Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
History Of Computers - College Essay

History Of Computers


The electronic computer has now been used commercially for less than 25 years. It grew out of a search lasting centuries for a more accurate, faster way to perform calculations.
Primitive and ancient man used his fingers, shells, beads, sticks, and other objects to keep track of numbers and sums. The development of paper and writing instrumentsmade it easier to record data, but gave little aid in manipulating it.
Manual Devices:
A computer is sometimes defined as a system that mechanizes the processing of information. Even a manual device may fall under this definition if they are constructed in such a way that moving them by hand can produce the desired answer. Example:
Abacus:
The ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

wire.

Calculating Machines and their Inventors:
Through the centuries, several mathematical geniuses invented machinesto aid them in their calculations. The machines were never widely used and generally had no direct path to the later development of electronic computers. Example:

Pascal:
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) a French matematician, invented the first mechanical adding machine at age 19 in 1642. He became tired of adding long columns of figures while helping his father, who had been appointed administrator of Rouen by Cardenal Richelieu. His device had teen toothed wheels and many gears. Rotating wheels developed sums. A carry lever advanced the next wheel to the left one position when a sum exceeded 10.

Punched Card Development:
Many of us are surprised to learn that the punched card industry is almost 200 years old. Furthermore, the first use of punched cards wasn’t for data processing, but rather for process control. Example:

Jacquard:
Joseph ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.


Already a member? Login


CITE THIS PAGE:

History Of Computers. (2007, April 26). Retrieved November 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/History-Of-Computers/63930
"History Of Computers." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 26 Apr. 2007. Web. 23 Nov. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/History-Of-Computers/63930>
"History Of Computers." Essayworld.com. April 26, 2007. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/History-Of-Computers/63930.
"History Of Computers." Essayworld.com. April 26, 2007. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/History-Of-Computers/63930.
JOIN NOW
Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays


PAPER DETAILS
Added: 4/26/2007 05:26:31 AM
Category: Science & Nature
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1146
Pages: 5

Save | Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS
Save and find your favorite essays easier

SIMILAR ESSAYS
» History Of Computers
» History Of Computers
» The History Of Computers
» History Of Computers
» The History Of Computers
» History And Development Of Comp...
» Computer History
» Advancement Of The Computer
» History Of The Computer Industr...
» History Of Computer
Copyright | Cancel | Contact Us

Copyright © 2024 Essayworld. All rights reserved