Repblica Bolivariana de Venezuela

Ministerio de Educacin Superior

Colegio Universitario Francisco de Miranda
Ctedra: Ingles MOD. I
Seccin: I08-102

THE HISTORY OF COMPUTING .

Realizado por:
Pedron E. Carlos A.
Velasquez V. Joselyn C.

Caracas, Marzo del 2016

The History of Computing.

Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving

computer technology, computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific
part of information technology. Computer science (or computing science) is the
study and the science of the theoretical foundations of information and computation
and their implementation and application in computer systems.
Before 1935, a computer was a person who performed arithmetic
calculations. Between 1935 and 1945 the definition referred to a machine, rather
than a person. The modern machine definition is based on von Neumann's
concepts: a device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces
output. We have gone from the vacuum tube to the transistor, to the microchip.
Then the microchip started talking to the modem. Now we exchange text, sound,
photos and movies in a digital environment.
Charles Babbage invented the concept of a programmable computer in
about 1856. It partly depends on what you mean by "computer", but the earliest
claim is that Charles Babbage invented the first programmable computer in 1822.
The machine was called a "difference engine" and it was intended to generate
mathematical tables. This machine contained 25,000 parts and weighed 15 tons.
Babbage followed this with a "difference engine 2" which, although well funded,
was never completed. Babbage also designed a printer to go along with the
computer, but this also was never completed. In 1989-1991, the London science
museum made a difference engine 2 and printer from Babbage's design. Both
worked perfectly.
Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) was a construction engineer for the Henschel
Aircraft Company in Berlin, Germany at the beginning of WWII. Konrad Zuse
earned the semiofficial title of inventor of the modern computer" for his series of
automatic calculators, which he invented to help him with his lengthy engineering
calculations.
In 1939, Zuse completed the Z2, the first fully functioning electro-mechanical
computer.

In 1943, the British Tommy Flowers completed a secret code-breaking

computer called Colossus to decode German messages. The Colossus's impact on
the development of the computer industry was rather limited for two important
reasons. First, Colossus was not a general-purpose computer; it was only
designed to decode secret messages. Second, the existence of the machine was
kept secret until decades after the war.
The relay-based Harvard-IBM MARK I a large programmable-controlled
calculating machine provides vital calculations for the U.S. Navy. Grace Hopper
becomes its programmer.

Main and Secondary Ideas

1. Main Idea: Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and
improving computer technology, computer hardware and software. It is the
computer-specific part of information technology.
Secondary Idea: Computer science (or computing science) is the study and
the science of the theoretical foundations of information and computation
and

their implementation and application in computer systems.

2. Main Idea: The modern machine definition is based on von Neumann's

concepts: a device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and
produces output. We have gone from the vacuum tube to the transistor, to
the microchip.
Secondary Idea: Before 1935, a computer was a person who performed
arithmetic calculations. Between 1935 and 1945 the definition referred to a
machine, rather than a person. Then the microchip started talking to the
modem. Now we exchange text, sound, photos and movies in a digital
environment.
3. Main Idea: Charles Babbage invented the concept of a programmable
computer in about 1856. It partly depends on what you mean by "computer",
but the earliest claim is that Charles Babbage invented the first
programmable computer in 1822.
Secondary Idea: The machine was called a "difference engine" and it was
intended to generate mathematical tables. This machine contained 25,000
parts and weighed 15 tons. Babbage followed this with a "difference engine
2" which, although well funded, was never completed. Babbage also
designed

a printer to go along with the computer, but this also was never

completed. In

1989-1991, the London science museum made a difference

engine 2 and

rinter from Babbage's design. Both worked perfectly.

4

4. Main Idea: Konrad Zuse earned the semiofficial title of inventor of the
modern computer" for his series of automatic calculators, which he invented
to help him with his lengthy engineering calculations.
Secondary Idea: Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) was a construction engineer for
the Henschel Aircraft Company in Berlin, Germany at the beginning of WWII.
In 1939, Zuse completed the Z2, the first fully functioning electro-mechanical
computer.
5. Main Idea: The Colossus's impact on the development of the computer
industry was rather limited for two important reasons. First, Colossus was
not a general-purpose computer; it was only designed to decode secret
messages. Second, the existence of the machine was kept secret until
decades after the war.
Secondary Idea: In 1943, the British Tommy Flowers completed a secret
code-breaking computer called Colossus to decode German messages.
6. Main Idea: The relay-based Harvard-IBM MARK I a large programmablecontrolled calculating machine provides vital calculations for the U.S. Navy.
Secondary Idea: Grace Hopper becomes its programmer.

