CHAPTER ELEVEN
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTERS
Performance objectives
By the end of this unit the students should be able to:
a. Lists early counting devices
b. State the problems in counting large numbers with those devices
c. mechanical counting and calculating devices
d. Name electro-mechanical counting devices Identify electronic counting device and modern computer
e. Identify the various stages of the evolution of personal computers
f. Name the different types of personal computers
UNIT ONE: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTERS
11.1. EARLY COUNTING DEVICES
Centuries ago the early man used the available materials or items within his domain to count his animals/farm products and also to calculate sells of his farm product, animals and other business transactions. Some of the materials or items used in those days were for counting or calculations were:
11.1.1. Fingers
11.1.2. Stones
11.1.3. Sticks
11.1.1. Fingers
The early men used his fingers to process data- count/calculation. For instance, they used their fingers to count the number of animals they have; the amount realized from the sells of their crops- groundnuts, maize etc.
11.1.2. Stones
Stones were used by the early man (our ancestors) to process data- count and record. The stones can be arranged in heaps of fives or tens to represent total amount of sells of crops etc
11.1.3. Sticks
Sticks were also used by man to process data. Sticks can be arranged in bundles to represent data. Below is the diagram of sticks representing data.
Figure 72: Sticks indicating data
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