1.2 Evolution of Computer Systems

In this section, you will learn about both the origins and the advancements of computer technology. Then you will explore innovative uses of computers to enhance different aspects of our lives. You may also discover how computers can be helpful in your field of interest, whether it is education services, medical research, business management, or entertainment. At the end of this section, you can read about the computer industry, which has become a major segment of the world economy, generating many types of career opportunities and businesses.

Reading Sequence: 1.2.1 Brief History. Learning Goal: Understand the origins and the advancements of computer technology. Parsons/Oja, Chapter 9-Section A. Learning Goal: Knowledge of the history of computing and computers. 1.2.2 Applications of Computer Systems. Learning Goal: Gain a broad understanding of how computers can be used to enhance different aspects of our lives. Parsons/Oja, Chapter 9-Section B. Learning Goal: Knowledge of the computer and IT (information technology) industries and their impact on the modern world markets, product life cycles, and market tiers. Parsons/Oja, Chapter 9-Section C. Learning Goal: Knowledge of the different careers available in the computer industry. In Addition: There are several popular websites for job seekers. After completing this reading, go to Monster.com and click Search Jobs to search for computer-related jobs in your area. First, in the Location Search box, select a location near you, and then enter a keyword such as "programmer" or "database" in the Keyword Search box.

                                 

Assessment: Multiple-Choice Quiz 2

1.2.1 Brief History

• 1200s—Manual Calculating Devices

• 1600s—Mechanical Calculators

• 1800s—Punched Cards

• 1940s—Vacuum Tubes

• 1950s—Transistors

• 1960s—Integrated Circuits (IC)

• 1970s to Present—Microprocessor

• Pace of Advancement

As commerce developed in earlier societies, people began to realize the need for a bookkeeping system to enable them to add, subtract, and record simple transactions. To facilitate the bookkeeping process, counting devices were developed. At first, people used fingers, stones, and sticks to count. Later on, mechanical calculators emerged, but they were slow and bulky. When electricity was discovered, electronic components replaced the bulky mechanical parts and enabled smaller, faster computing devices. Computers are continually evolving towards faster computations, increased storage capacity, and smaller size, while maintaining their affordability.

With advancements in computing devices, the uses of computers have gone beyond the scope of commerce and they are integral to many aspects of our lives. Purchases are processed through computers. Products are designed using computers. Movies are made with computer simulations. The growth of the computing industry is driven by the numerous ways computing technology can be applied in areas such as commerce, communications, banking, and education. In the next section, we will discuss how computer technology can be used.

We will begin our discussion on how computers developed by examining periods in time characterized by its pioneering research to bring computing to solve data-intensive or compute-intensive problems. You will see how computing methods advanced to where we are today.