By: Ethan Kleiman, Tyger Takabe-French

Contents
By: Ethan Kleiman, Tyger Takabe-French .............................................................. 1
What is a computer? ....................................................................................... 5
What is hardware? .......................................................................................... 5
What are the main hardware components of a computer? ........................................... 5
What is an operating system? What is its purpose? ................................................... 5
What is software? ........................................................................................... 6
Here some examples of popular software .............................................................. 6
What is a Peripheral? ...................................................................................... 6
What is a Network? ......................................................................................... 7
Revolutions in Computing Timeline ...................................................................... 7
Website Evaluation ........................................................................................ 18











Figure 1






What is a computer?

According to the oxford dictionary a computer is an electronic device which is capable of
receiving data in a particular form and of performing a sequence of operations in accordance
with a predetermined but variable set of procedural instructions to produce a result in the
form of information or signals.
A computer is a machine that stores and processes information according to the instructions
given by the user or the program. The information or data is usually stored and processed as
binary data. All numbers, words, images and program commands are coded in binary.
What is hardware?

Hardware is the physical component that makes up a computer. Such as a Monitor, Keyboard,
Mouse, Motherboard, Central Processing Unit (CPU), Random Access Memory (RAM), Power
Supply, Video Card, Hard Drive (HDD), Solid-State Drive (SSD), Optical Drive (e.g. BD/DVD/CD
drive), Card Reader (SD/SDHC, CF, etc.)

What are the main hardware components of a computer?

CPU (central processing unit)
Main Memory/Immediate Access storage (Primary Storage)
Secondary Storage
Input/output Devices
Monitor

What is an operating system? What is its purpose?

An operating system does the basic tasks of the computer it recognizes input from the key
board and sends information to the monitor. It also stores and manages files and is basically
the system that keeps everything moving.
What is software?

Software means data or computer instructions. Anything that can be electronically stored is
software. Software is the program that controls the computer.
Here some examples of popular software

1) Microsoft Windows
2) Linux
3) Unix
4) Mac OSX
5) DOS
6) BIOS Software
7) HD Sector Boot Software
8) Device Driver Software i.e. Graphics Driver etc.
9) Linker Software
10) Assembler and Compiler Software

In order to have a good program or product you have to meet the necessary standards of your
product. This is called a User Interface. An example of a user interface is sorting. Sorting is an
important user interface because it allows you to keep order in your files or on websites.

What is a Peripheral?

Scanners, printers, and speakers are all peripheral devices. What this means is, that it is a
device that can connect externally from the computer or monitor and are not central to the
working inside. The most common peripheral devices like I have already listed are printers,
scanners, speakers and many more. Most peripheral devices enhance a specific function.

Figure 2
What is a Network?

A network is when two or more computers that are connected together to share files. The
computers on a network can be connected through cables many different kinds of cables and
beams
The most popular kinds of networks are:
Local Area Network (LAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)

Figure 3
Revolutions in Computing Timeline

Year What is it? Why is it
important?
Interesting fact
Abacus 2700-2300bc The abacus is a
counting tool
using beads to
make
mathematical
calculations. It
was used in
every ancient
empire in a
slightly different
way. The most
recent one is the
Japanese abacus
that has two
groups of beads.
It could do
division,
multiplication,
addition,
subtraction,
square root and
cube root
operations.
The first
abacuses were
only beads in
grooves. Later
the beads were
put on small
rods in a frame.
Abacuses were
used mainly by
merchants in
trading so as
they travelled to
trade, the
abacus
technology
moved as well.
Antikythra
mechanism
100bc It is an ancient
analog tool used
to predict the
movements of
the stars and the
constellations. It
was found in a
shipwreck near
the island of
Antikethra.
It is the oldest
known complex
gear system to
be this accurate
There is only
one that was
found intact. It
was a very
valuable and
precise
instrument for
its time.
John Napier,
Calculation
Tables
The Calculation
Tables were
sticks with
numbers on
them so when
they are put
together it
becomes a
multiplication
table. The
numbers are laid
out like this 1/4
for 14 or 0/3 for
3
It could make
understanding
multiplications
easier

