Evolution of computers - DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, …Computers are used in almost all the places nowadays. Over the years, computers have gone through many changes in their size, speed,

Abacus

Fact boxThe word 'abacus' is takenfrom a Greek word 'abax',which means 'flat surface'.

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Evolution of computersAt $e end of this lesson, students witl be able to describer earty calcutating devices r generations of computers r future of computers r UPes of computers

r draracteristics of computers

Computers are used in almost all the places nowadays. Over the years, computers

have gone through many changes in their size, speed, appearance and technologies.

A computer is a device that can do calculations in a very fast and accurate manner.

Let us learn about the history of calculating devices.

Ea rly calculating devicesln early times, people used f ingers, stones and

bones for calculations.

Later, the Chinese developed the Abacus which

helped in counting large numbers.

It was made up of a wooden frame with rods.

F-ach rod had a definite number of beads. The

abacus was the first calculating device. lt was mainly

used by merchants and traders who needed to count

the items they sold or bought. lt was also used to

perform basic calculations such as addition, subtraction,

multiplication and division.

Further developments led to the invention of

different machines for calculations.

Nnpier's banes: Napier's bones was invented

by ,Iohn Napier in t6t7. lt consisted of rectangular

rods made up of bone, ivory, wood or metal.

These rectangular rods had numbers written

on them. Napier's bones was mainly used for

multiplication.

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Pascaline calculator: The Pascaline calculator was developed

by Blaise Pascal in 't642. lt was a rectangular box. Numbers

were displayed on the rotating wheels. lt was mainly

developed for accounting purposes. The first Pascaline could

handle only 5-digit numbers, but later versions were able to

handle 6- and 8-digit numbers as well.

Difference engine: The difference engine was

designed by Charles Babbage in r8zz.

It was designed to do mathematical operations

automatically. lt was one of the earliest

automatic calculators.

Analytical engine: The analytical engine was

developed by Charles Babbage in 1837. lt was a

new kind of mechanica! computer that could solve

complex calculations including multiplication and

division. The basic parts of the analytical engine

resembled the comPonents of a simple computer

system. lt had five units input, output, store, mill

and control.

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Fact boxCharles Babbage is considered the 'Father of Computers' afterhis invention and concept of Analytical Engine. The mill was

similar to a modern computer's CPU. lt executed the operations

on values retrieved from the store, which we would consider

memory. lt was the world's first general-purpose computer.

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Generations of computersThe computer has evolved from a large-sized simple calculating machine to a smaller

but much more powerful machine. Computers are *ffiE into five generations.

Each generation used a different technology. Let us discuss the characteristics of each

generation.

First generation computers (1 940 -1 958)A They used vacuum tubes.

Lo They used punch cards for input and output of data.

a They calculated data in milliseconds.

A They were very large in size but had small storage capacity.

Lo They were slow in speed.

Lo They consumed a large amount of energy.

Examples: ENIAC and UNIVAC.

The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical

lntegrator and Calculator) was the

first electronic computer developed by

). Eckert and ). Mauchly in 1946.

Wow! Here'sthe first

general-purposeelectronic

Vacuum tubes

computer.

The UNIVAC (Universal AutomaticComputer) was the first commercially

available computer developed by

J. Eckert and ). Mauchly in 1951.

UNIVACcontained

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UNIVAC

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tubes!

!fi!! arranged in classes or categories

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Second generation comPuters (1959-1963){g They were smaller in size than the first generation computers.

A They used transistors instead of vacuum tubes.

g1 They used punch cards and magnetic tapes for input and output of data

{t They were faster, cheaper and more efficient than the first generation

computers.

Q They could calculate data in microseconds.

Lo They were costly and could be used only for specific Purposes.

Examples: IBM 1401, RCA 5o1, Honeyruell 2oo.

IBM r4ot RCA 5ot

Third generation computers (1954-1 970),o They used lntegrated Circuits (lcs) in place of transistors.

An lC is also called a chip and may contain thousands of

transistors.,,r They used keyboard for input of data and monitor for its output.

,O They were smaller, faster, cheaper and more efficient than the

Transistor

lntegrated circuits

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early computers. Hence, they were made available to the general public.

Examples: IBM 36o, Apple 1, lCL 19oo.

IBM 360 Apple t

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Fourth generation computers 11971-present)o They are more powerful and reliable than the previous generation computers.. They use microprocessors. Microprocessors are Very Large Scale

Integrated (VLSI) circuits which contain many lCs on a single chip.. They use keyboard, mouse, scanner and so on of data; and

monitor, printer, speakers and so on for its output.o They have high storage capacity.. They are much smaller, faster and the cheapest among all the Microprocessor

generations.

Examples: IBM PC, Apple Macintosh, HP 9ooo.

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The first integratedcircuit was

developed in the1950s by Jack Kitby

and Robert Noyce.

Jack Kitby Robert Noyce

Apple Macintosh

Fifth generation computers (present-future)The fifth generation computers are still under development. They are expected to have

the following capabilities.. Use of super large-scale

integrated chips. Artif icial intelligence,

a technology that enables

a computer to thinklike humans and perform

human - like tasks such as voice

recognition, decision- making,

and translation between

Ianguagesp Ability to recognize image Robots use artificial intelligence (At).

and voice

t Ability to solve complex problems including decision-making and logical reasoning

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Let us have a quick recap of all the five generations of computers.

Tick (f) ttre correct answer.

