The history of computers

The concepts of digital computing and representing information in binary form can be traced back to the 1800s. Mechanical devices using these techniques were large, expensive, noisy, slow and unreliable. It was not until the first electronic digital computer, ENIAC, appeared in the late 1940s that practical digital computing was possible. ENIAC, which used vacuum tubes, was still large, expensive, noisy, and unreliable, but it was faster. Much more work could be performed in a much shorter time. As capability of these devices grew, computer makers kept stuffing more into their products. Soon computers were so complicated and expensive that only very large businesses could afford them. The idea of many smaller, inexpensive computers doing much of the work of the larger ma­chines started the “revolution”. Transistors reduced size and power consumption and further increased reliability and speed of operation.

Computers have been around for many years, but it is the development of large-scale integrated circuits (LSICs), however, that hаs let the computer affect everyone’s life. They have been one of the dominant factors in the growth of electronics. Without them we would not have so much capability in so little space. Integrated circuits (IC) gave us further improvements, and LSICs put the computer into general public’s hands. Large-scale integration has actually been able to put a complete computer on a single IC. These ICs are called microprocessors, and when combined with input and output devices, are called microcomputers. Now we encounter the microcomputer daily. The computer can be programmed to do almost any task involving decisions and actions.

Notes

ENIAC – Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator; computer makers kept stuffing more into their products – изготовители компьютеров продолжали укомплектовывать свою продукцию все более сложными элементами; complicated – сложный.

UNIT 2. HARDWARE