The Evolution of Computing: From Babbage to ENIAC
Written on
The Birth of Computers
The invention of the computer, a pivotal development in the first half of the 20th century, has dramatically transformed our world. When did this revolution begin? Let's delve into the origins of the first computer.
The ABC Machine — [Photo: Steve Jurvetson from Menlo Park, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
While many innovations can be labeled as groundbreaking, few have reshaped our lives as significantly as computers. These machines, which many of us now take for granted, have transformed virtually every industry, streamlined information flow, and facilitated complex communication.
In fields such as work, science, entertainment, and communication, computers play an indispensable role. Today, it’s hard to envision life without the devices that manage every facet of our daily routines. Yet, the history of these remarkable machines is intricate and multifaceted. Who can truly claim the title of the inventor of the computer?
The Quest for the Inventor
The saying "success has many fathers" aptly describes the complex history of computers. Pinpointing a singular inventor is far more challenging than one might expect.
To address this question, we must journey back to the early 19th century. In 1837, Charles Babbage, an English engineer, mathematician, and astronomer, introduced a design for his groundbreaking invention—the analytical machine. This device was envisioned to process data and execute a variety of instructions.
The Science Museum display of Charles Babbage’s brain, designs and notes [Photo: Anders Sandberg from Oxford, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
Babbage's design aimed to separate the computational unit from memory storage, utilizing punched cards for data entry—an idea inspired by Joseph Jacquard. The machine was intended to employ conditional commands, loops, and parallel processing capabilities.
While the Analytical Machine could have been the first fully programmable computer, its realization was thwarted by a lack of funding, and the project remained incomplete until Babbage's death in 1871. Nevertheless, his visionary ideas profoundly influenced the creators of subsequent computers. Without his contributions, the timeline of technological advancement might have been drastically altered. Thus, it is fair to credit Charles Babbage as the forefather of all modern computers.
When Was the First Computer Created?
Although Babbage is recognized as a pioneer, he was not the sole architect of the first computer. Following his death, his son Henry continued work on a machine known as a mill and printer. However, this machine was standalone, capable of performing only four basic mathematical operations, and was not programmable.
So, when was the first computer actually developed? The breakthrough occurred in 1939 when John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry unveiled the ABC machine, or Atanasoff-Berry Computer. This table-sized device, composed of 270 electron tubes, could solve systems of linear algebraic equations.
[Photo: Ik T from Kanagawa, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
However, technically speaking, the ABC machine was not a fully functional computer. The reason it holds this title is due to developments in 1942 when John Presper Eckert and John William Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania began working on the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer).
The World’s First True Computer
ENIAC was the most sophisticated and innovative machine of its era. It comprised 17,500 electron tubes, occupied over 140 square meters, and weighed approximately 27 tons. With separate memory and arithmetic units, it facilitated parallel processing and complex calculations.
The machine's initial test run took place in 1945, followed by a public demonstration a year later. ENIAC was utilized at the Ballistic Research Laboratory for ballistic calculations for the U.S. military until 1955.
ENIAC — [Photo: Unidentified U.S. Army photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
Despite ENIAC being hailed as the first true computer, it cannot be formally designated as such since Eckert and Mauchly sold their patent to Sperry Rand, which subsequently imposed royalties on companies using its technology. In 1973, Honeywell contested the patent, leading to a court ruling that invalidated it based on similarities to the ABC design.
Beyond ENIAC and ABC
While it may seem clear who deserves credit for the first computer, the reality is more complex. In parallel with American scientists, British and German inventors were also developing early computing machines. Notably, the Colossus project and Zuse machines emerged during this time.
In 1943, Tommy Flowers, a telephone engineer, launched the Colossus Mark 1 to aid British intelligence in deciphering German codes. An improved version, Colossus Mark 2, followed shortly after. This significant advancement remained classified until the 1970s.
German engineer Konrad Zuse also contributed to early computing with his creations, the Z1, Z2, and Z3, which were operational between 1939 and 1941. The Zuse machines were instrumental in designing aircraft wings during World War II. The Z4, the final iteration, was completed between 1942 and 1945.
Z1 Zuse — [Photo: Klaus Nahr from Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
Thus, the history of computing is filled with twists and turns. However, most experts agree that the title of the first fully functional computer belongs not to the Zuse machines, Colossus, or ABC, but to ENIAC, which was publicly introduced on February 14, 1946.
Reprogramming ENIAC — [Photo: Unidentified U.S. Army photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
The First Computer Mouse
The invention of the computer mouse, an essential tool for personal computer operation, has military origins.
In 1946, Ralph Benjamin, an operator in the British Navy’s Command and Coordination System, developed a data input controller resembling a trackball, which he named the "roller ball." Although he patented it in 1947, it never reached commercial markets.
In 1952, Kenyon Taylor, a British electronics engineer, created an advanced version called DATAR (Digital Tracking And Resolving), which utilized four wheels for movement detection. Like its predecessor, this invention was initially designed for military use and did not make it to the commercial realm.
The modern concept of the computer mouse emerged in 1963, thanks to Douglas Engelbart. Working at the Stanford Research Institute, he designed a device with two wheels arranged perpendicularly. The prototype, developed with Bill English, was completed in 1964 and was dubbed the "mouse" due to the wire resembling a rodent's tail. Engelbart filed a patent in 1967 and revealed the finished product the following year.
Bill English, engineer who built the first computer mouse prototype — [Photo: SRI International, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
The First Computer Game
While many primarily use computers for work, their potential for entertainment, especially gaming, should not be overlooked. The first recognized computer game, "Spacewar!", was developed in 1962, with Steve Russell as its main creator.
This two-player game involved controlling spaceships orbiting a star and attempting to shoot down opponents. Despite its simplicity, the challenge increased as proximity to the star intensified gravitational forces.