21The First Computers: Amazing Facts

The first computer language was assembly language, a low-level programming language that uses symbolic instructions to perform tasks. It was later replaced by more sophisticated languages like Fortran and COBOL.

The Colossus, developed during World War II, was the world’s first programmable electronic digital computer. It was used to decrypt coded messages and played a vital role in the Allied victory.

Early computers, including the IBM 1401 and UNIVAC, used punched cards as a primary method of input and storage. These cards were an important part of the computer data process until the late 1960s.

The ENIAC was programmed by six women, often overlooked in history. These women, including Jean Jennings and Betty Holberton, were crucial in making the ENIAC functional and demonstrating the early role of women in computing.

The term "computer bug" originated in 1947, when engineers working on the Harvard Mark II found an actual moth trapped in a relay, causing the machine to malfunction.

Alan Turing, a British mathematician, introduced the concept of the Turing Machine in 1936, which became the theoretical foundation for modern computing. It described an abstract device capable of performing any calculation or computation.

The UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer), developed in 1951, was the first commercially successful computer. It played a crucial role in early business and government applications.

Early computers were massive. The ENIAC, for example, occupied about 1,800 square feet and required thousands of vacuum tubes. It could process 5,000 calculations per second.

The first computer mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1963. Made of wood, it had only one button and was initially used with the Stanford Research Institute's graphical user interface (GUI).

Completed in 1945, the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) is often regarded as the first general-purpose computer. Weighing over 27 tons, ENIAC could perform complex calculations in seconds compared to manual methods.

Ada Lovelace, an English mathematician, is credited as the first computer programmer. She wrote detailed instructions for Babbage's Analytical Engine, including the concept of loops in programming.

The ENIAC was programmed by six women, often overlooked in history. These women, including Jean Jennings and Betty Holberton, were crucial in making the ENIAC functional and demonstrating the early role of women in computing.

Often referred to as the "father of the computer," Charles Babbage designed the first mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine, in the 1830s. Though it was never completed in his lifetime, it was the precursor to modern computers.

IBM played a critical role in the early computer revolution. Its first computer, the IBM 701, was introduced in 1952 and became the first commercially available scientific computer.

In 1952, Cambridge University student Alexander S. Douglas created OXO, the first known computer game, a digital version of Tic-Tac-Toe. It was a primitive graphical game, setting the stage for future gaming.

While ENIAC is often credited for its post-war achievements, it was initially developed during World War II for the U.S. Army to calculate artillery firing tables, highlighting the military’s early interest in computational power.

Alan Turing's Bombe, developed in 1939, was an early electromechanical machine used to decipher Nazi codes during World War II. It played a pivotal role in shortening the war and saving countless lives.

The developed during World War II, was the world’s first programmable electronic digital computer. It was used to decrypt coded messages and played a vital role in the Allied victory.

Before the Analytical Engine, Babbage created the Difference Engine in 1822. It was designed to automate polynomial calculations and was successful in its limited use, making it an early model for computational devices.

Often referred to as the "father of the computer," Charles Babbage designed the first mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine, in the 1830s. Though it was never completed in his lifetime, it was the precursor to modern computers.

The abacus, dating back to around 2300 BCE in Mesopotamia, is considered one of the first tools used for performing arithmetic calculations. This simple tool paved the way for more complex computing devices.