History of computers and their effects
Desktop computers or “desk tops”, laptops and tablets have become such an important part of daily life that it can be difficult to remember a time in which they did not exist. Actually, computers are still relatively new. Although they have been in use technically since the invention of abacus, approximately 5,000 years ago, it is modern computers that have had the greatest and deepest effect on society. In 1944 the first full -size digital computer was developed in history. Called Mark I, it was used only for simple calculations and weighed approximately five tons. Despite its limited size and capacity, it was the first of many technological innovations that would initiate subsequent development generations that would transport us to the "information age".
First generation computers were very different from the computers we know, both in appearance and in performance. The first generation of computers took place between 1940 and 1956 and were machines of an extremely large size. At that stage, the internal operation of computers was less sophisticated. Those first equipment required magnetic drums for memory and vacuum tubes that functioned as switches and amplifiers. The main responsible for the enormous size of the machines and the considerable amounts of heat that released were the vacuum tubes. These computers produced so much heat that were regularly overheated despite the large cooling units they had installed. First generation computers made use of a very basic programming language that is known as machine language. But, it ceased to be used by the complex of its execution, being eventually replaced by other simpler application languages, capable of reducing the possibility of making mistakes.
The second generation of computers managed to reduce its size by several tons by replacing vacuum tubes with transistors. Change allowed them to use less electricity, as well as generate less heat. Therefore, second generation computers were considerably faster than their predecessors. Transistor computers also developed central memory they used together with magnetic storage. The most sophisticated high-level languages such as Cobol (Common Business-Oriented Language) and Fortran (Translator Formula) entered into common use and have expanded to this day. These languages replaced the binary and cryptic code with words, prayers and mathematical formulas, which made it much easier to program a computer thereafter.
From 1964 to 1971, computers evolved in terms of speed due to the implementation of integrated circuits. Integrated circuits, or semiconductor chips were a large number of miniature transistors packed in silicon chips. This not only increased the speed of computers, but also made them much smaller, powerful and less expensive. In addition, instead of perforated cards and impressions of the previous systems, keyboards and monitors now allowed people to interact with computer machines "personal". The use of an operating system that allowed the machines to execute many different programs at the same time with a central program that monitored and coordinated the computer memory was another third generation development.
The innovations with the greatest impact on the history of computers occurred from 1971 to 2010. During this period, technology was developed to a point where manufacturers could place millions of transistors in a single circuit chip. This encapsulation was known as monolithic integrated circuit technology. The manufacture of the Intel 4004 chip was also announced, the first commercially available microprocessor in 1971. Its production introduced the personal computers industry we currently know. In the mid -1970s, personal computers, such as the Altair 8800 model, were available for the public in kits format that required assembly by the user. At the end of the 70s and early 80. At the beginning of the 1990s, the advent of the most cost-efficient personal computers and their ability to create networks would eventually lead to the Internet.
During the fourth generation of computers the creation of even smaller computers, including laptops and hand devices. The user graphic interface, or GUI, was also invented for the same period. In addition, the speed of the memory and storage of the computer experienced important improvements. During this period the equipment developed for totally general, less expensive and much more reliable use arises. As computers generalized in the workplace, new ways to take advantage of their enormous potential were developed.
Computers have changed the world in many ways. In the future, computer users can expect even faster and faster computer technology. Fifth generation computing barely begins. Research in the fields of nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and quantum computing are being carried out. The objective of computer science during this period is to develop devices that respond to the entry of natural language and are able to learn and self-organize. Without a doubt, the effects of the social, economic and cultural revolution generated by the development of the personal computer will continue to be felt throughout the 21st century. And we will be part of the story.
Bibliographic references
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