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1. To which generation does the ENIAC belong?

b. Second

2. The abacus was first developed in

a. Australia. _ b. China.

which of the following was used as an input devica.a. Keyboard

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b. punch card -{

c. Third

c. America

in second generation computers?

c. Touchscreen

Generation Technology lnput/Output Main characteristics Examples

First(tg4o-1958)

Vacuum tubes Punch cards Slow in speed

Required lot of power

Very large in size

Very expensive

ENIAC,

UNIVAC

Second

(rgsg-1g(ca)Transistors Punch cards

Magnetic tapesSmaller, faster and

cheaperIBM 1401,

RCA 5olThird(rg6t+-197o)

lntegrated

circuits (Chips)Keyboard for inputMonitor for output

. Smaller, faster and

cheaper. lncreased storage

capacity. Available to general

public

IBM 360,Apple l

Fourth(rglr-present)

High storage capacity

Could process millionsof instructions in a

second

Keyboard, mouse,

scanner and so onfor input; monitor,printer, speakers

and so on foroutput

Microprocessors IBM PC,

Apple

macintosh

Fifth(Present-

future)

Use super large-scaleintegrated chips

Ability to think likehumans

Ability to recogn ize

image a nd voice

RobotsArtif icia I

intelligenceTouchscreen, voice

recognition

Class ACTMTY

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Types of computersComputers are classified into four types on the basis of their performance and capacity.

SupercomputersSupercomputers have the best processing speed and are also the most expensive.

They are considered to be the most powerful computers. They are used for weatherforecasting, nuclear energy research, earthquake studies, space research and so on.Examples: PARAM, PRITHVI.

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Fact boxPARAM Sooo

is considered tobe lndia's firstsupercomputer.

It was builtin 1ggo.

A supercomputer

Mainframe computersMainframe computers can also process data at a very high speed and they are also

quite expensive. They can be used by more than hundred users at a time.Example: IBM Z series.

MinicomputersMinicomputers are less advanced as compared to the mainframe computers in termsof speed and storage capacity. They are also less expensive than the mainframecomputers. They are used by small businesses and firms.Example: PDP-ll.

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A mainframe computer A minicomputer

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MicrocomputersMicrocompute6 are small in size and less expensive, They are also called personal

computers as they are designed for personal use' Microcomputers are specially

designed for general use like entertainment, education and office work. some manufacturers

of microcomputers are Dell, Apple, HP and lBM. MicrocomPuters are of various tyPes.

Desktop comPuters are

large and are usuallY

placed on a desk.

Laptops are smaller than a

desktop computer and can

be placed on the laP of a

person.

Tablets and PalmtoPsare smaller than laPtoPs

and can be carried

along easily.

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Characteristics of a comPuter. Accuracy: lt never gives wrong result if the input and instructions are correct'

. Speed: lt can perform huge calculations very quickly'

o Diligence: lt does not get tired or bored like humans. lt can work for hours doing

the same job.

o High storage: lt can store a large amount of data and information for future use

which can be retrieved easilY.

. versatility: lt can perform different tasks, so it is used at different places for

different kinds of work.. Multitasking: lt can do multiple things at the same time'

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Match the columns.

'r. IBM Z series

2. PARAM

3. DELL

4. PDP- ll

a. MicrocomPuter

b. Mainframe comPuter

c. MinicomPuter

d. SupercomPuter

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ACTIVITY

Limitations of a computero lt does not work on its own but requires a set of instructions.o lt needs to be instructed about each and every step it has to perform.I lt cannot take decisions on its own.

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' ln early times, people used fingers, stones and bones for calculations. Later, the abacuswas developed as the first calculating device.

.., Charles Babbage is considered as the father of computers.

' computers are classified into five generations, each generation having some distinctcharacteristics.

. The first generation computers used vacuum tubes, the second generation computers usedtransistors, the third generation computers used lcs, the fourth generation computersuse microprocessors and the fifth generation computers are expected to use artificialintelligence.

. Artificial intelligence is the technology that enables a computer to think like humans' and perform human-like tasks such as voice recognition, decision-making and translation

between languages..,'

computers are claisified into four types based on their performance and capacity -supercomputers, mainframe computers, minicomputers and microcomputers.

Microcomputers are further classified into desktop computers, laprops, palmtops and tablets.

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A. Tick (/) the correct answer.

1. Which is the first calculating device? -/a. Difference engine

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b. Abacus V2. lnto how many generations are computers cJassified?

a. Four b. Five '/3. Fourth generation computers use

a. artificial intelligence.

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c. microprocessors . -dDesktop computers, Iaptopsr^

a. microcomputers . -/

c. Pascaline

-c. Six

--b. integrated circuits. _

palmtops and tablets are categories ofb. supercomputers c. minicomputers.

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RECAP CORNER

ar IrEXERCI CORNER

4.

+,^*g ^hJB. Write T for True or F for False.

[,*'r. The analytical engine consists of only pnto units input.and mill.

on computers used transistors.

computers use i

4. Minicomputers are more expensive than su mputers.

5. A computer can take decisions on its own.

C. Name the foltowing.

t. The first calculating device

2. The first automatic calculating device

3. The first electronic computer

4. The first commercially available computer

5. lndia's first supercomputer

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2. Second generati/

3. Fifth generation

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D. Answer these questions.

r. Write a short note on the history of calculating devices.

z. Write the full forms of ENIAC and UNIVAC.

3. What are the characteristics of second generation computers?

4. Name the devices used for input and output processes in four.th generation computers.

5. Write two examples and uses of supercomputers.

6. Write short notes on the following:

a. Abacus b. Artificial lntelligence c. Microcomputers

E. Discuss. fEDiscuss in which fields can robots be used? fu a fifth generation scientist, what qualitieswould you want to have in your personal robot?

@Do the following activities.

r. Make a PowerPoint presentation on 'Top to Supercomputers of the World'. You can takehelp from the lnternet or other books and magazines to collect the relevant information.

z. Make a timeline of the history of computers on a chart paper. You can collect picturesof various computers and paste them as required.

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