1

Chapter Overview

The Development of the Computer The Role of a Computer Service

Professional

2

The Abacus

3

The Analytical Engine

4

The First Electrically Driven Computer

5

The Digital Electronic Computer

1939: Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) 1943: Colossus I 1945: Electronic Numerical Integrator

and Computer (ENIAC) 1960s–1970s: Golden era of the

mainframe computer

6

Milestones of Modern Computing

1971: first 4-bit multiprocessor (MP) 4004— 1 MHz

1978: first 16-bit MP 8086 and coprocessor 8087

1981: first PC by IBM (MS-DOS)—4.7 MHz 1986: first 32-bit computer—80386 1992: first Pentium—i586 1999: processor speed exceeds 1 GHz

7

The Role of a Computer Service Professional

Technician: troubleshoot hardware and software

Scholar: continuously update skills and broaden knowledge

Diplomat: cultivate good customer service skills

8

Chapter Summary The abacus was the first computing device. Charles Babbage conceived the first

mechanical computer. The first electrical computer computed

results of the 1890 United States census. The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (1939) was

the first digital computer. Today’s computer service professional

must be a technician, scholar, and diplomat.