Computer History

The Early Beginnings (1800s-1940s) The concept of computers dates back to the early 19th century when Charles Babbage proposed the idea of a mechanical computer, the Difference Engine. Later, Ada Lovelace wrote the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine, the Analytical Engine. In the late 1800s, Herman Hollerith developed punch cards for data processing, leading to the first electromechanical computers. These innovations laid the foundation for modern computer science. Babbage's work on the Analytical Engine introduced the concept of input, processing, storage, and output, still fundamental to modern computers. The Electro nic Era (1940s-1950s) The invention of the vacuum tube led to the development of the first general-purpose electronic computer, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer). ENIAC was massive, weighing over 27 tons and occupying an entire room. However, it paved the way for smaller, faster, and more efficient computers. The inv...