The history of computers and computing: Part I

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The history of computers and computing Part I
A short talk on some early computing devices and
the people behind those inventions
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The abacus

• Not just a childs toy!
• A skilled abacus operator can be faster than the
  operator of a mechanical calculating machines.
• Origins forgotten over time

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Abacuses from different parts of the world
Pictures from the History of Computing Technology
by Michael R. Williams
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Gunters quadrant

• Devised by Dr. Edmund Gunter in the 16th century
• Used calculation, navigation and sun dialling.

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The Sector

• Developed in the 17th century
• Used by artillerists to operate and fire cannons

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Napiers Bones

• Used to perform various mathematical functions
  (multiplication, square and cube roots)
• Also known as numbering rods, multiplying rulers,
  speaking rods

Picture from the History of Computing Technology
by Michael R. Williams
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Pascals and his calculating machines

• A self made philosopher and mathematician
• Developed almost 50 different calculating machines

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Internal mechanisms of Pascals machine
Picture from the History of Computing Technology
by Michael R. Williams
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Leibnizs multiply machine

• He expanded the original concepts in Pascals
  calculating machine (multiplication)

Leibnizs machine
Internal workings
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Charles Babbage

• Often referred to as the grandfather of the
  computer age
• Another wild self taught mathematician
• Absolutely brilliant!
• Member of many academic organizations

e.g. Member of the Extractors (Rules)
1) Every member must communicate his address to
the Secretary at least once every six months.
2) If this communication was delayed beyond 12
months, it would be taken for granted that his
relatives had shut him up as insane.
3)Every effort legal and illegal shall be made to
get him out of the madhouse (hence the term
extractors.
4) Every candidate for admission shall produce
six certificates to be kept on file three that
he is sane and three that he is not.
Quotes from the History of Computing Technology
by Michael R. Williams
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History of Babbages Difference Engine

• Designed to complete many mathematical functions
• Cost 184,000 (1842 currency rates)
• But it was never finished

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Woodcut of Babbages Difference Engine
Picture from the History of Computing Technology
by Michael R. Williams
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Modern construction of the Difference Engine
The simplified version was huge and
complicated 10 high x 6 long with 4000 parts
and weighing in at 3 tons
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The Bell Complex Number Calculator
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The Harvard Mark I
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John Atanasoff, Clifford Berry, and the ABC
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The ENIAC
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The Enigma
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The first SPC
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Early Super Computers The Stretch
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Summary (important points)

• How do perform basic mathematical operations
  (addition, subtraction and multiplication in
  different bases)
• Binary
• Octal
• Hexadecimal