Fundamentals of Computer > Introduction to Computer & Computer System > Historical Evolution of Computers
Mark-I: First Digital Computer
Mark-I was the first fully automatic calculating machine which was designed by Howard A. Aiken of Harvard University, in collaboration with IBM (International Business Machines) Corporation in 1937.
- It was an electro-mechanical device, since both mechanical and electronic components were used in its design.
- It measured 15 m long, 2.4 m high, and 0.6 m wide.
- The input and output were performed by punched cards and paper tapes.
- It could automatically perform a sequence of arithmetic operations.
Mark-I was capable of performing 5 basic arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and table reference.
Limitations:
Although this machine proved to be extremely reliable, it was very complex in design and huge in size. This machine was very slow as compared to today’s computers.
ABC Computer: First Automatic Electronic Digital Computer
The Atanasoff Berry Computer, later named the ABC, was built at Iowa State University from 1939-1942 by physics professor Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff and his graduate student, Clifford Berry.
- It is used to solve certain mathematical linear equations.
- It was called the ABC, after its inventor’s name and his assistant, Clifford Berry.
The ENIAC: First Electronic Computer
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) was the first all electronic computer.
- It was constructed at the Moore School of Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania, USA by a design team lead by Professor J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly in 1946.
Purpose:
- ENIAC was developed for military purpose, and was used for many years to solve ballistic problems (i.e for calculating the trajectories of missiles).
Limitations:
- A major drawback of ENIAC was that its programs were wired on boards, which made it difficult to change the programs.
- It also needed much power and produced more heat and hence needed to be water cooled.
EDSAC: 1st Stored Program Electronic Computer
To overcome the problem found in the ENIAC, the EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator) was designed using stored program concept.
- This machine was developed at the Mathematical Laboratory of Cambridge University under the leadership of Professor Maurice Wilkes.
(John Von Neumann was the first who introduced the stored program concept in a computer).
- As a general purpose computer, EDSAC was used to solve a differential equation relating to gene frequencies, to discover a 79-digit prime. It was also used in modular arithmetic.
UNIVAC: First Commercially Produced Computer
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) was the first computer that was commercially available for general purpose. This computer could process numeric as well as alphanumeric data.
- UNIVAC was designed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly (designers of the ENIAC) using vacuum tubes (a vacuum tube is an electronic switching device in which filament is used as a source of electrons. It had a limited time and produced much heat).
The first UNIVAC was installed in the Census Bureau of USA in 1951 and was used continuously for ten years.
- Later, many UNIVAC machines were produced such as UNIVAC II, and III with various models, such as the 418, 490, 491, 1100, 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105, 1106, 1107, and 1108. Many of these models were only owned by a few companies or government agencies.