HISTORY OF COMPUTER

Although machines capable of performing mathematical calculations date back to the 17^th century, it was not until 1945, that engineers built the first general purpose programmable computer.

This programmable computer was constructed by John Presper Eckert and John W Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania. It was secretly developed during World War II. The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was used by the United States Army’s Ballistic Research Laboratory to calculate the trajectories of projectiles and improve the accuracy of gunners. The 30-ton machine accommodates about 18,000 square feet of floor space and ran at a dismal 125 kilohertz.

Few inventions have advance as rapidly as the computer. Today’s personal computers operate at a speed of up to 450 megahertz and are compact enough to fit on a desk or lap.

The first personal computer was built in 1975. It was called the Altair. Two years later the computer went the main-stream with the introduction of the Apple II, and personal computers are now found in offices, homes and classrooms around the world. Among the things you can do with a computer: word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing and internet browsing. Some people said the computer has made many things 1,000 times easier, better and more fun.