronic Computer

Generation 0 – Part I

1642 – 1820

Introduction

Though the development of the modern computer has grown immensely over the last half century, the concept of the computer has roots tracing back nearly four hundred years. Arising from the need for mathematicians, soldiers, and accountants to perform repetitive calculations, the computer has grown from a simple system of mechanical gears capable of two or three calculations a minute to a collection of silicon wafers and semiconductors capable of quadrillions of calculations a second. As the computers of reality move ever closer to the systems of science fiction, society must not forget from where these magnificent machines come.

Driving Technological Advancement

Throughout history, technological advancement has been driven by one of three concepts.

MoneyHuman

Curiosity

War

And the development of the modern computer was no different !!!

The PascalineThe First

Calculator• Developed by Blaise Pascal

in 1642 to aid accountants.

• Designed only to perform the function addition.

• Capable of handling values with up to 8 digits.

• Subtraction was possible via complements and multiplication and division through repetitive additions.

Blaise Pascal

The Pascaline

Improvements, Act 1

• Gottfried von Leibniz develops a 3-function calculator in 1696.

• Capable of addition, subtraction, and multiplication.

• Affordable and relatively easy to use.

• Remained popular into the nineteenth century

The Mechanical Multiplier

Improvements, Act 2A True 4-Function Calculator• Developed in circa 1820 by

Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar

• Progresses from the continued refinement of the Pascal and Leibniz designs.

• Capable of accurately performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

• Remained in popular use through the end of the Great War

The Arithometer

• The Jacquard Loom & Programs• Charles Babbage & Lady Lovelace• Hermann Hollerith & IBM• From the Mechanical . . . to the Electronic

Generation 0 to come . . .