Evolution of Computer Technology: A Look at First Generation of Computers

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Evolution of Computer Technology: A Look at First Generation of Computers

It cannot be disputed that computer technology remains one of the most significant in as far as revolutionizing life in modern times is concerned. Generally, computers are categorized into five generations, depending on the period of development and the specific type of technology employed.[1] A generation marks a specific time in the history and development of a certain category of computers, with each based on an entirely new concept or marking an improvement on an already existing one. This essay will be seeking to shed light on the history of computers, with more focus on the first generation of computers, more precisely the period between 1937 and 1946. Of interest in this regard will be the work of Iowa State physics professor John V. Atanasoff and graduate student Clifford Berry in constructing what became to be known as the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC).

The first generation of computers relied on the use of vacuum tubes which relied on circuity and magnetic drums for memory (see Figure 1 below). These types of computers were enormous and took literally the entire rooms and were very costly to run.[2] Additionally, these first generation of computers were generated a lot of heat because they relined on inefficient materials. Also, due to the amounts of heat that was emitted, they consumed huge amounts of electricity, and also caused a lot of breakdowns.[3] The first generation of computers were also reliant on machine language which is considered as the most basic programming that most computers can understand.  Moreover, the first generation were limited to the resolution of one problem at a time and could not be relied upon to engage in a multitude of tasks at the same time.  The input of the computers was based on punched cards and paper tape with the output coming out in print-outs. Example of computers which were the first generation include UNIVAC and ENIAC computers. It is critical to note that UNIVAC was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client; the U.S. Census Bureau.[4] Nevertheless. It is vital to focus on the developments which happened between 1937 and 19546 in terms of the evolution of computer technology.

Figure 1: Vacuum Tubes used for the first generation of computers. Source:

A pivotal moment in the evolution of computer technology was in 1937 when John V. Atanasoff, a professor of both physics and mathematics at Iowa State University, made a deliberate attempt to build the first computer that did not use gears, bet, cams or shafts.[5] Specifically, J. V. Atanasoff was focused on the design of a computer that was an all-round electronic. The mechanism used by the distinguished professor was the Boolean logic, especially in representing instructions and data as well as in the performance of calculations. One of the pivotal developments in this first generation of computers was the extension of the Boolean logic to represent both 0 and 1 using the “off” and “on” state of the electronic computer.[6] Further developments were made by Atanasoff with his talented graduates such as Clifford Berry which culminated in the developments of the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) (see Figure 2 below). The invention of this new technology for the computer leads to Atanasoff being referred to as the inventor of the term “analog computer,” which was mostly used in the description of non-electronic computers such as Vannevar Bush’s Differential Analyzer.[7] Notably, the aim of the ABC computer was to test two central ideas. On of those is whether capacitors could be used in the storage of data in binary form, whereas the second one is whether electronic logic circuits could be used to perform the tasks of addition and subtraction.[8] It is critical to examine the various compounds of the ABC computer considered to be the first generation computer.

Figure 2: Picture of the ABC computer by John V. Atanasoff. Source: https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/birth-of-the-computer/4/99

The various components of the ABC were built and designed by different persons in the years between 1937 and 1942. One of the vital aspects of the computer was the development of different kinds of punched card equipment and the giant programmable calculator; the ASCC/Harvard Mark I. Specifically, in 1937, Howard Aiken petitioned IBM to build a calculator based on Babbage's Analytical Engine, which was reliant on the use of cards and a central unit for computing.[9] The completion of the machine was instrumental in the development of computer because such a calculator was incorporated into the ABC. However, it was in 1941 that a major breakthrough was found. In this year, both John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry arrived at a computer design that was capable of solving 29 equations simultaneously.[10] This year was the fort time in the history of computers that an electronic machine which could store information in its memory was made. The ABC computer was now composed of 300 vacuum tubes used in the control of arithmetic calculations.[11] Also, such a computer used binary number numbers and logic operations as opposed to direct counting. More importantly, the ABC had memory capacitors and punched cards which were the input and output units. It is now vital to examine the schematic aspect of the ABC.

ABC was just about the size of a desk with a weight of about 315 kilograms. Additionally, it originally contained 280 vacuum tubes (later increased to 300) and contained 31 thyratrons ( see Figure 3 below). Apart from having the capability to solve large systems of linear algebraic equations, it could also solve tasks with thirty coefficients including constant terms.[12] Additionally, ABC could handle tasks that had fifteen decimal places deploying the Gaussian elimination algorithm. The ABC’s functions were in tandem with Atanasoff’s original idea, which was to come up with a computer capable of solving a large set of equations via the elimination of designated variables from overlapping and successive pairs. The ABC achieved this task because it could generate a new set of ideas in even one fewer variables and then repeating the same process for a new set of variables and so forth. Ultimately, the computer reached a final single equation in a single variable. The users of the computer could then find single equations in other variables and hence, calculate the value of every variable.[13] Such functions and features were not available in the previous computers which makes the ABC a vital innovation in the first generation of computers.

