Who made The computer? By Stephen Brewer

Who Really Invented the Computer?

In short, the computer was created by a man by the name of Charles Babbage. Between 1833 and 1871 Babbage had grown tired of doing math the long and tedious way and dreamed of a machine that could change the way mathematics were done and the future of man-made technology.

Babbage worked as a "computer" before he came up with the idea to create this machine. The job of a computer these days was to compute, or calculate. His job was to sit at a table and do nothing but math. Taxes, financial accounts, missile launch positioning and many other tasks that included a lot of difficult math functions that became tiring very quickly. He needed a new way and dreamed of the computer.

A photo of Charles Babbage

After many years of working, Charles created a machine called a "Difference Engine" which had the capabilities to add and subtract numbers but did not include an ability to multiply or divide. He used government funding to spend 8 years working on the prototype until it finally became tangible.

Babbage moved on from his spectacular creation and made something even more grand which he entitled an "Analytical Engine" this was a lot more powerful than his previous endeavor and even included multiplication and division capabilities. Parts he used for this mechanism are even used in computers that are around today such as a Central Processing Unit.

An intel Central Processing Unit

Many many steps had to be taken to get anywhere close to the computers we have today. The first computer that included a screen and other graphic interphase features wasn't released until 1975. Innovations such as microprocessors, typing, internal memory, and printing were all just steps that led to what we have today. For many years the main focus was solely based on speed not an update on the technology involved with it.

Eventually computers were progressed and perfected by innovators like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Larry Page, and people at IBM to achieve the incredible product we have today with endless capabilities and uses. Computers are currently a huge part of our daily lives. We should all be thankful for Charles Babbage's ingenuity because it truly changed our lives.

The Difference Engine immortalized in a museum

The Analytical Engine shortly thereafter

The Model 701 Electronic Data Processing Machine in 1954

Xerox Alto graphic computer in 1975

The first Apple Macintosh computer created in 1984 sold commercially for $2,500

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Created with images by Unsplash - "workstation office business"

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