Computer Programming History of Computers What is located at the web site address? State 4 items that can be found at the web page.

Definition of a computer. -electronic machine -accepts data -processes it -provides results -simple comparisons

First Generation 1940’s - 1950’s ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer) used the binary number system of 1s and 0s that is still used today. It contained hundreds of vacuum tubes and stored numbers for calculations by electronically burning holes in sheets of paper. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integration and Calculator) – weighed 30 tons and occupied 1500 square feet. It also used vacuum tubes, which consumed huge amounts of electricity that produced tremendous heat. ENIAC was given a problem that would have taken a team of mathematicians three days to solve and it solved the problem in twenty seconds.

ENIAC April 22, 2017

Early 1960’s Second Generation Bell Laboratories invented the transistor which replaced many tubes thus decreasing the size and expense of the computer while making the calculating speeds faster. Second generation computers also saw a change in the way data was stored. Punched cards were replaced by magnetic tape. Using magnetic tape gave computers the ability to read and write data quickly and reliably. Output Devices 1. Monitor 2. Printer 3. Speakers 4. Projection Unit 5. Video Card 6. Others????

Transistor

Later 1960’s Third Generation Integrated circuits (chip) replaced transistors. One IC could replace hundreds of transistors, giving computers tremendous speed. Increase speeds and decrease cost. Mainframes which are large computer systems that are used for multi-user applications. Most people using mainframes communicate with them using terminals. What is the control unit used for? What is the ALU used for?

Fourth Generation 1970 - Present The Intel Corporation invented the microprocessor, an entire CPU on a single chip. The replacement of several larger components by one microprocessor made possible the fourth generation of computers. From the small microprocessor came the microcomputer. A computer that fits on a desktop is called a microcomputer. Advances in technology made PCs inexpensive and therefore available to many people. Altair 8800 is considered the first microcomputer. As a comparison, if the cost of a sports car had dropped as quickly as that of a computer, a new Porsche would now cost $1.00 What is the control unit used for? What is the ALU used for?

Conclusion