The very first computer in the world - when did it appear and who created it?

It is very difficult to imagine a modern society without computers. These "smart machines" once entered our life and became a truly integral part of it. However, there were times when humanity was just taking the first steps to create such devices. Who was the creator of the first and what did the first personal computer look like?

When did the first computer appear?

So when did the very first computer appear? If we talk about the first predecessor of modern computers, abacus (abacus), they were still in ancient Babylon. Since that time, mankind has been able to invent devices that made it possible to make simple calculations. Progress has been observed since the late nineteenth century, with a peak in the first half of the twentieth century. In 1938, the first mechanical programmable machine Z1 was created, and on its basis, three years later, the first computing machine Z3 was created, having the properties of a modern computer.

Who Created the First Computer?

It is believed that the first computer was created by the French scientist Blaise Pascal. He came up with the idea in 1642 to create the first digital computing machine. Actually, it all started with this discovery. Although automatic computing had many advantages, the use of such a device for financial calculations in France was problematic, since it complicated the initially difficult computation process. In ten years, Pascal managed to build fifty and sell about a dozen variants of what many now call the very first computer in the world.

Another outstanding scientist in this field is Konrad Zuse, a German engineer and pioneer in computer engineering. Many have heard that laziness is the engine of progress. Zuse was so disliked by complex mathematical calculations that he decided to create a calculating machine using a binary system. His first computer demanded full dedication, so Konrad Zuse had all his time to create it. As a result, six years later, the world saw his creation.

What did the first computer look like?

Interest is caused not only by the date of creation of the first computer and its creator, but also by how the car looked. It is important to note that the first mainstream personal computer and even the devices of the early 90s were significantly weaker than modern ones. An example would be the fact that the amount of modern memory can be compared with the entire disk memory of more than one thousand personal computers of the early nineties. Also for other indicators. The first programmable computer appeared in the United States in 1946. Its weight was about thirty tons. The computer contained 18,000 vacuum tubes.

First computer device

The machine of the French scientist Blaise Pascal was a mechanical device in the form of a box with numerous gears interconnected. With the help of a special rotation of the typesetting wheels, the numbers to be added were introduced into the machine. Marks 0-9 were applied to each of the wheels. When a number was entered, the wheels were scrolled to the required number. The first generation of computers had five cogwheels. Over time, their number increased to 6 or eight, which made it possible to work with large numbers.

First use of computers

The earliest computers were created only for computation. Even very primitive machines were superior to humans. The second use of computers was in databases. The government and the banks needed them. For these purposes, more complex machines with advanced input and output systems and information storage were required. For this reason, the Kobal language was then developed.

First home computers

The first personal computers appeared in the 1970s. At that time, some people started assembling computers at home and only with research interest. At that time, there was no use of such personal computers at home. And already in 1975 the first personal computer Altair 8800 appeared. It was named the first commercially successful PC. Its creator is American engineer Henry Edward Roberts.

The first computer - interesting facts

There are many cognitive facts about the first computers:

1. The first computer in the world was impressive in size. Its weight was approximately thirty tons. One such machine required a large room lined with electronic cabinets. In those days, computers could run on expensive, large vacuum tubes.
2. The very first computer in the world was supposed to be serviced by a whole staff of engineers. Then it was necessary to specially connect a lot of wires, which took a lot of time.
3. The first microprocessors processed only four bits of information. Marshian Edward Hoff became their inventor in 1970.
4. The first personal computer Altair-8800 had neither a screen nor a keyboard. However, he was still in demand. So, in the first month alone, more than a thousand sets were sold.
5. Until now, personal computers are manufactured to the same standards. The IBM PC model can be considered the benchmark for all modern personal computers.
6. The first PCs from the manufacturer IBM were selling for three thousand dollars with a black and white display, and with a color one - six thousand dollars. Moreover, when the company released the first computer, it could not even imagine that it would be possible to sell so many copies.