Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

A computer history – from the abacus to the mighty micro
Ken Hutson,
Yorkshire Philosophical Society

A brief look at early societies’ struggle with numeracy, legendary figures who invented mechanical aids, and the technical advances leading to the first giant electronic machines. Following the computer equivalent of the ‘Big Bang’, the micro was born. We step back to 1980 to study the impact of this humble ancestor of the hugely powerful technology we enjoy today. Have we really come all this way in only thirty years?

Report
By Rod Leonard
This fine summary began with the abacus, invented around 1000BC, and quickly moved to Napier’s invention of logarithms in the 17th century, and the slide rule. Babbage’s analytical engine led the way to the modern computer, followed by Hollerith with his tabulating machine, use of punched cards, and electricity. In 1936, Zuse introduced binary arithmetic and relays. The next ten years saw the Harvard I computer, Colossus, ENIAC (reprogramming of which involved rewiring), and EDVAC with stored programs. Computers were so big and costly the chairman of IBM believed there was a world market for only five. By 1980 transistors, miniaturisation, integrated circuits, and the microchip meant that large business computers were becoming common – but not home computers. Microprocessors have now allowed most households and businesses to own computers and to be confident with the internet. Technophobia seems to be a thing of the past. Surprisingly, computer history after 1980 is poorly recorded, particularly in museums. The National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park, run by volunteers, is a notable exception.

Recommended reading:

The Mighty Micro by Christopher Evans; (available via Amazon)

Electronic Computers by SH Hollingdale & GC Toothill (available via Amazon)

How Computers Work by Ron White (out of print but available at some libraries)