Joseph-Marie
Jacquard, Punch
card controlled
loom
1801 He made a loom
that used punch
cards to make
textiles. The
punch cards had
holes that
blocked the
hook or lowered
It was the first
preprogrammed
machine that
can do
operations
successfully
without the help
of a human
Jacquard had a
portrait of
himself made in
silk using one of
his machines. It
was very
detailed and
used 24,000
it when it is able
to pass
punch cards to
create. The
portraits were
made to order
and Charles
Babbage bought
one. It inspired
him to use
punch cards in
his Analytical
Engine
Charles
Babbage,
Difference
Engine
1821-1832 It was one of the
first automatic
calculators. It
used gears to
make the
calculations.
There were two
engines designed
by Babbage,
Difference
Engine No.1 and
Difference
Engine No.2. He
also designed an
Analytical
engine that was
to use punch
cards. it had
the capacity to
store
information on
which it was
working up to
1000 groups of
50 decimal
digits.
It used a gear
system that
could accurately
calculate
additions,
subtractions,
multiplications,
divisions and
more.
It weighed over
3 tons.
Difference
engine No2 was
designed by
Charles Babbage
but it was only
built later in
1991 by the
London Science
Museum
Samuel Morse,
Telegraph
1844 It was a new
way to
communicate
over long
distances. It
sends electrical
signals to the
receiver in the
form of dots and
dashes. For
example, SOS
would be
. They
It was important
because now we
had a fast and
efficient way to
communicate
over long
distances
without any
delay
On May 24,
1844, Samuel
Morse sent the
first Morse
coded message
"What hath God
wrought?" from
Washington
D.C., to
Baltimore,
Maryland.
used the Morse
code as a
standard code
for the
telegraph
Sir Charles
Wheatstone,
paper tapes
1857
The paper tapes
are in a way
holes punched in
a tape. The top
row represents
the dots the
bottom row
represents
dashes
Now all
messages sent
through
telegraph could
be kept for
record keeping
or for later use.
Paper tapes
were a minor
invention for
Wheatstone. He
designed an
improved
telegraph, a
device for
displaying three
dimensional
images, and a
code inscription
system that was
used by the
militaries of
many countries.
Stoles, Glidden
and Soule,
typewriter
1867 It was used for
typing
documents
quickly. A
typewriter
allows people to
type faster than
they can write.
Letters are
standardized so
they are easy to
read unlike
handwriting. We
can add spaces
add a new
paragraph, shift
key, and change
the character
size. While you
type you can see
the words
They were able
to write quickly
and in a legible
manner. The
typewriter
keyboard is now
the basis of the
computer
keyboard. Many
keys besides the
letters and
numbers are still
in use like
"SHIFT" or
"BACKSPACE".
The QWERTY
keyboard design
was not
designed to
make logical
sense. It was
arranged that
way so that the
bars holding the
type letters
would not jam
when the
typewriter was
used quickly.
QWERTY is still
the standard for
most keyboards
even though
there are no
jamming
problems with
computer
keyboards.
Herman
Hollerith,
Tabulating
Machine
1890 An electro
mechanical
counting
machine
designed for
summarising and
It was used for
the US census to
keep an
accurate count.
The use of pre-
punched cards
Hollerith started
a company
called
"Tabulating
Machine
Company" which
later
accounting. It
would process
and accumulate
data from pre
punched cards.
It was used by
the 1890 US
Census.
greatly
increased the
speed of the
census and
allowed it to be
completed
months ahead of
schedule.
with other
companies
joined together
to become
"International
Business
Machines" or
"IBM"
Colossus December 1943; Worlds first
electronic
computers. They
were used for
code breaking by
the British
during the
Second World
War.
They used
thermal tubes
instead of paper
tapes to process
data. Paper
tapes were too
fragile to
process the huge
amounts of data
needed.
This project was
so secret that
the existence of
Colossus was not
confirmed until
the 1970s. Many
people, like the
Colossus
inventor Tommy
Flowers, were
not allowed to
speak of it. The
British
government
destroyed the
computers and
the blueprints in
an attempt to
keep it secret.
Bell Labs, the
Transistor
Jun-48 A transfer
resistor or
"Transistor" is a
small device
used to switch
or amplify
signals by using
a semiconductor
material.
Transistors were
an improvement
to the very
fragile vacuum
tubes that were
used in
electronics.
They are the
base for almost
all electronic
devices today.
The first patent
for a transistor
was filed in
Canada by Julius
Lilienfeld in
1925. But he
could not build
any because the
technology to
make a good
quality
semiconductor
did not exist.
Texas
Instruments and
Fairchild
Semiconductor,
Integrated
Circuit
An Integrated
circuit or
Monolithic
integrated
circuit is better
known as an IC
or computer
chip. It is a set
of electronic
The integrated
circuit helped
miniaturize
computers and
electronic
devices. As the
chips are
developed they
have become
Modern IC chips
are very
compact.
Billions of
transistors can
be on a chip the
size of a
fingernail. Chips
can be created
circuits, like
transistors, on
one small plate
of
semiconductor
material, usually
silicon. This can
be made much
smaller than a
circuit made
from
independent
components.
smaller and
smaller yet are
capable of doing
more and more
calculations.
by printing
technology.
IBM 360 Apr-64 The IBM system
was a computer
used
forSystem360
included in its
central
processors 19
combinations of
graduated speed
and memory
capacity. Added
with these were
more than 40
different kinds
of
supplementary
equipment.
Built-in
communications
capability made
the system
available to
remote places,
regardless of
distance.
The IBM System
was a mainframe
computing
system designed
to be used for
both business
and scientific
purposes. The
computers could
be made to suit
what the
customer
needed. It
increased the
popularity of
computer use in
business.
In the 1969 the
Soviet Union
decided to make
and use copies
of the IBM 360
instead of
developing their
own computer
system. It took
so long that by
the time they
had completed
it the IBM 360
technology was
obsolete. It is
said this
decision killed
Soviet computer
production.
Word Processor
invented
1969 it is a machine
that processes
words and the
user is able to
edit the text
without having
to produce a
hard copy. The
first Word
Processor was
made by
information
it was important
because now we
can create edit
and store
documents
electronically.
This was
important for
the growth of
the Internet
because most
sites were
in 1971 a third
of all women in
America were
secretaries. It
was thought that
the word
processor would
replace
secretaries so
they were
worried
control systems.
It was called
Astrotype and
Astrocomp
documents and
e-mail would not
be possible
without word
processing.
ARPANET 1969 Advanced
Research Project
Agency Network
or ARPANET was
the world's first
operational
packet switching
networks. A
Packet is a
package of data.
It was the
prototype for
the internet.
It was important
because it was a
way to send
large files
quickly over long
distances. It was
also different
fom the original
idea of circuit
switching of
online
communication,
like a telephone.
Most computer
science
companies
considered the
ARPANET
proposal to be
"outlandish" and
manydid not
fund them
Intel, 1K RAM
CHIP (the 4004)
1971 it is a small
microchip
smaller than a
strand of hair. It
held 2,300
transistors. It
was the first
general purpose
programmable
processor
This chip helped
miniturised
computers and
increace their
computing
power
The chip
delivered the
same computing
power as the
Eniac built in
1946, which
filled an entire
room.
Jonathan Titus,
Mark
1974 It is a do it
yourself
computer made
so that you can
build your own
computer from a
kit. It had a 8-
bit processor
it was an early
micro computer.
it was a DIY a do
it yourself
computer. It was
sent in a kit but
there were many
missing parts so
you hve to go
looking around
BBN, Telenet 1974 first packet-
switched
network service
that was
available to the
public
the public was
able to use this
network so the
demand
increased for a
good network
service