Questions and Answers

1. What is computing?
A: Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving
computer technology, computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific
part of information technology.
2. What was the beginning of computing?
A: Between 1935 and 1945 the definition referred to a machine, rather than
a person. The modern machine definition is based on von Neumann's concepts: a
device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output. We
have gone from the vacuum tube to the transistor, to the microchip.
3. Who invented the first computing machine?
A: Charles Babbage invented the concept of a programmable computer in
about 1856. It partly depends on what you mean by "computer", but the earliest
claim is that Charles Babbage invented the first programmable computer in 1822.
4. When was the beginning of modern computers?
A: In 1939, Zuse completed the Z2, the first fully functioning electro
mechanical computer.
5. What was the use of the first computing machine?
A: The Colossus's impact on the development of the computer industry was
rather limited for two important reasons. First, Colossus was not a general-purpose
computer; it was only designed to decode secret messages. Second, the existence
of the machine was kept secret until decades after the war.
6. Which were the first companies in the computer business?
A: Harvard-IBM

Translation
La Historia de la Informtica.
La informtica es usualmente definida como la actividad de usar y mejorar
la tecnologa informtica, hardware del computador y software. Es la parte de la
tecnologa de la informacin encargada del computador. Ciencias de la
computacin (O ciencias informticas) es el estudio y la ciencia de los
fundamentos tericos de informacin y computacin y su implementacin

aplicacin en sistemas computarizados.

Antes de 1935, Un computador era una persona que realizaba clculos
aritmticos. Entre 1935 y 1945 la definicin se refiri a una mquina, en lugar de
una persona. La definicin de la maquina moderna est basada en el concepto de
Von Neumann: Un dispositivo que recibe entradas, procesa datos, almacena datos
y produce salidas. Hemos pasado de tubos de vaco al transistor, al microchip.
Luego

del

microchip,

empezamos

hablar

del

modem.

Ahora

nosotros

intercambiamos texto, sonidos, fotos y pelculas en un ambiente digital.

En 1856, Charles Babbage invento el concepto de una computadora
programable. En parte depende de lo que entiendas por Computadora. Pero la
primera proclama es que Charles Babbage invento la primera computadora
programable en 1822. La mquina fue llamada una Maquina Diferencial y se
pretenda que generara tablas matemticas. Esta mquina contena 25000 partes
y pesaba 15 toneladas. Babbage prosigui con Maquina Diferencial 2 que,
aunque bien financiado, nunca se complet.

Babbage tambin diseo una

impresora para ir junto con el computador, pero esta nunca fue terminada. En
1989-1991, el Museo de Ciencia de Londres realizo la Maquina Diferencial 2 y la
Impresora basados en el diseo de Babbage. Ambos funcionaron perfectamente.

Konrad Zuze (1910-1995), fue un Ingeniero de la Construccin para la

Henschel Aircraft Company en Berlin, Alemania al comienzo de la Segunda Guerra
Mundial. Konrad Zuze gano el titulo semioficial de Inventor de la computadora
moderna por sus series de calculadoras automticas, que fueron inventadas para
ayudarlo con sus extensos clculos de ingeniera. En 1939, Zuze completo la Z2,
La primera computadora electro mecnica, completamente funcional.
En 1943 el britnico Tommy Flowers completo una computadora que rompe
cdigos secretos llamada Collosus para decodificar mensajes Alemanes. El
impacto del Coloso en el desarrollo de la industria de la computadora fue limitado
por dos importantes razones. Primero, el Coloso no era una computadora con un
propsito general, solo fue diseada para decodificar mensajes secretos.
Segundo, La existencia de la maquina se mantuvo en secreto hasta dcadas
despus de terminada la guerra.
La Mark I, de Harvard-IBM, Basada en Rel, una gran maquina calculadora
programable provey clculos vitales para la Marina de los Estados Unidos. Grace
Hopper se convierte en su programador.