computing through the ages :: essays research papers fc

Computing Through the AgesThats whats cool ab pop out working with computers. They dont argue, they remember everything and they dont drink all your beer, (Paul Leary). From the Abacus (16th century counting devise) to the laptop, auto computing has always been a desire for us servicemans. We are lazy, and we like to take the easy way out of problem solving. This is why we pay so much for someone, or something to do the work for us. Hence the computer. Were going to start with the use of electricity in computing, before then many non electric devises were used, but none fitted of what we started using in the 1940s. just now we must remember that no computer ever is better at problem solving then the human brain. The human brain is up to one million times better than our most capable of computers. Ok, back to when the modern computer was taking shape. It was during the war and we needed a place to store information, and a way to do it. Tests were being made on a way to keep data. In 1945 punched paper rolls took the lead. charge a look at image 1-1 and 1-2. This was the most common type of data storage until magnified drums started becoming popular in the early 1950s. These were stupendous metal cylinders that were magnified in certain spots this was the first digital data Devise. If it was magnified it was a 1 and if not, it was a 0. This is the computer formula (binary code), and it is still used on todays computers. A. 01000001.B. 01000010.C. 01000011. D. 01000100. E. 01000101.F. 01000110.G. 01000111.H. 01001000. But letters were not used in the common computers until the first word processor which came out in the early 1970s, this was called WordStar-. Earlier in the 60s computers were reduced in size to where only four people were needed to run it, this was a major breakthrough. Sounds impressive? Not really. But keep in mind now-a-days computers are one million times faster and more versatile than they were in the early 60s, literally. When the fir st computer came out that could add, subtract, multiply and divide. People thought that we had reached the end of inventions there is nothing more that can be invented. But we say wow, its just a common calculator but actually it wasnt, it was much worse than our common calculators that we can buy at the local anesthetic dollar store.