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| Blaise Pascal |
A young man who was at that time found an instrument called a numerical wheel calculator. The idea of making this tool is to assist his father's work in tax calculations.
This brass rectangular box is called pascaline. using eight jagged wheels to number up to eight digits. This tool is a calculation tool based on 10. The weakness of this tool is only limited to summation.
Here is a form of pascaline created by Blaise pascal (1623-1662).
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| Pascaline |
By studying the notes and drawings made by Pascal, Leibniz was able to refine his tools. Then in 1820, mechanical calculators became popular. Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar invented a machine that can perform four basic arithmetic functions. The Colmar mechanical calculator, an arithometer, presents a more practical approach to calculation because it can add, subtract, multiplicate, and divide. With his abilities, the arithometer was used extensively until World War I.
Together with Pascal and Leibniz, Colmar helped build the era of mechanical computing.
The beginning of the actual computer was formed by a British mathematics professor, Charles Babbage (1791-1871). In 1812, Babbage noticed the natural suitability between mechanical and mathematical machines: mechanical machines are excellent at performing the same task repeatedly without error; while math requires a simple repetition of a certain step.
The problem then developed to put mechanical machines as a tool to answer the needs of mechanics. Babbage's first attempt to address this problem came in 1822 when he proposed a machine to perform the calculation of differential equations. The machine is called Differential Machine. By using steam power, the machine can save the program and can perform calculations and print the results automatically.
After working with Differential Machines for ten years, Babbage was suddenly inspired to start making the first general-purpose computer, called the Analytical Engine. Babbage's assistant, Augusta Ada King (1815-1842) or so-called Lady Ada Byron has an important role in making this machine. He helped revise plans, seek funding from the UK government, and communicate the Anlytical Engine specifications to the public. In addition, Augusta's good understanding of this machine enabled him to make instructions to put in the machine and also make him the first female programmer. In 1980, the US Department of Defense named a programming language under the name ADA as a tribute to it.
Lady Ada Byron (Programer pertama)
The Babbage steam engine, though never finished, looks very primitive when compared to today's standards. However, the tool describes the basic elements of a modern computer and also reveals an important concept. Consisting of about 50,000 components, the basic design of Analytical Engine uses perforated cards (holes) that contain operating instructions for the machine.
In 1889, Herman Hollerith (1860-1929) also applied the principle of perforation cards to perform counting. His first task was to find a faster way to do the calculations for the US Census Bureau. The previous census conducted in 1880 took seven years to complete the calculation. As the population grows, the Bureau estimates that it takes ten years to complete the census calculations.
In 1889, Herman Hollerith (1860-1929) also applied the principle of perforation cards to perform counting. His first task was to find a faster way to do the calculations for the US Census Bureau. The previous census conducted in 1880 took seven years to complete the calculation. As the population grows, the Bureau estimates that it takes ten years to complete the census calculations.
Kartu Perfomasi
Hollerith uses perforated cards to input census data which is then processed by the device mechanically. A card can store up to 80 variables. Using the tool, the results of the census can be completed within six weeks. In addition to having an advantage in the field of speed, the card serves as a data storage medium. The error rate calculation can also be reduced drastically. Hollerith then developed the tool and sold it to the wider community. He founded the Tabulating Machine Company in 1896 which later became the International Business Machine (1924) after experienced multiple mergers. Other companies such as Remington Rand and Burroghs also produce perforation card readers for business. Perforation cards were used by business and government for data processing until 1960.
In the next period, several engineers made other new discoveries. Vannevar Bush (1890-1974) constructed a calculator to solve differential equations in 1931. The machine could solve complex differential equations that had been considered complicated by academics. The machine is very large and heavy because of the hundreds of teeth and shafts needed to perform the calculations. In 1903, John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry
trying to make an electric computer that applies Boolean algebra to electrical circuits. This approach is based on the work of George Boole (1815-1864) in the form of an algebraic binary system, which states that any mathematical equation can be expressed as true or false. By applying the wrong conditions right into the circuit in a disconnected form, Atanasoff and Berry made the first electric computer in 1940. But their project ceased due to loss of sources of funding.
In the next period, several engineers made other new discoveries. Vannevar Bush (1890-1974) constructed a calculator to solve differential equations in 1931. The machine could solve complex differential equations that had been considered complicated by academics. The machine is very large and heavy because of the hundreds of teeth and shafts needed to perform the calculations. In 1903, John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry
trying to make an electric computer that applies Boolean algebra to electrical circuits. This approach is based on the work of George Boole (1815-1864) in the form of an algebraic binary system, which states that any mathematical equation can be expressed as true or false. By applying the wrong conditions right into the circuit in a disconnected form, Atanasoff and Berry made the first electric computer in 1940. But their project ceased due to loss of sources of funding.
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