Computers: A short history
In the beginning…. The best place to begin is in the beginning… The best place to begin is in the beginning… Man has been attempting to improve the accuracy and capability of it’s mathematical abilities since we learned to count….. Man has been attempting to improve the accuracy and capability of it’s mathematical abilities since we learned to count…..
Computers: Early Attempts
Pascal Blaine Pascal (1623 – 1662) Blaine Pascal (1623 – 1662) Created a machine that was able to do addition and subtraction by means of gears and a hand crank. Created a machine that was able to do addition and subtraction by means of gears and a hand crank. This was to aid his father, a French tax collector This was to aid his father, a French tax collector He built it when he was 19 He built it when he was 19
Leibniz Baron Gottfied Wilheml von Leibniz (1645 – 1716) Baron Gottfied Wilheml von Leibniz (1645 – 1716) Created a machine that could also multiply and divide Created a machine that could also multiply and divide
Babbage Charles Babbage (1792 – 1871) Charles Babbage (1792 – 1871) Created a machine similar to Pascal’s Created a machine similar to Pascal’s It used one formula to create tables used for marine navigation and printed the results onto a copper engraver’s plate It used one formula to create tables used for marine navigation and printed the results onto a copper engraver’s plate Babbage's “difference engine” could only add and subtract. He quickly desired to create a better machine Babbage's “difference engine” could only add and subtract. He quickly desired to create a better machine
Babbage cont. “analytical engine” “analytical engine” Had four components Had four components The store (memory) The store (memory) The mill (computation unit) The mill (computation unit) Input Section (punched card reader) Input Section (punched card reader) Output Section (punched and printed output) Output Section (punched and printed output) Could store 1000 words of 50 decimal digits Could store 1000 words of 50 decimal digits
Babbage cont. Innovations from the invention Innovations from the invention Data could be loaded from memory, acted upon and then stored back into memory Data could be loaded from memory, acted upon and then stored back into memory Decisions about what the “program” should do could be based on whether a certain value was positive or negative (“branching”) Decisions about what the “program” should do could be based on whether a certain value was positive or negative (“branching”) Operated according to user created instructions (programmable) Operated according to user created instructions (programmable)
Babbage cont. Creation of first programming language Creation of first programming language First programmer First programmer Lady Ada Lovelace Lady Ada Lovelace Daughter of British Poet Lord Byron Daughter of British Poet Lord Byron
Opportune Conditions “One has only to recall the lack of significant interest in calculating machines in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to realize that a technology becomes important historically not when it is developed but when it is applied in a practical and cost-effective manner.” “One has only to recall the lack of significant interest in calculating machines in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to realize that a technology becomes important historically not when it is developed but when it is applied in a practical and cost-effective manner.” -James W. Cortada Author
Modern technologies tend to build on previous technologies. Modern technologies tend to build on previous technologies. Calculators and punch-card driven machines were growing in popularity from the late 1800’s into the early 1900’s Calculators and punch-card driven machines were growing in popularity from the late 1800’s into the early 1900’s
Electricity Electrical Power Production, (billions of kilowatt hours) YearU.S.GermanyFranceItalyU.K
Mathematical and Information Theory Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (16461716) Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (16461716) Founded universal calculus Founded universal calculus Leibniz notation Leibniz notation George Boole (18151864) George Boole (18151864) “…made the critical leap forward in mathematics that would directly influence the evolution of any computer that used electricity.” “…made the critical leap forward in mathematics that would directly influence the evolution of any computer that used electricity.”
