Overview
This lecture introduces the early history of computers, tracing their evolution from manual calculation tools to programmable machines, and highlights key inventions and figures.
Defining the Computer
- A computer is a device that stores and processes data by performing calculations.
- Originally, the term "computer" referred to people who performed calculations manually.
Historical Context and Keyboard Layout
- Understanding technological history is important for grasping how things work today.
- The QWERTY keyboard layout is widely used, though not the most efficient, and was shaped by typewriter mechanics.
Early Computing Tools
- The abacus, invented around 500 BC, is one of the earliest known computers and is still used today for counting.
- Early counting tools required human operation to perform calculations.
Mechanical Calculators and the Jacquard Loom
- Blaise Pascal invented the mechanical calculator in the 17th century, using gears and levers for automatic calculations.
- Joseph Jacquard created a programmable loom in the 1800s using punch cards to automate weaving patterns.
Punch Cards and Machine Automation
- Punch cards controlled mechanical devices by encoding instructions, influencing later computing technology.
Charles Babbage and the Analytical Engine
- Charles Babbage designed the Difference Engine for complex calculations and later the Analytical Engine, which used punch cards to automate sequences of calculations.
Ada Lovelace and Early Programming
- Ada Lovelace realized the Analytical Engine could be programmed for tasks beyond calculations and wrote the first computer algorithm.
- Her work made the Analytical Engine the first general purpose computing machine and marked the beginning of computer programming.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Computer — A device that stores and processes data through calculations.
- Abacus — An ancient counting tool, considered an early form of computer.
- Mechanical Calculator — A device that automatically performs arithmetic using gears and levers.
- Punch Card — A card with holes used to encode instructions for machines.
- Algorithm — A sequence of steps to solve a specific problem.
- Analytical Engine — Babbage's programmable mechanical computer using punch cards.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the key inventions and inventors discussed.
- Prepare to identify major early advances in computer history for the next lesson.