CHAPTER ELEVEN

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTERS

11.4. ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND MODERN COMPUTER

The electronic era is characterized by the generation of large amount of data and information by individuals, communities or nations in different parts of the world. Such data/information is needed to be managed and shared between individuals, communities, or nations. Managing (sharing, managing, and distributing) the data and information generated has been the basic challenge or problem of man. This problem forced man to invent more efficient computing equipments such as the computer.  Some of the most important equipments invented by man to enable him manage data/information are as follows:-

11.4.1. Hollerith Desk
11.4.2. ENIAC
11.4.3. UNIVAC
11.4.4. John Neumann Machine
11.4.5. Modern machines- Personal Computers

11.4.1. Hollerith Desk

Hollerith desk was invented by an American, Hollerith Herman in 1809. It was used for the 1870 U.S census.

Features

  1. Size-room ward rope
  2. Input device- Data/information are stored in punched cards
  3. Output device- large dial indicators
  4. Internal components-

Storage- Punched cards.

 

 

Figure 83:vacuum tube

Figure 84: Punched Paper.
11.4.2. ENIAC

ENIAC stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC). ENIAC is the first electronic computer.

Features
Size- 100 feet long and 10 feet tall, the size of a standard room.
Source of power- registers, capacitors and vacuum tubes.
Storage- data stored on punched tapes. .

Figure 85: Picture of ENIAC computer

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