Overview
This lecture introduces the history and importance of computing, from ancient calculation tools to mechanical and electro-mechanical machines, setting the stage for modern computers.
The Importance and Role of Computers
- Computers are fundamental to modern life, managing everything from power grids to manufacturing and communication.
- Computing has transformed society similarly to the Industrial Revolution by increasing productivity and amplifying human capabilities.
Early Computing Devices
- The abacus, invented around 2500 BCE, is an early hand-operated calculator for performing arithmetic.
- Tools like the astrolabe and slide rule assisted with navigation and complex calculations.
- These devices made calculations faster, easier, and more accurate, broadening access and lowering barriers.
Human Computers and Mechanical Machines
- The term "computer" originally referred to a person performing calculations, not a machine.
- Gottfried Leibniz's Step Reckoner (1694) automated addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using gears.
- Most people relied on pre-computed tables for complex calculations due to the high cost and slow speed of machines.
Advancements in Automated Calculation
- Military and scientific needs drove the development of more efficient computation, such as range tables for artillery.
- Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine was designed to automate polynomial calculations for mathematical tables but was not completed in his lifetime.
- Babbage conceptualized the Analytical Engine, a general purpose computer with memory and the ability to run sequences of operations.
Foundations of Programming
- Ada Lovelace wrote theoretical programs for the Analytical Engine, making her the first computer programmer.
- The Analytical Engine inspired future computer scientists and foreshadowed programmable, automatic machines.
The Rise of Business Machines
- By the late 1800s, computing devices were mainly used for science and engineering.
- Census challenges in the U.S. led to Herman Hollerith’s electro-mechanical tabulating machine, which used punch cards to automate data processing.
- Hollerith’s inventions laid the groundwork for IBM and modern business data processing.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Abacus — A hand-operated device for performing arithmetic.
- Human Computer — A person who performs mathematical calculations.
- Step Reckoner — An early mechanical calculator using gears for arithmetic operations.
- Difference Engine — Babbage’s mechanical machine for automating polynomial calculations.
- Analytical Engine — Babbage’s design for a general purpose, programmable computer.
- Punch Card — Paper card with holes representing data, used for automating computation.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the evolution of computing devices and their impact on society.
- Prepare for the next lecture on digital computers.