Computer science, it sounds like the scientific study of computers,
doesn't it? But Edgar Dijkstra famously said: "Computer science is
no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes." Also, don't
scientists study nature, not machines?
So what is Computer Science about? In a word: algorithms; Obsessively Inventing, testing,
debugging, and improving algorithms. The algorithms might be controlling the
brain of a robot, encrypting a massive stock trade, simulating an ecosystem,
chasing an avatar through a virtual swamp, attacking a drug lord's computer, or
searching a network like the animations above.
When I started to know about its history, it goes long back
in age of B.C and I personally feel good to be
Before 1900
It started with abacus and later another device called Antikythera mechanism which was found at some island in Greece, then came later
somewhere in (1550-1617) the Napier's rod off course by Mr.Napier which simplified
the task of multiplication. Of course there were a lot of other inventions
which were done before we had the modern punched card invented in 1929 by
Herman Hollerith
1900 - 1939 The Rise of Mathematics
Computer science was always about dealing with calculating numbers and doing as many calculations at one time. This was the era when a lot was discovered in
mathematics and also the very famous Turing machine was invented.
1940s
The second world war brought the era of digital computers
and a lot of other inventions, the concepts of which are also used today
ranging from ENIAC,
EDVAC,
EDSAC and also the magnetic core memory was invented..Some great ciphers like Enigma, Purple and many other were seen.
1950s
This is the era which defined the modern computer science
and it's concepts. The first ever "bug" was discovered in 1947. The
first compiler, FORTRAN was developed in 1957. We had the Dijkstra shortest path
algorithm, the Turing Test.
1960s
Computer Science was formally defined as a discipline in this era. The first ever computer science department was at
Purdue University in 1962 (I'm sure most of the computer science students like
me would have no clue about it..). Also, the first ever Ph. D. from a computer
science department was Richard Wexelblat, at the University of Pennsylvania, in
December 1965.
Operating systems saw some advances. BASIC was developed.
Computer mouse was invented in 1968. The first ever microprocessor was designed
in 1969 at Intel. ARPanet was developed,
a precursor to the Internet.
1970s
Some great new inventions which most people are aware of
today was done in this era. The theory of database saw major advances like relational database. Unix was
developed and also the C language. The era was a major player in the invention
today with some other languages being developed like, Pascal, the RISC
architecture, NP-complete problems, supercomputers, Usenet, RSA was invented.
1980s and 1990s
It was the birth of Apple Computers, Computer viruses, Parallel
computers came into development, Quantum Computing, Biological Computing and so
many many more...with time computers kept getting smaller and smaller; with the
birth of nano-technology.
We have reached the space and back. Today we can make
burgers without killing animals and print guns in 3D. With such ground-breaking
research only time will show us what is coming next. I'm definitely excited to
see what's coming our way.
Let me know what you guys feel !
Hello Akshay,
ReplyDeleteI like the way you put in the brief history of computers evolution in your post, and in near future many more new invention and research work to come which really going to bring change in our daily life.
Good work..
Thanks for visiting my blog!
DeleteHi Akshay, I think this is a very informative article about the history of computer science. I find this article very interesting and concise. From the link you gave at the end of your blog about cultured beef, I find it hard to imagine we will be in shortage of meat within the next 40 years. I thought farming technology was supposed to get better year by year. Anyway, I enjoyed reading your blog. Great article!
ReplyDeleteWell technology is changing a lot today. This is just one of them..Time will show us what else is about to come..
DeleteAnyways thanks for visiting my blog Kiet!
This is a very informative article. I like how you split it into major achievements in each decade. This makes it easy to follow the major advancements and see the development over time. The article could have been more compact if you had focused one aspect of computer science and gone in depth of that particular aspect. But overall, great article on the history of computer science. There have been some awesome advancements.
ReplyDeleteYes, Of course could have been compact..but I though of choosing the entire history so as to at least know what dates back in the history of computer science..
DeleteAnyways thanks for visiting my blog!
Hey Ashkay,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time checking out your blog, and I'm loving what I'm reading. You write very well, and this post has been one of my favorites so far. Your detail on the major achievements of each decade is great. It helps guide the reader through what was actually relevant to Computer Science, as opposed to what would seem relevant to an outsider. A lot of great factoids from this post as well, thank you !
Thanks Zajac. I'm glad you loved reading my blog.
Delete