The Computer History Timeline

We will then learn who invented the computer, and when was the first computer built. Finally we will look at the evolution of computers and the various types of computers that exist today.

Definition: A computer is a machine that can store, organize and find information, do calculations and control other machines. In other words, a machine that computes.

Computing is actually calculating. The first calculations date back to the prehistoric period when people used various methods of calculation.

Did you know that humans were called computers in the old days because they used to calculate numerical tables, meaning “one who computes”, much as conductor is “one who conducts”!

Funny though, never thought of me being called as a machine “I mean computer”.

So when was the computer invented?

It is difficult to predict when the first computer was invented. Various small inventions all along have given rise to what we call today as computers. The technology has been so rapid that we have evolved from the huge mainframe computers to the modern notebooks. Various types of computers have evolved since then, mini computers, personal computers, laptops.

In the earlier days, it was rare to see a computer in a household. Now-a-days it has become so common that almost everyone possesses a computer, be it personal, laptop or a notebook.

So where is the link between computing and a computer? Well, different inventors have contributed to the creation of what we call today a computer. The earlier inventions started of with calculators and then we had the punch cards. Today, we have an unlimited versions of computers.

2400BC to 1900: pages under construction