Question+2+T6

Team6_Ex1

Question2: Create a time line of the history of computers using the handout information and Robert Noyce documentary (no dates necesary)

The abacus could be considered the first computer, but it is not considered within the first generation. Before the generations of computers started there were the analytical engine, and the punch card computers, which were able to perform mathematical operations of 6 digits (modern calculators handle many many more digits). before the 19 th century we have key figures: as pascal`s machine, ans punched cards of joseph jacquard who created them for a weeving pattern. In the 19th century we have Charge Babbage: differntial machine. which was able to do calcules, with differential means, between number that have 6 decimal points. he also created the analytical machine, which was ble to be programmed with Jacquard`s cards, so its consider the first programmable machine, he made an improved version of this machine afterwards, Babbage`s assistant: Aldy Ada Augusta Byron was able to do the code for the machines, which is recognize as the first computer programmer. Herman Hollerith. tabulating machine: used for the 1890 US`s census, the tabulating machine merge with IBM, but also it started it own independant company in Uk, which after merging with a lot of companies it end up being the: LCI. the tabulating machine also used Jacquards cards, and its the first computer to use electric programmable means.

The fist generation of computers (1940-1952) used vaccum (also called elctron tubes), they were huge (like football fields), heavy, and consumed a lot of electrical power, hence, they produced a massive amount of heat. (the term computer bug comes from that time because computers could actually have bugs inside).

The second generation of computers (1952-1964) used tranistors, which were much smaller than vacumm tubes, they were also lighter, they had a faster processing and calculating speed, they got reduced to the size of a room and the electrical power needed to use them was lowered a lot. Transitors were invented by William Shockley and his team.

The thrid generation of computers (1964-1971) used the integrated circuit; the integrated circuit was invented by Robert Noyce (and some other guy about six months latter, but neither fought the title of only inventor); this allowed the computer to shrink in size by a lot (refrigerator size), it also increased the computing speed, reduced the electricity needed to use one and the heat generated.

The fourth generation of computers (1971-2000) used microprossesors, they were invented by Intel (Robert Noyce's company), microprocesors are tiny (now a days you can have a microprossesor the size of a needle head and in its self it has the same power as the huge first generation computers, a microprocessor contains MILLIONS of transistors, a modern intel's i7 quad core with a 2.8ghz speed has 771 million transistors, which is something insane.

The fifth and last generation of computers (2000-now), this transition was nothing amazing, it was just a jump in the processors, it is considered that when intel released the pentium (41 million transistors) the fifth generation of computers started, as they became smaller and every time more powerful. This generation is almost the same as the late 1900's deskopts, as the case remained basically the same, but there has been a massive jump in laptops, there are some companies that make laptops with an amazing power, just like alienware, which adds big technological stuff in such a small place. It is also because of Internet, now a days most people do not turn a computer on unless it has an internet connection.

Bob Noyce (the most famous man no one has ever heard of) is called the godfather of modern computers since he knew and met Steve Jobs (who was the 'cobuilder' of the first personal computer Apple). He also 'founded' Silicon Valley and the west coast kind of company (without the bureocracy of the east coast ones). Noyce founded two companies in his life, Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel.