This time I want to share knowledge about the history of computer development. More advanced technology of the era did not escape the role of the computer. Once the importance of computers in our lives. But not all computer users know the history of the early discovery of the computer. Who is the inventor, and how to progress the development of a computer to be like today. For more details see the review below.
Most people know the history of the computer that was first created was ENIAC. ENIAC computer, which is an electronic computer which has a weight weighing 30 tons, a length of 30 m and height 2.4 m and requires 174 kilowatts of electrical power. Whereas the first digital computer is actually the ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer). But his fame to fade after "appropriated" ENIAC. What about its origin?
History of Computers
In the era of information and communication technologies are rapidly now, the computer includes one device "must" that can not be ignored. Now the device that is basically just to help the process of counting (to compute) has been very powerful and versatile. Complete the work, enjoy music and movies, to jamming game can be done using this tool. Similarly, surf the Internet and exchange data between users of the thousands of kilometers apart.
Vincent Atanasoff was born on October 4, 1903 in Hamilton, New York, but grew up in Brewster, Florida. Since childhood, Atanasoff had shown interest in mathematics. This son of an electrical engineer did not have a lot of obstacles while sipping science in school. Even his secondary education (high school equivalent) completed within two years.
After that Atanasoff strolled into the University of Florida to pursue the field of electricity. Perhaps this fascination for the father underlie this choice. At age 22, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science steal. No kidding, its value is perfect, A for all fields of study.
Inventor of The Computer
He continued his education master's degree at Iowa State College. Here Atanasoff his time to mathematics. It did not take long, Atanasoff completed his studies in just over a year. Sabet was his master's degree at the age of 23 in 1926.
As if not satisfied, Atanasoff went on to reach the level of doctoral studies. This time physics to be chosen. Atanasoff struggled for four years researching the ins and outs of helium. Finally in 1930, and brought the thesis entitled "The Dielectric Constant of Helium" formal study was completed. His Ph.D. field of theoretical physics at age 27 he obtained from the University of Wisconsin.Upon completion of his doctorate, Atanasoff often feel stuck when I have to calculate using a mechanical calculator. Although including a sophisticated calculating machine in that era, Atanasoff felt that there must be another solution to replace calculators.
In 1936, Atanasoff managed to make the analog calculator. This tool is made after studying how the mechanical Monroe calculator and combines it with a tube mengkanibalnya and IBM. Analog calculators can work well. However, it did not satisfy him.
Limitations of the mechanical and analog systems makes Atanasoff was thinking of using a digital approach. However, this idea was not easy to implement. After nearly a year trying to implement his ideas, Atanasoff was an impasse. The peak occurs during winter in 1937.
After struggling in the laboratory fatigue, Atanasoff intend to cool the brain so as not to "blow up" just because clogged mind. He immediately took his car and walked down the street with a freshen up. But no warning, while driving it was his brain continues to work and could not stop thinking about the problem he was working. Until he feels it has more than 300 km long road that traced.
Atanasoff finally decided to stop at a tavern. That's when you're relaxing in Atanasoff received the "enlightenment" '. Fresh ideas come and go dancing in his brain. One is binary math and Boolean logic. It deems fit solutions for the digital computer was designed.
"By-the" precious fruit of the trip to Rock Island was immediately dimatangkannya. On September 1939, Atanasoff received an injection of funds of 650 billion U.S. dollars. In addition, he also received help and mind power of Clifford Berry, one of the students who are equally devoted to going digital solutions.
Atanasoff and Berry soon realize their dream computer in November 1939. The prototype they made it work. Atanasoff's digital calculating machine named by ABC. Short for Atanasoff-Berry Computer.
ABC Computer
More than just work, ABC also proved superior to other existing calculating machines at the time. This is demonstrated by being able to solve 29 simultaneous linear equations. It takes less time to get a settlement from the register other than ABC.Atanasoff and Berry soon realize their dream computer in November 1939. The prototype they made it work. Atanasoff's digital calculating machine named by ABC. Short for Atanasoff-Berry Computer.
More than just work, ABC also proved superior to other existing calculating machines at the time. This is demonstrated by being able to solve 29 simultaneous linear equations. It takes less time to get a settlement from the register other than ABC.
However, when compared to modern computers today, ABC is "primitive". She was equipped with a CPU (central processing unit). ABC only uses a vacuum tube (vacuum tube) to speed up the calculation process. One of the ABC that remain applicable to modern computer memory is the separation of the computation. DRAM memory is like now.
In December 1940, at a scientific meeting in Philadelphia, Atanasoff met John Mauchly. Mauchly including one of the speakers who appeared to demonstrate a calculator
analog weather data analyzer. In the introduction it Atanasoff told ABC his invention of the Mauchly. Atanasoff was invited Mauchly to visit him in Iowa.After the meeting, together Atanasoff Berry stopped in Washington to visit the patent office. They tried to convince the patent office that is applied to the ABC concept is really the first. It was true! However, they did not immediately patented ABC
Although ABC has proven to be an alternative solution to replace the calculator, but never had time to perfect it Atanasoff. Call the state who need strength in World War required him to leave Iowa. ABC machine that weighs hundreds of pounds can not be carried into his new job in Washington. Arrangements were entrusted to the ABC patent administrative staff on the campus of Iowa. However, it seems that this was never implemented by the employee.
On the other hand, Mauchly visited Atanasoff more often. The visit began in 1941 and Mauchly had a chance to see ABC. He also gets many ideas from Atanasoff. As a fellow researcher, Atanasoff would like to discuss a variety of things to Mauchly. He never hesitated to reveal its brilliant concepts. However, during his visit that Mauchly had never mentions that he's working on a computer project for himself.
Later Mauchly successfully created ENIAC. A giant computer for the U.S. Army. On this work, Mauchly Atanasoff never mentioned as a source of inspiration. So even the fact that Mauchly from Atanasoff to absorb a lot of science. In the end people become more familiar with the ENIAC as the first digital computer, instead of ABC.
However, it seems that the truth can never be hidden. Atanasoff at the vanguard of digital solutions revealed when the ENIAC patent dispute between Honeywell Inc.. and Sperry Rand who bought the ENIAC patent of Mauchly in 1951. Both in the new court battle finished on October 19, 1973 when a judge declared that the patent on the ENIAC is not true and Mauchly (with J. Presper Eckert) was not the pioneer of the electronic digital computer. In addition, the judge also stated that Mauchly was not the original owner of the idea, but get it from Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff.
Although the decision was indirectly giving the "victory" 'the Atanasoff, but most people still consider the ENIAC as the first digital computer. Perhaps this is because the dispute was overshadowed compared to the case involving President Nixon's Watergate. ABC still not widely known until Atanasoff died on June 15, 1995
