History
Computer technology improves rapidly and has new developments everyday. The computer industry is the fastest growing business worldwide. The history of digital computers all started in 1937, when college professor John V. Atanasoff and his friend, graduate Clifford Berry created what they called the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, or ABC for short, to help the students solve systems of equations. Their history is typically divided into generations, the current number of which stands at five.
The first generation of computers ran from 1937 to 1953 and is based on series of switches that opened and closed. These first computers ran with vacuum tubes. One computer would take up an entire room, yet they could only solve one problem at a time ("The Five Generations of Computers"). Alongside ABC, Colossus was a computer built by Alan Turing for the British mlitary in World War II for the purpose of breaking the German army's codes. Another Computer built was the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, or ENIAC. It was the first general purpose computer built by two men ant the University of Pennsylvania. It was funded by the army in 1943 and wasn't completed until 1945, but it was instrumental in creating the hydrogen bomb (Meyers).
Computer technology improves rapidly and has new developments everyday. The computer industry is the fastest growing business worldwide. The history of digital computers all started in 1937, when college professor John V. Atanasoff and his friend, graduate Clifford Berry created what they called the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, or ABC for short, to help the students solve systems of equations. Their history is typically divided into generations, the current number of which stands at five.
The first generation of computers ran from 1937 to 1953 and is based on series of switches that opened and closed. These first computers ran with vacuum tubes. One computer would take up an entire room, yet they could only solve one problem at a time ("The Five Generations of Computers"). Alongside ABC, Colossus was a computer built by Alan Turing for the British mlitary in World War II for the purpose of breaking the German army's codes. Another Computer built was the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, or ENIAC. It was the first general purpose computer built by two men ant the University of Pennsylvania. It was funded by the army in 1943 and wasn't completed until 1945, but it was instrumental in creating the hydrogen bomb (Meyers).
The second generation of computers replaced vacuum tubes with transistors from 1954 to 1962. The transistors made computers smaller, faster, cheaper, reliable, and use less energy. These computers were the first to store memory, but like the first generation, used punch-cards and printouts to control the computer. While the computer had originally be controlled in just binary ("The Five Generations of Computers"). Over 100 programming languages were developed during this time (Steitz).
During the third generation, 1963 to 1972, the integrated circuit was invented. It made it possible to fit hundreds of tiny transistors, diodes, and resistors onto a single silicon chip. It decreased the price of computers and size, while increasing the speed and reliability. The chip led to the development of mini-computers ("Development of the digital computer"). This generation also brought keyboards, monitors, and operating systems that allowed you to multitask. The new ease brought by these accessories opened the door for commercial sales ("The Five Generations of Computers").
The fourth generation of computers is what we use today. It is all the developments since 1973. Microprocessors use very large scale integration allows 10,000 devices to fit on a single chip (Meyers) Computers are so small, that a computer which would've taken up a whole room, now can fit in your hands. The first home computers were sold by IBM in 1981. Apple started selling the Macintosh in 1984 as well. pictures. As technology improved, all the computers soon became linked by the internet, and devices such as the mouse, handheld devices, and laptops have been invented.
The fifth generation of computers doesn't fully exist yet. It consists of where the industry wants to go, using artificial intelligence. Some forms of this already exist, such as voice recognition, but computer engineers want to take it further. In the future, engineers want computers to be able to think and learn on their own ("The Five Generations of Computers").
Georgia
The state of Georgia is home to AT&Tl's headquarters. The company was the first to install computers in telephone exchanges, and also created one of the first operating systems, Unix. AT&T U-verse is one of the biggest internet networks in the country to this day ("Milestones in AT&T History"). Georgia has 14 universities qualified to give out degrees in computer science and engineering, which brings in a lot of people and income for the state. AT&T supports engineering in the state and even teams up with colleges like Georgia Tech to improve programs. In January, 2014, they launched the first program to learn computer engineering online (Sackner).
The state of Georgia is home to AT&Tl's headquarters. The company was the first to install computers in telephone exchanges, and also created one of the first operating systems, Unix. AT&T U-verse is one of the biggest internet networks in the country to this day ("Milestones in AT&T History"). Georgia has 14 universities qualified to give out degrees in computer science and engineering, which brings in a lot of people and income for the state. AT&T supports engineering in the state and even teams up with colleges like Georgia Tech to improve programs. In January, 2014, they launched the first program to learn computer engineering online (Sackner).
How it Works
Computers are complex machines that use a number of devices to respond to user commands. The users can input a command for what they want, and the code goes from the keyboard or mouse to the computer. It is translated into binary which then changes the computer's switches. Once the computer has finished loading, the signal is sent back out and displayed on the monitor.
Computers are complex machines that use a number of devices to respond to user commands. The users can input a command for what they want, and the code goes from the keyboard or mouse to the computer. It is translated into binary which then changes the computer's switches. Once the computer has finished loading, the signal is sent back out and displayed on the monitor.
Works Cited
"History of Computing." Electrical and Computer Engineering. Iowa State University, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <https://www.ece.iastate.edu/the-department/history/history-of-computing/>.
Masters, Gary. "History of Computers." Microsoft Encarta. Microsoft Corporation, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.utdallas.edu/~ivor/cs1315/history.html>.
Meyers, Jeremy. "A Brief History of the Computer." A Brief History of the Computer. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2014. <http://www.seattlecentral.edu/~ymoh/history_of_computer/history_of_computer.htm>.
"Milestones in AT&T History." AT&T. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2014. <https://www.corp.att.com/history/milestones.html>.
Sackner, Beth. "Start Up Your Computers, Class Is Now in Session." About AT&T. AT&T Intellectual Property, 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://about.att.com/newsroom/georgia_tech_launches_first_massive_online_degree_program.html>.
Steitz, Beverley. "A Brief Computer History." Computer Lessons. Boston University, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://people.bu.edu/baws/brief%20computer%20history.html>.
"Development of the digital computer." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Jan. 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/163278/digital-computer/1825/Development-of-the-digital-computer>.
"The Five Generations of Computers." Webopedia. ITBusinessEdge, 9 Mar. 2014. Web. 2 May 2014. <http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/FiveGenerations.asp>.
"History of Computing." Electrical and Computer Engineering. Iowa State University, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <https://www.ece.iastate.edu/the-department/history/history-of-computing/>.
Masters, Gary. "History of Computers." Microsoft Encarta. Microsoft Corporation, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.utdallas.edu/~ivor/cs1315/history.html>.
Meyers, Jeremy. "A Brief History of the Computer." A Brief History of the Computer. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2014. <http://www.seattlecentral.edu/~ymoh/history_of_computer/history_of_computer.htm>.
"Milestones in AT&T History." AT&T. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2014. <https://www.corp.att.com/history/milestones.html>.
Sackner, Beth. "Start Up Your Computers, Class Is Now in Session." About AT&T. AT&T Intellectual Property, 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://about.att.com/newsroom/georgia_tech_launches_first_massive_online_degree_program.html>.
Steitz, Beverley. "A Brief Computer History." Computer Lessons. Boston University, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://people.bu.edu/baws/brief%20computer%20history.html>.
"Development of the digital computer." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Jan. 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/163278/digital-computer/1825/Development-of-the-digital-computer>.
"The Five Generations of Computers." Webopedia. ITBusinessEdge, 9 Mar. 2014. Web. 2 May 2014. <http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/FiveGenerations.asp>.