Evolution of Computing Devices
The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), developed in the early 1940s, was the first electronic general-purpose computer. It consisted of 18,000 vacuum tubes, which acted as electronic switches. The system was arranged in a U-shape around the perimeter of a room, with 42 panels, each measuring 9 feet by 2 feet by 1 foot. To keep the machine cool, a forced air-cooling system was used.
- The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) is recognized as the first digital electronic computer, though it was not programmable. It was designed and built in 1937 by John Vincent Atanasoff, with the assistance of Clifford E. Berry.
- In 1941, German inventor Konrad Zuze created the Z3, the first fully automatic, programmable computing machine.
- In 1947, transistors were invented at Bell Laboratories. They were much smaller than vacuum tubes and consumed less power, but managing the complex circuits still proved challenging.
- Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce independently invented the integrated circuit around the same time. In July 1959, Noyce filed a patent for his version of the invention.
- In 1968, Robert Noyce co-founded Intel, a company that remains a global leader in the manufacturing, research, and development of integrated circuits.
- In 1983, the Lisa was introduced as the first commercially sold personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). It was powered by the Motorola 68000 processor, featured dual floppy disk drives, a 5 MB hard drive, and came with 1 MB of RAM.
- In 1990, Apple launched the Macintosh Portable, a heavy device weighing 7.3 kg (16 lbs) and priced very high. It did not achieve much success and was discontinued just two years later.
- In 1990, Intel introduced the Touchstone Delta supercomputer, equipped with 512 microprocessors. This significant technological advancement served as a model for some of the fastest multi-processor systems in the world.
