Very Brief History Of The Computer
On this page, we list the major inventors, events, and breakthroughs in technology that led to the invention of the computer. This is a very brief history of the computer - if you need more indepth information, please visit our full Computer History Timeline. That section lists the timeline shown here, but will go into much greater detail on each important technology and inventor.
Early Innovations In Computer Science
1703 - The Explication de l'Arithmétique Binaire is completed in Germany by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. In this work, Leibniz detailed the Binary Code, in which any character could be displayed in terms of 0's and 1's. This system of binary numbers provided the foundation for the architecture of the modern computer. Leibniz also imagined machines that would use of binary code and punched cards to calculate numbers.
1822 - In England, an inventor by the name of Charles Babbage proposed the construction of machines for use in the "computation of astronomical and mathematical tables". Although the designs Babbage attempted to build never worked properly, they represent the first steps in the construction of machines that would compute numbers faster and more accurately than humans performing the same job.
1890 - The birth of modern data processing began with the U.S. Census of 1890. Tabulating machines were designed by an American inventor, Herman Hollerith, that reduced the time it took to count Census data by several years and saved the Census Bureau millions of dollars. The company Hollerith founded to build his electrical tabulating machines would later form the basis of the IBM corporation.
World War Two & The First Modern Computers
1941 - In Germany, Konrad Zuse produces the first Turing-complete computer in the world, the Z3. Unfortunately, the original machine would be destroyed in 1943 by allied bombing, and so Zuse's accomplishment would not receive the recognition it deserved for many years.
1942 - Although first conceived in 1937, the Atanasoff–Berry Computer was completed five years later. Long recognized as the world's first electronic digital computing device, it would actually remain forgotten for years after the inventors abandoned it to pursue other projects important in winning WWII.
1944 - In an effort to crack the German Enigma code, a team of inventors led by Alan Turing, designs and creates a machine called Colossus. The decoded German messages provided by Colossus were considered Britain's greatest secret during WWII and helped greatly in winning the war. Though it was only able to perform the single function it was built for, it is considered by many to be the first modern computer.
1944 - In America, two brilliant engineers, Presper Eckhert and John Mauchly, began work on a massive machine needed for calculating artillery firing tables for the U.S. Army. Although it was not completed until the war was over in 1946, construction of the ENIAC would mark the beginning of modern computer science.
1945 - In June of 1945, a paper is circulated that becomes known as the "von Neumann architecture". This paper, written by John von Neumann, detailed the logical elements for the personal computers we use today. These elements include a processing unit, controlling unit, memory, input, and output.
Major Advances In Computer Technology
1947 - A major breakthrough in technology occurs with the invention of the First Transitor. This was a joint invention between William Shockley, John Bardeen & Walter Brattain. The transitor put an end to the use of vacuum tubes, which was a huge step forward in the development of computers.
1951 - Another Eckhert-Mauchly creation, the UNIVAC, is completed. The UNIVAC would help bring the computer into popular consciousness when it was used to accurately predict the 1952 presidential election.
1958 - A second critical advance in computer technology comes in the form of the Integrated Circuit. This invention allowed several pieces of circuitry to be place on a single silicon chip, and giving rise to the use of silcon as a primary component in the construction of comptuers. This is another invention shared by more than one inventor, Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce.
1964 - Two more components of modern computers were invented by Douglas Englebart a few years ahead of their time. In 1964, Englebart previews a computer using both a mouse and a GUI (graphical user interface), though these two items wouldn't see wide-spread use for several more years.
1968 - The final major advance in miniturization of computers was the microprocessor. This is the device that allowed computers to become much smaller and paved the way for the explosion of personal-sized computers in the 1970's. The microprocessor was invented by Ted Hoff.
The Birth Of The Personal Computer
1973 - An early PC hits the market, the Xerox Alto. This early PC is the first of those computers built with microprocessor technology that would also use a mouse and a GUI. Unfortunately, it had a high price tag of about $18,000, so would only see use at businesses and large institutions.
1975 - The Altair 8800 was not a computer, but rather the first computer kit that consumers could buy and build their own computer with. The introduction of the Altair would make enable companies like Apple to be formed and cause the personal computer market to truly explode.
1975 - Wanting to create a company that wrote software for the Altair-based computers, Bill Gates and Paul Allen found a startup business called Microsoft.
1976 - Using the Altair 8800 for creating low-cost personal computers, Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak, work out of the garage to basically kick start the personal computer industry. Although other companies are building small devices with the 8800, the move to small computers that are affordable and easy to use would begin in 1976 when Apple Computer Is Founded.
1976 - The Apple I basically looked like a wooden box with a keboard built it, but underneath was a design that would revolutionize how computers were built. In 1976, the First Apple Computer become available to consumers at the low price of just a few hundred dollars.
1977 - Continuing with the success of their original design, Jobs and Wozniak reveal the Apple II. This little marvel would be the first to take personal computer sales into the millions.
The Rise Of The PC, Windows, & Microsoft
1981 - Bill Gates & Microsoft provide IBM with a major component it needs to enter the personal computer market in the form of the DOS Operating System. This OS would provide the platform for IBM PC's and IBM clones to compete with the Apple II for a share of the early computer market.
1981 - Although Apple had the head start in building small, affordable computers, PC's would eventually dominant computer sales within 20 years after the release of the very First IBM PC.
1981 - Although there had been "portable" computers built before this time, the First Laptop that actually had the components of what we consider a modern laptop was introduced - the Osborne 1.
1984 - Inspired by the Xerox Alto, the First MacIntosh Computer hits the market. The arrival of the MacIntosh begins the era of modern PC's as we know it. This computer included a graphical user interface and a mouse. Today's modern PC's may have become much faster and more powerful, but little has changed in the basic components of computers since the Mac.
1985 - Microsoft releases version 1.0 of it's Windows Operating System. This GUI-based operating system would explode in use on the many versions of IBM clones available in the market at that time and become the main operating system used worldwide by most PC's today.
1988 - A famous court case in this year marked the battle of Microsoft vs Apple for the lead role in the personal computer market. The courts would rule that Microsoft hadn't copied the Mac GUI when they built the Windows OS. Microsoft's dominance in the software market is what would allow PC's to take over the computer market and become the dominant form of computer in use today.
Again, this was just a very brief history of the computer. For those who need more information on any topic, the links provided will take you into our Computer History section. From there, you can explore the timeline and get greater detail on each topic. If you have any questions about this article or would like to suggest an addition to our timeline, please feel free to contact us with your comments.
For more information on Computers & Internet, please return to the home page. Our site lists many tips on buying computers and choosing an Internet provider.