Development Of Digital Computer

Question: Discuss about a essay on Development of Digital Computer? Answer: Computer is that electronic device which has the capability of receiving large sets of complex instructions, collectively known as program, in order to perform meticulous calculations using these instructions. The programs are made to run on specific sets of data carried or are compiled and/ or on and then carry out this program by performing calculations on numerical data or by compiling and/ or correlated on other sets of information. The present day world runs is extensively dependent on computers: and the achievement that is being perceived in various domains of technology would not have been possible without the help of computers. In todays world of excessive computer dependency, computers are being put to use in each and every aspect of our day to day activities: however, in the initial days the computers were designed in such forms that they could be utilized to perform specific tasks only. The phrase computing machine was first put into use in the 20s: t that point of time the word indicated towards a machine that could be effectively used so as to perform calculations on numerical values using mathematical methods. During that very phase, the renowned English mathematician Charles Babbage started designing the Analytical Engine, which later on became the frame work based on which the digital computers operate (Dyson). Needless to say, Professor Babbage is considered as the father of modern day computers. Digital computers are considered to have evolved through three generations, the details of which are being discussed in the following section: The First generation: (1937 to 1946) The Atanasoff-Berry Computer or the ABC was the first ever developed digital electronic computer. The first model was built by Clifford Berry and Dr. John V. Atanasoff in the year 1937, and the machine itself was named after them. Almost six years later, yet another digital electronic computer were built for the military and the machine was named as Colossus. Various other researches were being conducted in this field: however, in the year 1946, the first ever computer made for general purposes was successfully built. This particular machine was the most powerful computing device of that time, in spite of the fact that it weighed as much as 30 tons and had to use a huge number of vacuum tubes: as many as 18,000, which facilitated the function of processing. This electronic digital computer was known as known as the ENIAC or the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (Frauenfelder). Computers of the first generation had no operating system and thus had no ability to perform multiple tasks: they were custom designed to perform a single task only. The Second generation: (1947 to 1962) In the next generation of digital electronic computers, the vacuum tubes that were used in the previous generation to perform the task of processing were replaced with transistors, in order to make the machines even more reliable. It was during this period, that the direction of the researches being conducted changed: the process of commercialization of computing devices became the trending research topic in this domain. At last, in the year 1951, the first commercialized digital electronic computers introduced in public. These machines were known as the UNIVAC 1 or Universal Automatic Computer 1 (Goldsmith and Jackson). In the year 1953, IBM introduced their first personalized computing devices, that were marketed under the brand names IBM 650 series and the IBM 700 series. The computer of this generation was the first to have operating systems and memory systems. The concept of storage media had also evolved during this phase, and various media like that of disks, tapes were introduced in the market, along with printers that were used to print outputs. Needless to say, that it was in this very generation that various computer languages were being designed and developed. Third generation: (1963 to present) The major change that was perceived in this generation was the change in size of the machines: the machines became smaller and smaller in size, all thanks to the invention of ICs. In this generation only, both IBM and Apple launched their personal computers and in the 90s, Microsoft launched their operating systems (Copeland). The digital electronic computers are still being remodeled and rebuilt in order to achieve much more efficiency in performance. The present day world is entirely dependent on the digital computers for all the daily chores and activities. References: Copeland, B. Jack. 'The Modern History Of Computing'.Plato.stanford.edu. N.p., 2000. Web. 8 July 2015. Dyson, George.Turing's Cathedral. New York: Pantheon Books, 2012. Print. Frauenfelder, Mark.The Computer. London: Carlton, 2013. Print. Goldsmith, Mike, and Tom Jackson.Computer. New York: DK Publishing, 2011. Print.