Paul Allen and
Bill Gates invent
BASIC
1975 A typing
software that
you can move
the text change
the size, change
the faunt etc. it
could
Now we can
type faster.
People without
any experience
with computers
can use it
without needing

to program it.
USENET 1979 A worldwide
internet
discussion
system where
people can post
and read
messages
Now people can
post things or
use it for
discussions over
the computer.
Also it is sort of
like a social
networking site.


TCP/IP

1970s

the networking
model and a set
of
communications
protocols used
for the Internet.
It was the base
of the internet.

It was important
in the
development of
the internet and
the ARPANET

Apple Macintosh 1976 Personal
computers
designed by
apple. It had a
graphical user
interface. And
was aimed at
home, education
and business
use. It was
programmed so
you didnt need
to write
commands for
the computer
These personal
computers
greatly aided
the development
and expansion of
the internet

Microsoft
Windows 1.0
November 20th
1985
16 bit graphical
operating
environment
that had drop-
down menus,
scroll bars,
icons, and dialog
boxes. It had
programs like MS
DOS file
management,
Windows Writer,
Paint, Notepad,
Calculator,
calendar, card
file, and a clock.
There is even a
It was Microsoft's
first attempt to
use a multi-
tasking graphical
user interface-
based operating
environment on
the PC platform.

