Early History of Computers and Computer Science

Early History of Computers and Computer Science 

        The beginnings of computers began near the end of the 10^th century, when a French monk by the name of Gerbert d’Aurillac brought back the designs of a machine that answered yes and no questions. These designs were later implemented in the early 13^th century when two monks by the names of Albertus Magnus, and Roger Bacon, developed talking androids. Thomas Aquinas was terrified by these androids and destroyed them, putting an end to their work.

Thomas Aquinas

        The resurgence of this technology was in the early 17^th century, when the Renaissance pictured a device that could solve the four basic arithmetic operations without relying on human intelligence (a calculator). This picture became a reality when Charles Babbage developed the first working mechanical calculator, in the 19^th century. This technology progressed into a low cost electric calculator, and this became the first microprocessor circuit available to the public.

None other than Charles Babbage developed the first general-purpose computer in 1837. This computer was fully programmable. Later on his son Henry Babbage completed a simplified version of the computer, on which he gave a successful demonstration of.

Henry Babbage's Calculator

         In the late 1880’s, Herman Hollerith developed a technology of recording data on a machine-readable medium. It is through this invention that the first working programmable, fully automatic computer was built. Through research and development many programming ideas and technologies had started to develop.

         The modern computers we have today, are programmed with complex algorithms, and these algorithms were first developed by Alan Turing. Alan Turing is considered the father of computer science as he formalized the idea of algorithms and computation, with his Turing Machine. Turing Machines are devices that manipulate symbols on strips of tape according to the rules programmed. Alan Turing had the most impact on what are now our modern day computers.

Alan Turings 1st Turing Machine