First Mechanical Computer The Difference Engine No. 2 to
Charles Babbages design. Charles Babbage is credited with designing
the first computer(s), which were mechanical. (this image is a
substitute for a lower quality image from
http://www.powersolution.com/ 1822-babbage-designs-a-
mechanical-computer/http://www.powersolution.com/
1822-babbage-designs-a- mechanical-computer/) Picture credits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diff erence_engine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diff erence_engine
Slide 3
Computers Part One Computers can be defined as machines to
perform calculations. The first computers were not electrical, but
mechanical. Charles Babbage (in 1822) designs a mechanical computer
called the Difference Engine. This prototype is never completed,
though he designed a No. 2 which was made in the years
1989-91.
Slide 4
Charles Babbage Born in 1791 Died in 1871 During his life, he
designed two mechanical computers, No. 2 which returned results of
up to 31 digits. Often said he was born a century early. Picture
credits: http://www.oldcomputers.arcula.c o.uk/hist3.htm
http://www.oldcomputers.arcula.c o.uk/hist3.htm
Slide 5
ENIAC It is well known that the first American computer was
ENIAC, and not many know of its British relative of the time. (At
least, to Americans.) ENIAC was an electronic digital computer and
took up around and over 1800 square feet of floor space. ENIAC was
built between 1943 and 1945 and worked until a lightning strike in
1955. (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer)
Computer types There are ten types of computers. PCA computer
designed for use of a single person (personal computer). DesktopA
personal computer not designed to be portable. LaptopPortable
computers that contain mousepad, keyboard, screen and processor.
NetbookA smaller, cheaper, but less powerful relation to laptops.
PDAA personal digital assistant is a tiny computer relying on a
touchscreen and, usually, flash memory. WorkstationA desktop
computer with more memory, a more powerful processor, and other
enhancements to perform specific tasks for a group. ServerA
computer for the express purpose of providing services to other
computers on a network, usually with increased processor power,
expanded memory and large hard drives. MainframeMore often known as
an enterprise server, these computers may even nowadays take up
rooms from there size, and have huge powers of memory, processors,
hard drives, the works. SupercomputerThese are, as the name may
suggest, super, and cost from hundreds to thousands to even
millions of dollars; while some are actually single computer
systems, most are composed of multiple high-performance computers
working as a single system. Cray Supercomputers is the builder of
the best known supercomputers. WearableComputers that are worn as
clothing, watches, glasses, and cellular devices
Slide 8
Cray Supercomputer Example This type of computer you could hug,
and not be able to reach all sides. These are probably around seven
to eight feet tall. Picture from:
http://nuclearstreet.com/images/img/cr ayxt5.jpg
http://nuclearstreet.com/images/img/cr ayxt5.jpg
Slide 9
Uses for Computers today Near-instant communication Gaming Fast
researching References Using maps and map-making Business decisions
Calculations Television and movie watching And yet more.
Slide 10
Affects of Computers Affects of computers today includes social
contact becoming less, but people are getting a larger social
experience even so. Other affects are finer computer- guided
technologies, the ability to put things on other planets
successfully, to stream shows on TV, to instant contact all over
the world.
Slide 11
The End Credits:
http://homepage.cs.uri.edu/faculty/wolfe/book/Readings/Reading03.htm
http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/?year=1939
http://inventors.about.com/library/blcoindex.htm
http://www.computerhistory.org/babbage/
http://www.powersolution.com/1822-babbage-designs-a-mechanical-computer/
http://www.oldcomputers.arcula.co.uk/hist3.htm
http://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/birth-of-the-computer/4/78
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computinghistory/eniac.html
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/10-types-of-computers.htm#page=0
http://nuclearstreet.com/images/img/crayxt5.jpg