Computer History
Key Concepts & Formulas
| # | Concept | Quick Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abacus (3000 BCE) | World’s first calculating device - wooden frame with beads for arithmetic operations |
| 2 | Charles Babbage | Father of Computer - designed Difference Engine (1822) & Analytical Engine (1833) |
| 3 | ENIAC (1946) | First electronic general-purpose computer - weighed 30 tons, size = 1800 sq ft room |
| 4 | Generations of Computers | 5 generations based on technology: Vacuum tubes → Transistors → IC → VLSI → AI/Quantum |
| 5 | Binary System | Base-2 number system (0,1) used by all computers - each 0/1 = 1 bit |
| 6 | ASCII Code | American Standard Code for Information Interchange - 7-bit code for 128 characters |
| 7 | Moore’s Law | Transistor count doubles every 2 years - explains rapid computer advancement |
10 Practice MCQs
Q1. Who is known as the Father of Computers? A) Bill Gates B) Charles Babbage C) Steve Jobs D) Alan Turing
Answer: B) Charles Babbage
Solution: Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine in 1833, which was the first concept of a programmable computer. His designs contained all basic elements of modern computers.
Shortcut: Remember “Babbage = Baba (Father) of Computers”
Concept: Computer History - Pioneers and Inventors
Q2. The first generation computers used which technology? A) Transistors B) Vacuum Tubes C) IC Chips D) Microprocessors
Answer: B) Vacuum Tubes
Solution: First generation (1946-1959) computers like ENIAC used vacuum tubes as their main electronic component. These were large, consumed high power, and generated significant heat.
Shortcut: “First = Vacuum” (both have 6 letters)
Concept: Computer Generations - Technology Evolution
Q3. ENIAC computer was developed in which year? A) 1936 B) 1946 C) 1956 D) 1966
Answer: B) 1946
Solution: ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was completed in 1946 at University of Pennsylvania. It could perform 5000 additions per second.
Shortcut: “ENIAC = 1946” (both end with 6)
Concept: Early Computers - Development Timeline
Q4. Which computer generation introduced microprocessors? A) Second B) Third C) Fourth D) Fifth
Answer: C) Fourth
Solution: Fourth generation (1971-present) began with Intel 4004 microprocessor in 1971. This enabled development of personal computers and portable devices.
Shortcut: “Fourth = Micro” (both have 4-5 letters)
Concept: Computer Generations - Key Innovations
Q5. The binary number system was conceptualized by: A) Isaac Newton B) Gottfried Leibniz C) Blaise Pascal D) John Napier
Answer: B) Gottfried Leibniz
Solution: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) formalized binary number system in 1703. He showed how all numbers could be represented using only 0 and 1.
Shortcut: “Leibniz = Binary” (both have ‘i’ as second last letter)
Concept: Early Mathematical Concepts - Binary System
Q6. Which company developed the first commercial computer UNIVAC I? A) IBM B) Remington Rand C) Intel D) Microsoft
Answer: B) Remington Rand
Solution: UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer) was delivered to US Census Bureau in 1951 by Remington Rand. It used magnetic tape for data storage.
Shortcut: “UNIVAC = Universal” (same company - Remington Rand)
Concept: Commercial Computing - Early Business Machines
Q7. The first computer programmer was: A) Ada Lovelace B) Grace Hopper C) Hedy Lamarr D) Katherine Johnson
Answer: A) Ada Lovelace
Solution: Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) wrote the first algorithm for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine in 1843, making her the world’s first computer programmer.
Shortcut: “Ada = First Lady of Programming”
Concept: Computer Programming History - Pioneers
Q8. Which generation computers used VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) technology? A) Third B) Fourth C) Fifth D) Sixth
Answer: B) Fourth
Solution: Fourth generation computers (1971-present) use VLSI technology placing millions of transistors on a single chip, enabling microprocessors and personal computers.
Shortcut: “VLSI = Fourth” (V=22, F=6; 2+2=4, matches generation number)
Concept: Advanced Integration Technology - VLSI Impact
Q9. The first supercomputer CDC 6600 had a processing speed of: A) 1 MIPS B) 3 MIPS C) 10 MIPS D) 100 MIPS
Answer: B) 3 MIPS
Solution: CDC 6600 (1964) by Control Data Corporation achieved 3 MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second). It was 3 times faster than IBM 7094 of that era.
Shortcut: “CDC 6600 = 3 MIPS” (6600 → 6+6=12 → 1+2=3)
Concept: Supercomputer Evolution - Performance Metrics
Q10. Which computer marked the beginning of fifth generation computing? A) IBM PC B) Cray-1 C) PARAM 8000 D) FGCS Project
Answer: D) FGCS Project
Solution: Japan’s FGCS (Fifth Generation Computer Systems) project (1982-1992) aimed at developing computers with artificial intelligence and parallel processing capabilities.
Shortcut: “FGCS = Fifth Generation Computer System” (same acronym)
Concept: Modern Computing - AI and Parallel Processing Era
5 Previous Year Questions
PYQ 1. The first electronic computer ENIAC used which number system? [RRB NTPC 2021 CBT-1]
Answer: Decimal Number System
Solution: ENIAC used decimal (base-10) system internally, not binary. It had 10 ring counters representing digits 0-9. Binary became standard later.
