A study of the history of computers will reveal there is no single inventor. Because it’s made of different components, no single date can be given for its invention either. Instead a chronology will make things clearer.

1830s to 1900s

As early as 1833, Charles Babbage had already designed an apparatus capable of performing automated calculations. His invention was primarily an analytical engine. Although it had problems functioning, it was in every real sense a computer. Other notable inventors and pioneers of the period were Percy Ludgate and Herman Hollerith.

1930s and World War II

1936 saw the emergence of the Z1 computer, the first one that could be programmed. This was followed by the Mark I in late 1944. However it was World War II that led to greater development.

The history of computers would be influenced by war needs like calculating data, breaking codes and encrypting information. This would lead to the invention of large mainframe computers. From the 1950s onwards, businesses would see its potential for making work easier. One of the pioneers would be International Business Machines (IBM).

The 1980s: Rise of the PC

During the late 1970s, the idea of having these machines in offices became popular. Several companies like Hewlett Packard, Apple and Radio Shack started manufacturing these.

IBM decided to create an open bus / architecture system. This would encourage third party vendors to come out with applications to support it. The history of computers would be changed by the introduction of the IBM PC in 1981.

The IBM PC

This system used the Intel 8088 microprocessor and came with 16 K of RAM (random access memory). It had a monochrome screen and could not display graphics. Its disk drive could hold 160 K of data. This was double what most disks could carry at the time.

Microsoft Windows

IBM did not make an operating system for its PC. Instead it hired a company called Microsoft to develop one. It came up with MS DOS. As the amount of software grew, it became clear that a new operating system was needed. While IBM was developing OS2 which would replace MS DOS, Microsoft released Windows. The history of computers would be changed forever. Windows 3.0 and its successor, Windows 3.1 sold millions of copies.

The new user interface made the PC accessible to non technical users. With the pull down menus, people could now use the PC without having to learn complex command line syntax. The creation of the WYSIWYG technology made word processing easier. Now one could print out what was on screen. Eventually it led to the development of paint and spreadsheet programs too.

The increase in CPU speed have grown rapidly as have the RAM and disk space. From the 16K of RAM and 160 K disk, now computers come with at least 512 MB of RAM and gigabytes of disk space.

The succeeding years has seen technology grow by leaps and bounds. The hardware and software continue to develop. The history of computers shows just how rapid the innovations have come and doubtless more are being done at this very moment.

Anyone studying the evolution of PCs will come across the history of floppy disks. They are no longer used but they serve as reminders of how technology has evolved according to the needs of users.

Invention

The disks were created by IBM in 1971. Other companies, notably BASF began making their own versions. The original could store only 90 K to 110 K. While the original were almost 8 inches, the 5 ¼ diskettes became more popular. The time came when the 8 inch disk became obsolete and the 5 ¼ became the standard for IBM computers.

Limitations of the 5 ¼ Disk

During the late 1970s to early 1980s the 5 ¼ became the standard. However, technological innovations would change the history of floppy disks.

The disks were used for running programs. However the software grew in complexity and size. The 360 K storage was no longer enough. The appearance of hard disks also made them unnecessary for running programs.

A popular and efficient way of communicating with other people through the Internet, sending an electronic mail or email allows computer users to send digital messages to one or multiple recipients. With the development of email, people can send important messages to their relatives, friends and business associates easily and instantly. The development of the Internet contributed allot to the creation of email. However, to know when was email first used, it is best to explore the events related to the development of various computer programs, namely the Compatible Time Sharing System as well as the ARPANET.

History

When was email first used? Electronic mail was first used in 1965 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, several years before the development of the Internet. The launch of the Compatible Time Sharing System in 1961, which allowed several people using various dial-up terminals to access and store files with the use of the IBM 7094. The institute continued to improve this system until in 1965, it had developed a computer program known as the Mailbox, which is now considered as the first electronic mail system. At this time, internetworking was not yet developed, so the Mailbox only allowed people to send messages to the same computer network.

In 1969, the ARPANET computer network was developed. This system made the use of intranetworking computer programs possible. According to some reports, electronic mails have been sent several months after ARPANET was created. However, it was in 1971 when Ray Tomlinson, a contractor of ARPANET, initiated the use of the @ symbol to indicate sending digital messages from one system to another. After this development, the use of email became one of the most popular computer applications of the ARPANET.

Other Relevant Information

Another major advancement in the use of email happened in 1975 when John Vital developed computer software that allowed people to sort and organize the digital messages that they have received. In the 1980s, the first significant and useful electronic mail standard known as the Simple Message Transfer Protocol was developed.

The development of the Internet contributed to the conceptualization of the new email standard Post Office Protocol. In the 1990s, the popularity of the World Wide Web improved, which made the use of electronic mail system more affordable and easier. At this time, some websites like Hotmail and Yahoo! allowed people to use the system free. In the 2000s, sending digital messages to people in the other regions of the world was possible due to the increasing popularity of email.

Not every who goes online is aware of the history of the Internet. Here are some of the basic facts and it’s a striking example of how technology has evolved.

ARPA

Its origin began in the late 1950s. Faced with the threat of the Cold War, the US military devised the ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency). ARPA then commissioned the MIT (Massachusetts in Institute in Technology) in 1965 to create networks. The goal was to create a network that could function in a place savaged by nuclear warfare.

ARPANET

The end product was ARPANET. It was a small network and the nodes included Stanford, UCLA and NASA. In 1973, ARPANET went global by linking with a London University. A pivotal part of the history of the Internet occurred in the mid 1970s. UNIX was created and email became possible. In 1979, USENET was also invented.

The 1980s

This period saw the establishment of its major protocols. These included the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol). This was one of the earliest times that the word itself was used to describe the network.

1984 saw the number of hosts / sites break the 1,000 mark. Symbolics.com becomes the first name be registered. It was in 1988 though, that the first malware was first reported.

The 1990s

By the 1990s the network had come to resemble the interface we today. The reason is that in 1991, Tim Berners Lee created the World Wide Web. This invention changed the history of the Internet forever. With the hyperlinks, it became easier to access information.

Mid to Late 1990s

This period was marked by the introduction of streaming software. Servers like America Online and CompuServe also emerged. Along with these two came various service providers, offering access to the web and email. At this point Netscape and Internet Explorer would emerge as the leading web browsers.

During its early days, only computer companies had web pages. But as more people came to use it, businesses began to see its potential as well. But it was the open source nature of the system that guaranteed its success.

From companies to individual web pages, the history of the Internet would soon experience unprecedented growth. It has been estimated that in the 1990s, online users doubled or tripled every year.

The Present

The technological innovations continue to evolve rapidly. Today email is still the most widely used service on the Net. The World Wide Web is used for accessing all sorts of information, from news to entertainment.

There are now plenty of brosers, including Firefox and Apple Safari. Discussion groups, chat rooms and social networking sites have exploded in popularity. The growth of broadband access has also made it easier to distribute large files like videos. It’s also become possible for people to work at home and shop online.

The history of the Internet and its evolution has been phenomenal. There is no question that as the world becomes more connected, the Net will continue to have an impact on people and the world in general.