Figure 3: A scheme of ABC. Source: https://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Electronic/Atanasoff.html

The structural operations and principles used in ABC were three basic aspects of storage, arithmetic, and output/input. Although Atanasoff made various considerations in terms of possibilities of the storage of the computer, he decided to choose a rotating electrostatic store (drum). The drum was based on the capacitors and the keyboard and counter-drums were then mounted on a common axle. Also, the drums were eleven inches in length and eight inches in dimeters with a total of 1600 capacitors each.[14] Moreover, in terms of the capacity of the drums, each could hold 50 bits each in 30 numbers. However Atanasoff’s arithmetic unit consisted of vacuum tubes, which consisted of 30 computing mechanisms and several mechanisms of control. From the 30 computing mechanisms, thirty were for electronic add-subtract and 30 others were for other primary electronic mechanisms.[15] Moreover, the input device used an existent punch card reader of IBM Corp with both binary and decimal readers. However, in the case of output, Atanasoff decided to use a high-voltage thyratron-based puncher which at first failed. Specifically, in the output, the experiments of the machine done in 1942 revealed a serious flaw.  However, the ABC computer became the pioneer computer and paved way for the design of better computers, which could solve complex tasks.

Although ABC was the most notable first generation computer, other first generation computers which paved the way for more advanced ones are the ENIAC and UNIVAC. Notably, although no one before had tried to create a computer for commercial purposes, ENIAC did do when it sought to transform their computer into a commercial product. In 1951, a breakthrough happened when UNIVAC, a first generation computer was delivered to the US Census Bureau.[16] One of the major development was seen when UNIVAC correctly predicted the winner of the 1952 presidential elections. Notably, UNIVAC was slightly advanced from ABC because although it used punched cards, it could also accept input from magnetic tapes.[17] Moreover, it also relied on vacuum tubes for memory. UNIVAC was more advanced that ENIAC and ABC and is considered to have been a more modern machine. One of the significant evolutionary aspects of UNIVAC is that it was more reliable and employed the store-program concept. Additionally, it could also provide a supervisory typewriter, which controlled the computer and the use of the magnetic tapes ensured that it had unlimited storage.[18] Due to the various features which make it far more improved than ABC, UNIVAC is majorly considered to be the first generation of “general-purpose computer.”[19] This computer gave way to the second generation of computers, which were more advanced.

In sum, the evolution of computer started with the first generation computers, which relied on vacuum tubes and magnetic drums. These computers were extremely heavy and consumed huge amounts of electricity. Additionally, they were highly inefficient and emitted huge amounts of heat. One of the primary first generation of computer developed between 1937 and 1946 is Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC). The ABC was one of the first generation computers designed and developed by professor Atanasoff and his graduate students. However, this computer was key because it was able to solve multiple tasks simultaneously and could store information in its memory. Additionally, ENIAC and UNIVAC  improved ABC and were more reliable and efficient. Actually, UNIVAC became the first computer to correctly predict the results of the US presidential elections in 1952. The first generation computers demonstrate how technology has improved over the years to the current complex and sophisticated computers.

[1] John, Gustafson. "Reconstruction of the Atanasoff-Berry computer." The First Computers: History and Architectures (2015): 91.

[2] Bas, Kloet, and van Tilburg Paual. "John Vincent Atanasoff: Inventor of the Digital Computer." Paul. lueon. net (2006): 2.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Arthur W., Burks, and R. Burks Alice. "First general-purpose electronic computer." Annals of the History of Computing 3, no. 4 (1981): 310.

[5] Gustafson, (n.1), 92.

[6] Ibid.

[7] John Vincent, Atanasoff. "Advent of electronic digital computing." Annals of the History of Computing 6, no. 3 (1984): 229.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Atanasoff, (n.7), 230.

[10] John V, Atanasoff. "Computing machine for the solution of large systems of linear algebraic equations." In The Origins of Digital Computers, pp. 315. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 1982.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Atanasoff, (n.10), 316.

[13] Ibid.

[14] John V., Atanasoff, and Brandt, A. E.. "Application of Punched Card Equipment to the Analysis of Complex Spectra." JOSA 26, no. 2 (1936): 83.

[15] Ibid, 84.

[16] Burks and Alice, (n.4), 311.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Gustafson, (n.1), 94.

[19]Ibid, 95.