Advances in technology Vacuum tubes, relays, switches Vacuum tubes, relays, switches We will discuss these in more detail shortly We will discuss these in more detail shortly
Modern Computers
Generation 1 Vacuum Tubes
COLOSSUS 1 st Electronic computer 1 st Electronic computer Built by Britain to crack the ENIGMA encoding system used by the Nazi’s in WWII Built by Britain to crack the ENIGMA encoding system used by the Nazi’s in WWII Was classified for 30 years Was classified for 30 years No affect on the computer industry No affect on the computer industry
ENIAC 1 st American Computer 1 st American Computer Built to calculate artillery trajectory tables Built to calculate artillery trajectory tables This task was currently being done by hundreds of women hired by the government This task was currently being done by hundreds of women hired by the government Weighed 30 tons and consumed 140 kilowatts Weighed 30 tons and consumed 140 kilowatts Programmed by 6000 multi-position switches Programmed by 6000 multi-position switches
EDSAC Maurice Wilkes, University of Chicago Maurice Wilkes, University of Chicago Wilkes came up with the idea of having a separate language to write code in and then creating a way to break that down into machine usable code Wilkes came up with the idea of having a separate language to write code in and then creating a way to break that down into machine usable code
EDVAC Better version of the ENIAC Better version of the ENIAC Created by Mauchley and Eckert's new company Created by Mauchley and Eckert's new company Later became Unisys Corp. Later became Unisys Corp. Also was over-budget and late Also was over-budget and late
Computers in print Calculators were first written about by Newsweek and Businessweek in 1945 Calculators were first written about by Newsweek and Businessweek in 1945 They, along with Time and Life, ran articles on calculators again in 1946 They, along with Time and Life, ran articles on calculators again in 1946
Computers go Prime Time The UNIVAC I made it’s television debut on Nov. 4, The UNIVAC I made it’s television debut on Nov. 4, With only 27 states reporting and 3.4 million votes out of an estimated 60 million the UNIVAC I predicted the outcome to within 4 electoral votes With only 27 states reporting and 3.4 million votes out of an estimated 60 million the UNIVAC I predicted the outcome to within 4 electoral votes
1940’s – early 1950’s Computers were primary the domain of theorists, engineers and educational institutes Computers were primary the domain of theorists, engineers and educational institutes The vast majority of funding came from the government who had seem the benefits as related to defense use The vast majority of funding came from the government who had seem the benefits as related to defense use
John von Neumann Genius Genius “..was a genius in the same league as Leonardo Da Vinci. He spoke many languages, was an expert in the physical sciences and mathematics, and had total recall of everything he ever heard, saw, or read.” “…he was already the most eminent mathematician in the world” “..was a genius in the same league as Leonardo Da Vinci. He spoke many languages, was an expert in the physical sciences and mathematics, and had total recall of everything he ever heard, saw, or read.” “…he was already the most eminent mathematician in the world”
von Neumann machine Memory Control Unit Arithmetic logic unit Input Output
Generation 2 Transistors (1955 – 1965)
Transistors Developed at Bell Labs in 1948 Developed at Bell Labs in 1948 John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley were awarded the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics for this invention John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley were awarded the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics for this invention
Government dollars drive R&D “As late as 1959, one government study suggested that 85% of research and development in electronics in the U.S. was being paid for by various government agencies” “As late as 1959, one government study suggested that 85% of research and development in electronics in the U.S. was being paid for by various government agencies” -Cortada p. 67
Late 1950’s – 1960’s New technologies have made it economically possible for companies to purchase a computer to do their large scale data processing. New technologies have made it economically possible for companies to purchase a computer to do their large scale data processing. The “industry” has started to drive the improvements in technology thereby taking some of the financial burden off of the government The “industry” has started to drive the improvements in technology thereby taking some of the financial burden off of the government
TX-0 Developed at M.I.T. Developed at M.I.T. First computer to use transistors First computer to use transistors Didn’t become very popular Didn’t become very popular A student that worked on the TX-0 founded DEC A student that worked on the TX-0 founded DEC
PDP-1 Was created by DEC which was founded by a former M.I.T. student. Was created by DEC which was founded by a former M.I.T. student. Created as a cheaper solution than the IBM 7090 which was the fastest computer in the world at the time Created as a cheaper solution than the IBM 7090 which was the fastest computer in the world at the time PDP-1 = $120,000 PDP-1 = $120, = $millions 7090 = $millions spacewars spacewars spacewars
PDP-8 Followed the PDP-1 Followed the PDP-1 Sold 50,000 units Sold 50,000 units Cost $16,000 Cost $16,000
6600 Released in 1964 Released in 1964 Was 10x faster than the 7094 when it was released due to multiple processing units Was 10x faster than the 7094 when it was released due to multiple processing units Separate processors for addition and multiplication Separate processors for addition and multiplication Separates systems tasks and computations Separates systems tasks and computations Designed by Seymour Cray who went on to found Cray Super Computers which is still one of the premiere producers of super computers. Designed by Seymour Cray who went on to found Cray Super Computers which is still one of the premiere producers of super computers.
Generation 3 Integrated Circuits (1965 – 1980)
Silicon Integrated Circuit Developed by Robert Noyce in 1958 Developed by Robert Noyce in 1958 “allowed dozens of transistors to be put on a single chip.” “allowed dozens of transistors to be put on a single chip.”
