Computer Technology History

The affects of technology on our society. After completing this lesson, you will know:

 The history of from the 1940s up to the present.  The future of computing.  The many ways in which computers are used in modern life.  How to make computers accessible to persons with disabilities.  How computers are used in business and education.

First Off…What are Computers?  A is an electronic device that receives data (input), processes data, stores data, and produces a result (output).

 Software is the instructions and/or programs that control the computer. Atanasoff-Berry Computer 1939

 The first computing machine to use electricity, vacuum tubes, binary numbers and capacitors was created.  The capacitors were in a rotating drum that held the electrical charge for the memory. History of Computing

1940s The first computers were built for breaking enemy codes in WWII

 The first all-electronic computer was developed during the 1940s. MARK series - 1944

 Howard Aiken and Grace Hopper designed the MARK series of computers at Harvard University. The MARK series of computers began with the Mark I in 1944. Imagine a giant roomful of noisy, clicking metal parts, 55 feet long and 8 feet high. The 5-ton device contained almost 760,000 separate pieces. Used by the US Navy for gunnery and ballistic calculations, the Mark I was in operation until 1959. Vacuum Tube

 The vacuum tube was used to amplify voice and music. However, the tubes consumed power, created heat, burned out quickly, and required high maintenance.

“Debugging”

 In the 1940s, computers were housed in buildings with no air conditioning. In the evening the researchers would leave the windows open to cool down the building and computers. “Debugging”

 The moths were attracted to the heat and lights and would get into the computers. It was common practice to get the bugs out of the computers every evening. This is how the phrase “debugging” came into being in the computer world. History of Computing

1950s  Invention of the transistor, resistor and the Integrated Circuit

 IBM 650 & 7000 series World’s Most Powerful Computer in 1954

 Faith Lillibridge at the NORC console: fifth floor, Columbia University Watson Lab, 612 West 115th Street NYC, Transistors

 The transistors were the first device designed to act both as a:  Transmitter: converting sound waves to electronic waves  Resistor: controlling electric current Integrated Circuit 1958 – 1959

 Integrated Circuit or Silicon Chip was invented by two separate inventors.  A single chip could contain the electronic circuitry of the entire computer. 1950s Key milestones in 1953

First released in 1953 with magnetic drum memory and priced at less than half a million dollars, the 650 was relatively cheap. History of Computing

1960s  DEC´s PDP-1  The IBM 1130  Hewlett-Packard entered the general purpose computer business

DEC´s PDP-1

 The precursor to the , DEC´s PDP-1 sold 50 for $120,000. It´s large scope intrigued early hackers at MIT, who wrote the first computerized video game, SpaceWar!

 First mini-computers from DEC and IBM The IBM 1130 (1965):

 The first IBM computer to rent for less than $1000 a month." Intended for use by scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. History of Computing

 1970s  Xerox Alto first Graphical User Interface (GUI) computer (1975)  MITS Altair first (1975)  Tandy/Radio Shack personal computer (1975)  Wozniak and Jobs design Apple I and II  1977 was the first hacker break in into a Columbia computer from the outside, and it went to court  1977-1978 First use of email at universities on a bulletin board system. Xerox Palo - the first work station Alto, with a built-in mouse 1973

 The Alto stored several files simultaneously in windows, offered menus and icons, and could link to a local area network.  Although Xerox never sold the Alto commercially, it gave a number of them to universities. Engineers later incorporated its features into work stations and personal computers. Commodore PET  The Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor or maybe rumored to be named after the "pet rock" fad) was designed by Chuck Peddle. It was first presented at the January, 1977, Winter Consumer Electronics Show and later at the West History of Computing

1980s

 IBM (1981) and DOS

 MAC (1984)

 “Portable” computers debut

IBM - 1980

 In July of 1980, IBM representatives met for the first time with Microsoft's Bill Gates to talk about writing an operating for IBM's new hush- hush "personal" computer 1984 – Macintosh 128k

 Released with much fanfare in January of 1984, the Macintosh was the first affordable computer to include a Graphical User Interface. History of Computing

 1990s  Personal computers improve dramatically

 Microsoft Windows 3.0 (1990)

 Internet and World Wide Web History of Computing

 2000s  High-speed Internet access  Instant messaging  Tablet PC  E-commerce  Security: viruses, worms, hacks, identity theft Computers of today are not only more compact, but efficient. Computer Accessories

Printers today can print, copy, scan and fax, as well as print directly from your digital camera. Accessible Technology

 Accessibility features: An and software with features that can be adjusted and customized to your own accessibility needs.  Assistive technology products: Designed to accommodate an individual’s disability or multiple disabilities.  Compatibility: An operating system and software compatible with a specific type of assistive technology product. Computer Technology and more…35 mm to Digital Motion picture cameras have made way for the video camera Land Line Telephones to Cell Phones Manual Cash Registers advances to computer technology With the continuing changes in technology, the tools we use for work, home and play will also change. These changes will impact businesses, employment and educational opportunities in our lives today and into the future. Did You Know…

Technology in today’s world is changing faster than education, industry and the labor market can keep up?

Information Technology Careers

 Hardware Engineer  Support Professional  Developer/Programmer  Software Tester  Systems Administrator  Database Administrator  Certified Professional Computers in Education

Language Arts Math and Science  Reading •Math  Writing •Biology  Art •Chemistry  Music •Ecology •Geology

Computers impact us everyday:

 Entertainment  Financial Transactions  Television & Movies  Telecommunications  Online commerce  Online conferencing  Transportation  Electronics & Appliances What does the future hold?

 In today’s world of technology, we are preparing people for careers and problems that don’t even exist yet… will you be ready?