History of computing

on

🖥️ GK: History of Computing

🏛️ Ancient to Mechanical Era

  • Abacus (c. 2700–2300 BCE): One of the earliest tools for calculation, used in ancient Mesopotamia and China.

  • Antikythera Mechanism (c. 100 BCE): Ancient Greek analog computer used to predict astronomical positions.

  • Pascaline (1642): Mechanical calculator invented by Blaise Pascal.

  • Leibniz Calculator (1673): Stepped Reckoner by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz could perform all four arithmetic operations.



⚙️ 19th Century

  • Charles Babbage: Designed the Difference Engine and Analytical Engine — considered the "Father of the Computer".

  • Ada Lovelace: Wrote the first algorithm intended for a machine; known as the first computer programmer.

🔌 Early 20th Century

  • Alan Turing (1936): Developed the concept of a Turing Machine — foundational for modern computing theory.

  • Konrad Zuse (1938): Built the Z3 — regarded as the first programmable digital computer.

💡 1940s–1950s: First Generation Computers

  • ENIAC (1945): First general-purpose electronic computer.

  • UNIVAC I (1951): First commercial computer in the U.S.

🖨️ 1960s–1970s: Second & Third Generations

  • Second Generation: Transistors replaced vacuum tubes.

  • Third Generation: Use of integrated circuits (ICs).

  • IBM System/360 (1964): Revolutionized business computing.

🧠 1980s–1990s: Personal Computers

  • Apple II (1977) and IBM PC (1981): Made computing accessible to individuals and businesses.

  • Windows 95: Popularized GUI-based personal computing.

🌐 2000s–Now: Internet & Mobile Age

  • Rise of the Internet, smartphones, cloud computing, and AI.

  • Major tech companies: Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, etc.