What are the predecessor inventions to the computer?

Answer 1

Well, this might suprise you. The first computer was actually originally envisioned in 1834 by Charles Babbage. It was not a computer as we think of one today. It was made up of mechanical (not electrical) parts. He never actually could build it because at the time parts could not be made to the precision needed for it to work correctly. See this page for interesting info: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/babbage/index.asp The first electronic computer was made during WWII by the U.S. to help create mathematical tables that helped the military aim its weapons, such as, bombs, precisely. Prior to this, these tables were created by humans painstakingly calculating the values mostly by hand. This computer was named ENIAC (electronic numerical integrator and computer). To create this machine certain technologies needed to be used that already existed at the time. It took a number of years to build ENIAC and was finally finished in the fall of 1945. Read this: http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~museum/3tech.html I hope this sheds some light on the evolution of the computer. RS 13/20/51 John Vincent Atanasoff (1903-1995) Papers, 1925-2003 Special Collections Department 403 Parks Library Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011-2140 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------The other answer that is better prooved and supported is: creator: John Vincent Atanasoff (1903-1995) repository: University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. preferred citation: John Vincent Atanasoff Papers, RS 13/20/51, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Biographical note John Vincent Atanasoff was born in 1903 in New York State. His father was a Bulgarian immigrant named Ivan (John) Atanasov and his mother was Iva Lucena Purdy, a mathematics schoolteacher. The couple had nine children and resided in Brewster, Florida, during John Vincent

Answer 2

Several people had attempts at inventing the computer.

Charles Babbage, in Victorian times, made a mechanical machine that was programmable and could solve equations.

The first electronic computer was invented by several people, at Bletchly park during the second world war, to solve German code messages.

This was top secret, so was not acknowledged as the first, until recently.

The need for a computer arose in making tables, like log tables, that needed repetitive calculations.

Early computers were used for calculating trajectory of missiles such as shells.

Programing arose in the making of looms that could produce decrotive cloth, quickly, cheaply and easily.

The modern computer could only be realised with the development of transistors and integrated circuits. Then all the previous developments could be brought together, in a machine that took up less room than a whole building and consume less electricity, than the entire national grid.

Hats off for Shockley and Bardeen at Bell laboratories, for the transistor.

Answer 3

Things like a calculator I think. Anything really electronic.....

Answer 4

Typewriters & electric or manual calculating machines

Answer 5

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