Evolution of Computers

Necessity is the Mother of Invention. The saying holds true for Computers also because Computers were invented as a result of man's search for fast and accurate Calculating Devices.

The word Computer comes from the word "Compute" which means to calculate. So a computer is normally considered to be a calculating device that can perform Arithmetic Operations at enormous speed. More accurately, a computer may be defined as a device that operates upon information or Data. Data comes in various shapes and sizes depending upon the type of Computer Application. A Computer can store, process and retrieve data as and when desired. The fact that Computers process data is so fundamental that many people have started calling it a Data Processor.

The difference between Human and Machine Intelligence is that Human Brain gets tired very soon and makes mistakes. The I.Q differs from person to person and deteriorates with ageing.

Charles Babbage is considered to be the Father of modern Digital Computers. During his period, mathematical and statistical tables were prepared by a group of clerks. Even the utmost care and precautions could not eliminate human errors. Babbage had to spend several hours checking these tables. The result was that he started thinking to build a machine which could compute the tables guaranteed to be error-free. In this process Babbage designed a "Difference Engine" in the year 1822 which could produce reliable tables. In 1842, Babbage came out with his new idea of "Analytical Engine" that was intended to be fully automatic. His efforts established a number of principles which have been shown to be fundamental to the design of any Digital Computer.