History of Early Computers - Introduction

The computer is one of the most important advances in history.  The word computer as we know it today comes from the original early 20th century word computer meaning a person who solved mathematical equations.  The first computers were used to do just that; solve mathematical equations that would have taken people forever to figure out by hand due to time restraints (Ceruzzi 1). The abacus (image) was an early aid for mathematical computations. Its value is that it aids the memory of the human performing the calculation.


Even after the first computers were developed, much of large-scale data processing was performed manually by large numbers of clerks.  This was done until today’s modern computer was born around the 1950’s (Ceruzzi 2).




Charles Babbage began the quest to invent a programmable machine. His first difference engine was developed around 1842.  With Babbage’s 1842 difference engine Ada Lovelace (daughter of the poet Byron) mechanically translated a short written work. As a result she is now considered to be the worlds first programmer.  It was not until twelve years later that computer science was truly born though. George Boole wrote An Investigation of the Laws of Thought (1854). From this Boole was given the title as the father of computer science. It was then 36 years later that what was to become the precursor to the electronic computer was developed for the United States Census of 1890. 

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