game called
Reversi.
The Internet it started in the
1960s
A global
computer
network where
people can share
files and
information. It
connected
millions of
people. The
internet was
based on
ARPANET and
used the same
TCP/IP
programming
The internet
changed the
very meaning of
computing. It is
not just
calculations and
storing
information now
we are able to
control
machines, share
information,
publish ideas
and

Apple iPod 0ctober 23
2001To now
is a portable
music and video
player, a
handheld game
console, and
email-capable
digital assistant,
designed and
sold by Apple
Inc. A line of
portable media
players A
personal gadget
used for storing
music photos
and applications
It was an
important step
in portable
storage devices
because you can
download music
strait from the
internet into
your phone
without the
need to buy a
cassette or a
DVD
There is the Pod
Shuffle, iPod
Nano, iPod
Classic and the
iPod Touch.
They all were
designed for the
original
intention of
storing music
Apple iPhone June 29 2007 to
now
Another version
of the iPod but
with a built in
phone system
and a faster
system. It uses
an A chip to
increase its
speed. The
newest model
uses the 64-bit
A7 chip.
It is one of the
most popular
smart phones in
the world.
1st generation:
June 29, 2007
3G: July 11,
2008
3GS: June 19,
2009
4: June 24, 2010
4S: October 14,
2011
4S: October 14,
20115:
September 21,
2012
5C and 5S:
September 20,
2013
Amazon Kindle is a series of e- It was a portable Kindle 2 (white)
book readers
designed and
sold by
Amazon.com. A
tablet used for
reading books
and browsing
the internet.
The later
versions have
apps and can
connect with the
internet. Shop
for, download,
browse, and
read e-books,
newspapers,
magazines,
blogs, and other
digital media via
wireless
networking.
book so you
didnt need to
carry whole
loads of books to
read anywhere
any time
without needing
a lot of space. It
can store
thousands of
books in a small
space
Kindle (original)
(white)
Release date:
November 19,
2007
Kindle 2
International
(white)
Kindle DX
(white)
Kindle DX
International
(white)
Kindle DX
(graphite)
Kindle Keyboard
(white/graphite)
Kindle Keyboard
with special
offers (graphite)
Wi-Fi: May 3,
2011 3G/Wi-
Fi: May 25,
2011Kindle 4
(silver) Kindle
Touch, Touch 3G
(silver)
Kindle 5 (black)
Kindle
Paperwhite,
Paperwhite 3G
(black)

Apple iPad April 3 2010 to
now
It is a larger
version of the
iPhone and is in
a tablet form
and is able to do
the same tasks
as the ipod and
the iPhone. It
has three
different storage
capacity
16gigabyte 32
gigabyte and 64
gigabyte. There
have been 5
versions of the
ipad Ipad 1st
it had a large
touch screen
and was able to
process all the
software

generation, 2nd
generation, 3rd
generation, 4th
generation and
the ipad mini.
3D Printing 1980s to now a process of
making a three-
dimensional
solid object of
virtually any
shape from a
digital model. It
is a way of
printing objects
in a 3d fashion
accurately by
usually cutting a
solid block or
using melted
plastic or a
different
material
We can produce
products
accurately and
solidly. We can
build prototypes
without needing
to construct the
actual item
NASA is
designing 3D
printers that you
can use it in a
zero gravity
environment
The Cloud 1950s to now it is programs
that arent
installed on to
your computer
but you are able
to use it like a
installed
software. It is
run on a
different hard
drive so you
don't have to
worry about
your own
memory
capacity
Even if your
computer is
destroyed your
files are safe on
another
computer
the cloud
leap motion May 21, 2012 It is a device
created by Leap
motion. It is a
device that lets
you interact
with your
computer
without needing
to touch
anything. It uses
a USB input
device that sits
it is a new way
to interact with
your computer
and it will
probably be
useful for using
3D software and
3D printing.

in front of the
screen and faces
upward. You
control it with
your hand by
using it like a
mouse.

Website Evaluation

The Charles Babbage institute center for the history of information technology
(http://www.cbi.umn.edu/about/babbage.html) is a website that has been deemed a well-
organized, easy to read option for study and research purposes. The website is here to help
students learn and research information to further enhance their opportunities in life
following their education.

This website is written by the regents of the University of Minnesota. This is an academic
institution written website as told by the .edu at the end. This site also provides many means
of contacting the authors. It gives an address, a phone/fax number and an e-mail.

You can tell the information is up to date because, at the bottom of the page the date of
update is said to be April 3rd 2013. This date corresponds to only 190 days ago.