IBM 360 series 360 series was the first “family” of computers 360 series was the first “family” of computers Shared arcitechture and language Shared arcitechture and language Provided scalability and a common interface for companies Provided scalability and a common interface for companies
PDP-11 Little brother to IBM’s 360 family just as PDP-1 was a little brother to the 7090 Little brother to IBM’s 360 family just as PDP-1 was a little brother to the 7090 Sold well due to it’s lower cost Sold well due to it’s lower cost Still popular amongst computer hardware collectors and hobbyists Still popular amongst computer hardware collectors and hobbyists
1970’s We begin to see computer shrinking in size and growing in power We begin to see computer shrinking in size and growing in power This enables companies to buy workstations which hook individual employees into the giant mainframes from their desks This enables companies to buy workstations which hook individual employees into the giant mainframes from their desks
“Ray Tomlinson of BBN develops a program to send messages across ARPANET. His program uses the sign to separate users' names from their machines.” –History Channel “Ray Tomlinson of BBN develops a program to send messages across ARPANET. His program uses the sign to separate users' names from their machines.” –History Channel Three days later Ray is the first person to received Spam Three days later Ray is the first person to received Spam
Phreaking Tech savy nerds were able to build “little blue boxes” which allowed them to control the phone switching systems by setting the boxes to produce certain tones Tech savy nerds were able to build “little blue boxes” which allowed them to control the phone switching systems by setting the boxes to produce certain tones The phone companies beat this by sending the switching signals and the callers voice on separate lines The phone companies beat this by sending the switching signals and the callers voice on separate lines
The Social Side of Computing Computers and the computing industry was in an interesting phase as the industry was beginning to be driven by the elite who were breaking ground daily. Computers and the computing industry was in an interesting phase as the industry was beginning to be driven by the elite who were breaking ground daily. Companies where now beginning to try and harness these geniuses but they really didn’t care (for the most part) about the money Companies where now beginning to try and harness these geniuses but they really didn’t care (for the most part) about the money
Problems in Paradise First document network plague First document network plague In 1972 a computer had an error telling other servers that it could deliver mail for a negative cost In 1972 a computer had an error telling other servers that it could deliver mail for a negative cost All mail on the “internet” at the time was routed to this computer and was subsequently lost All mail on the “internet” at the time was routed to this computer and was subsequently lost Happened again Oct 27, 1980 Happened again Oct 27, 1980 Jan 15, 1990 Jan 15, 1990
Generation 4 Very Large Scale Circuits (VLSI) present
VLSI VLSI allowed for thousands, then hundreds of thousands and now millions of transistors to be put onto a chip VLSI allowed for thousands, then hundreds of thousands and now millions of transistors to be put onto a chip
1980’s Continual improvements in technology have made it feasible for individual employees to actually have their own computer that they alone work on Continual improvements in technology have made it feasible for individual employees to actually have their own computer that they alone work on Centralized computer still exist and done large tasks but also serve as a data repository for the smaller, independent machines Centralized computer still exist and done large tasks but also serve as a data repository for the smaller, independent machines
“Own one today” Computers were beginning to come home and as such were becoming less ominous Computers were beginning to come home and as such were becoming less ominous The software and hardware really weren’t built for the average consumer and still required a good deal of technical knowledge to use well The software and hardware really weren’t built for the average consumer and still required a good deal of technical knowledge to use well
Tragedy in technology Computer Horror Story: the Therac-25 Computer Horror Story: the Therac-25 Late 1980’s Late 1980’s Was the “newest” in a line of cancer treatments which used a focused pulse of radiation to kill cancer cells Was the “newest” in a line of cancer treatments which used a focused pulse of radiation to kill cancer cells The machine was not properly designed and as a result several patients were literally “cooked” by the supposedly helpful radiation beams The machine was not properly designed and as a result several patients were literally “cooked” by the supposedly helpful radiation beams
Birth of the PC In the early 80s IBM, now the king of high-end computers, decides that they want to enter the consumer market In the early 80s IBM, now the king of high-end computers, decides that they want to enter the consumer market Give a lone engineer a bag of money and instruct him to build a computer Give a lone engineer a bag of money and instruct him to build a computer He returns with a reasonably prices computer built from parts he bought from a local electronics store He returns with a reasonably prices computer built from parts he bought from a local electronics store
PC cont. The new computer was sold as a kit that one would assemble The new computer was sold as a kit that one would assemble Along with the kit IBM sold the manual that the engineer had assembled when he built the first computer Along with the kit IBM sold the manual that the engineer had assembled when he built the first computer
New Type of Millionaire Computer companies started creating a new class of 20-something millionaire’s “overnight” Computer companies started creating a new class of 20-something millionaire’s “overnight” Apple’s stock went public in It went from $7 to $29 in one day making both of its founders millionaires Apple’s stock went public in It went from $7 to $29 in one day making both of its founders millionaires “The Steves” (Wozniak and Jobs) Founders of Apple Computers
Millionaires cont. Most of the “techies” that drove the computer revolution didn’t end up making a lot of money Most of the “techies” that drove the computer revolution didn’t end up making a lot of money Some had not cared about the business end at all or had fell victim to “aggressive” business partners Some had not cared about the business end at all or had fell victim to “aggressive” business partners Some reinvested their earned money into starting their own companies which subsequently flopped Some reinvested their earned money into starting their own companies which subsequently flopped Some did it for the love of the game and still do(i.e. The Woz) Some did it for the love of the game and still do(i.e. The Woz) The Woz The Woz
