Reading Assignment #1--Swedin/Ferro's Computers pgs. 1-83

Good evening dear followers. For my Tech & Culture In America class we were asked this time to read the beginning of a book entitled, "Computers: The Story Of Technology" by Swedin & Ferro pgs.1-83. I was surprised to learn about how the creation of the first digital computer relied heavily on the first calculating machine. While continuing on reading I noticed that during the time of World War II the term "computer" did not at all refer to a machine but did refer to a person. "Human computers" as Charles Babbage puts it use devices like slide rules, abacus, and pens and paper (pg.19). Moving on past the portion of how we dealt with things before computers we come to the section entitled, "The First Computer". In this chapter I got a better understanding of some of the types of new computers: ABC computers, Zuse Computers, Harvard Mark I, Eniac, Manchester Mark I and finally the UNIVAC. The one I found most interesting is the UNIVAC is which engineers and technicians had to work near it in "shorts" as it gave off so much heat and was a large piece of machinery.

After reading about the "first computers" I learned about the second generation of computers in which engineers moved from computers with vacuum tubes to ones which had transistors. Scientists and engineers moved to develop more advanced computers and computer networks. I was surprised to learn that after having to deal with the excessively large vacuum tubes engineers moved to transistors in which the first one was designed and invented right here in New Jersey by John Bardeen from Bell Labs. Many companies tried to jump on the computer bandwagon bringing their own models to light such as: Honeywell, RCA, GE and Philco. IBM ended coming out on top since they were the company that maintained the most highly motivated sales force. IBM began producing software in the 1950's for banks, insurance firms and manufacturing companies.

Finally, I read about the "third generation" of computers. The third generation of computers consisted of minicomputers, supercomputers and microprocessors. The IBM 360 Mainframe computer as well as the birth of software made its way into the industry. I was surprised by the following numbers: in 1960 only 7,000 digital computers had been built worldwide. In 1970 that number increased to 130,000 machines (pg.83). With that being said computers during this time still remained expensive and were only found in the workplace not even a thought that someday they would be put in people's homes.

So to sum this all up, why do we care? What does all this mean? Computers were the stuff of science fiction and wide-eyed articles about "electric brains." Few people had actually seen one. Computer technology is so much a part of our lives, that we cannot imagine a life without it. Computers serve as efficient data storage systems and excellent information processors. They can store, organize and manage huge amounts of data. Moreover, they operate on incomparable speeds, thus saving human time and effort to a large extent. True, they are an integral part of our lives. It is said that inventions change the way we live. Computer technology is a classic example of this adage. It has indeed changed our way of living.