Evolution of Computers

 

 

Some of the early calculating machines are as follows :-

 

1.    Abacus:-It was the first calculating machine invented in the 3000BC in China to count large numbers and perform simple calculations like addition or subtraction.

Abacus

2.    Napier’s Bones:-In 1616,Sir John Napier made this calculating device for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of numbers. It had a multiplication table inscribed on strips of wood or carved bones.

Napier’s Bones

3.    Pascaline :-In 1641, Blaise Pascal invented one of the first mechanical computers called the Pascaline. It consisted of a box with eight movable wheels. Calculations on numbers as big as hundreds and thousands could be easily done with it.

Pascaline

4.    Difference Engine :-In the 19^th century, Charles Babbage invented a machine called the Difference Engine to prepare mathematical tables. He also invented the first general purpose computer known as the Analytical Engine, which had some basic elements as the modern computers- input, output and memory devices. 

Difference Engine