The History And Future Of Computers

The History and Future of Computers


Tim Gash

CRS-07

Mr. Drohan

January 31, 1997


     With the advances in computer technology it is now possible for more and

more Canadians to have personal computers in their homes.  With breakthroughs in

computer processing speeds and with computer storage capacity, the combination

of this with the reduced size of the computer have allowed for even the smallest

apartment to hold a computer.  In the past the only places to have computers

were military institutes and some universities; this was because of their

immense size and price.  Today with falling computer prices and the opportunity

to access larger networks, the amount of computers has grown from just 10% in

1986 to 25% in 1994.  Also, of the 25%, 34% of them were equipped with modems,

which allow for connection to on line services via telephone lines.

     The primitive start of the computer came about around 4000 BC; with the

invention of the abacus, by the Chinese.  It was a rack with beads strung on

wires that could be moved to make calculations.  The first digital computer is

usually accredited to Blaise Pascal.  In 1642 he made the device to aid his

father, who was a tax collector.  In 1694 Gottfried Leibniz improved the machine

so that with the rearrangement of a few parts it could be used to multiply.  The

next logical advance came from Thomas of Colmar in 1890, who produced a machine

that could perform all of the four basic operations, addition, subtraction,

multiplication and division.  With the added versatility this device was in

operation up until the First World War.

     Thomas of Colmar made the common calculator, but the real start of

computers as they are known today comes from Charles Babbage.  Babbage designed

a machine that he called a Difference Engine.  It was designed to make many long

calculations automatically and print out the results.  A working model was built

in 1822 and fabrication began in 1823.  Babbage works on his invention for 10

years when he lost interest in it. His loss of interest was caused by a new idea

he thought up.  The Difference Engine was limited in adaptability as well as

applicability.  The new idea would be a general purpose, automatic mechanical

digital computer that would be fully program controlled.  He called this the

Analytical Engine.  It would have Conditional Control Transfer Capability so

that commands could be inputted in any order, not just the way that it had been

programmed.  The machine was supposed to use punch cards which were to be read

into the machine from several reading stations.  The machine was supposed to

operate automatically by steam power and only require one person there to

operate it.  Babbages machines were never completed for reasons such as, non-

precise machining techniques, the interest of few people and the steam power

required for the devices was not readily available.

     The next advance in computing came from Herman Hollerith and James Powers.

They made devices that wer
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