Computer Science and Programming: Brief History Instructor Dr. Ricardo Vilalta

A Brief History of Computer Science Initial Stages First-Generation Computers Second-Generation Computers Third-Generation Computers Fourth-Generation Computers Computer Networks Quantum Computing What is machine learning?

Brief History of Computer Science: Initial Stages Charles Babbage – London, England 1800s He created the “Difference Engine” to perform calculations. The machine would punch out calculations on metal plates and was powered by steam (1822). He created the “Analytical Engine” (1837). The calculations were based on “instructions” (it could be programmed). It could solve mathematical problems. It already had a CPU and memory. The machine was never completed. What is machine learning?

Brief History of Computer Science: Initial Stages Ada Lovelace – London, England 1800s Apprentice of Charles Babbage. She is considered the first computer programmer. She helped Charles Babbage with the Analytical Engine. She predicted computers could process not just numbers, but also encoded information. The Ada programming language bears her name. What is machine learning?

Brief History of Computer Science: Initial Stages More developments: Boolean Algebra (mid 1800s) – George Boole Vacuum Tube (1883) – Thomas Edison Nikola Tesla patented the “electronic logic gate” (1903) These gates compute logical operators using vacuum tubes. What is machine learning?

Brief History of Computer Science: Initial Stages Electronic Digital Logic Circuits: George Stibitz built the first digital electronic logic circuit in 1937. They are called Combinatorial Circuits because they are made of a combination of logical gates. He built the “binary adder”. These circuits provided the “foundations” of modern computers. What is machine learning?

Brief History of Computer Science: Initial Stages Information Theory: Claude Shannon In 1948 Claude Shannon wrote a paper that laid the foundations of “information theory”. All information can be represented using bits: “0” or “1” (binary digits). The stage was set for the electronic binary digital computer. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science Initial Stages First-Generation Computers Second-Generation Computers Third-Generation Computers Fourth-Generation Computers Computer Networks Quantum Computing What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: First-Generation Computers The first programmable computer was the Z3 created by German scientist Konrad Zuse (1941). His machines used binary digital computing (as opposed to decimal). The German military turned down his proposal to build a fully electronic machine. He wrote his own programming language called Plankalkul. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: First-Generation Computers The first computer project in the US was the Mark I (1943) by Howard Aiken (electro-mechanical not fully electronic). The first fully electronic computing device was made by John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry in 1942 (Iowa State Univ.). The name was ABC. It could do simple mathematical operations, used binary encoding. It weighted 700 pounds and was the size of a desk (a mile of wire). What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: First-Generation Computers In World War II The British tried to decode messages sent by Germans. The goal was to break The Enigma code. This was achieved with the Collosus machine, an electronic binary computer competed in 1944. Info. from this computer influenced the decision to go ahead with D day (June 6, 1944). What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science Initial Stages First-Generation Computers Second-Generation Computers Third-Generation Computers Fourth-Generation Computers Computer Networks Quantum Computing What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Second-Generation Computers A revolution came in 1947 with the development of the transistor (by Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley). It is a solid state semi-conductor that can switch electric circuits. They do not burn (like vacuum tubes) and occupy less space. First transistor computer came in 1953. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Second-Generation Computers In the mid-50s we only had assembly language. Assembly language is machine code: Example: “add” represented as “1001” stands for addition. The first programming languages came in the 1950s. An influential person was Grace Murray Hopper (Naval Admiral). She proposed the “compiler” that serves to translate high-level programming languages into machine code. Later came FORTRAN, LISP, BASIC. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Second-Generation Computers What is a computer bug? A bug is known as a flaw in a machine (term coming from American engineers). But there is a funny anecdote behind the name… In 1947, a moth was found inside the Mark II computer (Harvard University). This was recorded as the first “actual” case of a real bug found in a computer. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science Initial Stages First-Generation Computers Second-Generation Computers Third-Generation Computers Fourth-Generation Computers Computer Networks Quantum Computing What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Third Generation Computers In 1958 the problem of how to wire many transistors together remained a problem. The solution was the Integrated Circuit. The inventors were Jack Kilby who was awarded The Nobel Prize in Physics for that invention in the Year 2000, and Robert Noyce, who came up with the manufacturing principles. Robert Noyce then founded Intel in 1968 (for “Integrated Electronics”). What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Third Generation Computers Microprocessor In 1969 Marcian Ted Hoff came up with the idea of developing a general-purpose chip that could be programmed to do any logical task. This marked the birth of the microprocessor. The first microprocessor was developed in 1971, called 4004. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Third Generation Computers Mainframes and Supercomputers In response to a high demand for “commercial computing” large computers were developed under the name of “mainframes”. Mainframes could easily take up an entire room. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science Initial Stages First-Generation Computers Second-Generation Computers Third-Generation Computers Fourth-Generation Computers Computer Networks Quantum Computing What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Fourth Generation Computers Microcomputers The first microcomputer was developed in 1975. Many developments followed after that. In 1975 Paul Allen and Bill Gate founded Microsoft Corporation. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Fourth Generation Computers In 1977 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak created the Apple II (very successful personal computer) and founded the Apple Computer Company. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Fourth Generation Computers By the 1980s IBM enters into the microcomputer market. IBM comes up with the IBM-PC, which was used by millions of customers by the end of the decade. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science Initial Stages First-Generation Computers Second-Generation Computers Third-Generation Computers Fourth-Generation Computers Computer Networks Quantum Computing What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Computer Networks Wide Area Networks In the early 1960s Leonard Kleinrock proposed a mechanism to enable communication among computers. He suggested dividing the message into packets, and then reassembling them when reaching their destination. This began the Internet Technology. What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science Initial Stages First-Generation Computers Second-Generation Computers Third-Generation Computers Fourth-Generation Computers Computer Networks Quantum Computing What is machine learning?

A Brief History of Computer Science: Quantum Computing Quantum computing deals with the problem of computing using quantum-mechanical phenomena. Principles such as entanglement and superposition are used to manipulate data. Here we use quantum bits which can be in more than two states. What is machine learning?