GUI’s, Mice and networks As computers worked their way into homes users demanded more usability. As computers worked their way into homes users demanded more usability. All three of these were actually developed by XEROX at their PARC facility but XEROX executives decided that the copier market was more lucrative All three of these were actually developed by XEROX at their PARC facility but XEROX executives decided that the copier market was more lucrative
More problems Feb 25, 1991 Feb 25, 1991 US Patriot Anti-missle had an error in the code resulting in a loss of accuracy of 1/100,000,000 of a second every second US Patriot Anti-missle had an error in the code resulting in a loss of accuracy of 1/100,000,000 of a second every second This was acceptable as these batteries were made to run for a maximum length of 14 hrs. at a time but on this day the battery had been going for 4 days This was acceptable as these batteries were made to run for a maximum length of 14 hrs. at a time but on this day the battery had been going for 4 days
Economic Reasoning Computers were an economic anomaly in that as the technology matured, the production cost went down and not up Computers were an economic anomaly in that as the technology matured, the production cost went down and not up The dollar cost for computing “horsepower” has been dropping rates between 22% and 26% per year since the 1950’s The dollar cost for computing “horsepower” has been dropping rates between 22% and 26% per year since the 1950’s
1990’s - today The personal computer now can be found in the home, the dorm, the office, the park and most every where else. The personal computer now can be found in the home, the dorm, the office, the park and most every where else. Families now own multiple computers Families now own multiple computers Consumers are able to purchase parts and build their own Consumers are able to purchase parts and build their own
Technology Drivers The uber-nerd has given up control of the industry now and it is driven by the consumer The uber-nerd has given up control of the industry now and it is driven by the consumer Companies will include technology that isn’t even useful in order to make their product look more attarctiv Companies will include technology that isn’t even useful in order to make their product look more attarctiv Standardization Standardization There are now far less computer manufacturers than there used to be and even fewer operating systems There are now far less computer manufacturers than there used to be and even fewer operating systems Standardization has given the end user a simpler product but has also limited their options Standardization has given the end user a simpler product but has also limited their options
Moore’s Law Gordon Moore published a paper in the mid 60’s which stated the one could expect technology to double every one to two years. Gordon Moore published a paper in the mid 60’s which stated the one could expect technology to double every one to two years.a paper a paper
New Worries Viruses Viruses New Viruses are constantly being written/found. These can bring entire companies to there knees and are a very real fear for most New Viruses are constantly being written/found. These can bring entire companies to there knees and are a very real fear for most Hackers Hackers Many fear entry by an individual seeking to do harm to their company Many fear entry by an individual seeking to do harm to their company Whitehats Whitehats Individuals who “hack in” and then fix the holes they used to get in Individuals who “hack in” and then fix the holes they used to get in
Moore’s Law cont. Can we maintain this rate of advancement indefinately? Can we maintain this rate of advancement indefinately? Can we maintain this rate of advancement indefinately? Can we maintain this rate of advancement indefinately?
Computers as we know them… Looking at the table which gives an idea of where Moore’s law will take us in the future we can see that around 2020 the width of the circuitry will be in the 1 molecule range which will be too unstable for normal usage. Looking at the table which gives an idea of where Moore’s law will take us in the future we can see that around 2020 the width of the circuitry will be in the 1 molecule range which will be too unstable for normal usage. Other options, such as bio-computers, are the topic of current research Other options, such as bio-computers, are the topic of current research
The future… “the choice between alternatives ultimately depends neither on technical nor economic efficiency, but on the ‘fit’ between devices and the interests and beliefs of the various social groups that influence the design process. What singles out an artifact is its relationships to the social environment, not some intrinsic property” “the choice between alternatives ultimately depends neither on technical nor economic efficiency, but on the ‘fit’ between devices and the interests and beliefs of the various social groups that influence the design process. What singles out an artifact is its relationships to the social environment, not some intrinsic property” -Feenberg 1999, 79
Some numbers to consider… Sixty million transistors were manufactured last year for every man, woman, and child on Earth. By 2010, that figure will reach 1 billion transistors a year Sixty million transistors were manufactured last year for every man, woman, and child on Earth. By 2010, that figure will reach 1 billion transistors a year
W. says….. I was interested to read that our government plans to spend $53 billion on information technology next year. Now, if you're one of the recipients of that $53 billion, make sure that the product actually works, please. (Laughter and applause.) It is important. It's important to make sure government functions better, but more importantly, it will help our taxpayers have better response to democracy and get better information more quickly. And so I'm pleased that we're working on e- government. I just urge people to focus on results and not process. I was interested to read that our government plans to spend $53 billion on information technology next year. Now, if you're one of the recipients of that $53 billion, make sure that the product actually works, please. (Laughter and applause.) It is important. It's important to make sure government functions better, but more importantly, it will help our taxpayers have better response to democracy and get better information more quickly. And so I'm pleased that we're working on e- government. I just urge people to focus on results and not process.-
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