Exam Tip: Don’t assume early computers used binary - ENIAC was decimal-based despite being electronic
PYQ 2. Who invented the mechanical calculator called Pascaline? [RRB Group D 2022]
Answer: Blaise Pascal
Solution: Blaise Pascal invented Pascaline in 1642 at age 19 to help his father with tax calculations. It could add and subtract using geared wheels.
Exam Tip: Remember “Pascaline = Pascal” (same name) - built for tax calculations like railway ticketing
PYQ 3. The transistor was invented in which year, marking start of second generation? [RRB ALP 2018]
Answer: 1947
Solution: Transistor invented at Bell Labs by Bardeen, Brattain & Shockley in 1947. Second generation computers (1959-1965) used transistors replacing vacuum tubes.
Exam Tip: “1947 = Transistor” (both have ‘4’ in them) - Independence year and tech breakthrough
PYQ 4. Which Indian supercomputer was developed by C-DAC in 1991? [RRB JE 2019]
Answer: PARAM 8000
Solution: PARAM (Parallel Machine) 8000 achieved 1 GFLOPS performance. Developed after US denied Cray supercomputer export to India.
Exam Tip: “PARAM = Parallel Machine” - remember Indian contribution to supercomputing
PYQ 5. The concept of stored program computer was given by: [RPF SI 2019]
Answer: John von Neumann
Solution: John von Neumann (1945) proposed storing instructions and data in same memory. This von Neumann architecture is still used in modern computers.
Exam Tip: “Neumann = Stored Program” - like storing train routes and passenger data together
Speed Tricks & Shortcuts
| Situation | Shortcut | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Remembering Computer Generations | “VT-VIC-MA” | Vacuum Tubes (1st) → VLSI (4th): V=1st, T=2nd (Transistor), I=3rd (IC), C=4th (VLSI Chips), M=5th (Modern/AI), A=Always advancing |
| Early Computer Pioneers | “ABC Order” | Atanasoff (A) → Babbage (B) → Charles Babbage detailed designs → Eckert & Mauchly (E) |
| Binary to Decimal Conversion | “Power of 2” | 1011₂ = 1×2³ + 0×2² + 1×2¹ + 1×2⁰ = 8+0+2+1 = 11₁₀ |
| ASCII Character Range | “0-31 & 32-127” | 0-31: Control chars, 32-127: Printable (32=space, 48-57: 0-9, 65-90: A-Z, 97-122: a-z) |
| Moore’s Law Timeline | “18-24 Month Doubling” | 1971: 2300 transistors (Intel 4004) → 2020: 50+ billion (modern chips) = ~50 years = 25+ doublings |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why Students Make It | Correct Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Confusing ENIAC with UNIVAC | Both are early computers with similar names | ENIAC (1946) = First electronic, UNIVAC I (1951) = First commercial. Remember: E=Electronic, U=Universal Commercial |
| Assuming all early computers were binary | Modern computers use binary creates bias | ENIAC used decimal, binary became standard later. Check generation: 1st gen = decimal possible |
| Mixing up generations | Similar technologies in adjacent generations | Clear timeline: 1st (1946-59), 2nd (1959-65), 3rd (1965-71), 4th (1971-pres), 5th (1982-pres) |
| Forgetting Indian contributions | Focus on Western developments | Remember: PARAM series, Siddharth (C-DAC), ANURAG (DRDO) - India has strong supercomputing history |
| Confusing Babbage’s engines | Multiple designs by same person | Difference Engine = Calculating polynomials, Analytical Engine = General purpose programmable |
Quick Revision Flashcards
| Front (Question/Term) | Back (Answer) |
|---|---|
| Father of Computer | Charles Babbage |
| First Programmer | Ada Lovelace |
| ENIAC Year | 1946 |
| Binary System Base | 2 |
| ASCII Bits | 7 bits (128 characters) |
| Moore’s Law Period | 18-24 months |
| PARAM Developer | C-DAC India |
| First Generation Component | Vacuum Tubes |
| Fifth Generation Focus | AI & Parallel Processing |
| UNIVAC I Year | 1951 |
Topic Connections
Direct Link:
- Computer Fundamentals - Understanding history explains why modern computers work as they do (binary, stored program concept)
- Number Systems - Binary system’s adoption connects directly to computer history evolution
- Computer Architecture - Von Neumann architecture from 1945 still forms basis of modern computers
Combined Questions:
- Computer generations + Hardware components (vacuum tubes/transistors/ICs)
- Early computers + Number systems (decimal ENIAC vs binary modern)
- Programming history + Software concepts (Ada Lovelace’s algorithm to modern programming)
Foundation For:
- Advanced Computing - Cloud computing, AI, quantum computing all build on historical foundations
- Networking - Internet evolved from ARPANET (1969) - knowing timeline helps understand protocols
- Database Systems - From punch cards to modern databases - evolution of data storage
BETA
