The History Of Computers :: essays research papers

The History of Computers     A ready reckoner is a machine built to do turn calculations with speed,reliability, and ease, greatly simplifying processes that without them would bea much longer, more drawn out process.     Since their introduction in the 1940s. Computers have become animportant part of the world. Besides the systems be in offices, and homes,microcomputers are now used in everyday locations such as automobiles, aircrafts,telephones, and kitchen appliances.     Computers are used for education as well, as stated by Rourke Guides inhis book, Computers Computers are used in schools for scoring examinationpapers, and grades are sometimes recorded and kept on computers (Guides 7).     "The original idea of a computer came from Blaise Pascal, who inventedthe first digital calculating machine in 1642. It performed only additions ofnumbers entered by dials and was intended to help Pascals f ather, who was a taxcollector" (Buchsbaum 13).     However, in 1671, Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented a computer thatcould not only add but, multiply. Multiplication was quite a step to be takenby a computer because until then, the only topic a computer could do was add.The computer multiplied by successive adding and shifting (Guides 45).     Perhaps the first actual computer was made by Charles Babbage. Heexplains himself rather well with the following quote     "One evening I was sitting in the rooms of the Analytical Society atCambridge with a put over full of logarithms lying open before me. Another membercoming into the room, and seeing me half asleep called out, Well Babbage, whatare you dreaming about?, to which I replied, I am thinking that all thesetables might be calculated by machinery"(Evans 41).     "The first general purpose computer was invented in 1871 by CharlesB abbage, unspoilt before he died"(Evans 41). It was still a prototype of course,but it was a beginning.     Around this time, there was little or no interest in the teaching ofcomputers. People feared, due to the lack of their knowledge, that computerswould take over everything and run their lives (Buchsbaum 9).     If only these 18th century Americans, who were ignorant to the necessityof computers, would have known the many benefits they were wanting out on, theywould have more readily funded individuals such as Charles Babbage.     As Glossbrenner states in The Complete Handbook of Personal Computers,