Calculator History

Calculator History 

 Calculate Calculator Tool of Traditional Mechanics and Abacus, which emerged about 5000 years ago in Asia Minor and is still used in some places up to now can be considered as the beginning of computing machines. This tool allows users to perform calculations using sliding beads arranged on a shelf. The merchants of the period using the abacus to calculate the trade transaction. Along with the emergence of a pencil and paper, especially in Europe, the abacus lost its popularity.

Abacus

Calculator History 

 After nearly 12 centuries, came another discovery in terms of computing machines. In 1642, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), who at that time was 18 years old, found what he called a numerical wheel Calculator to help his father calculate taxes. This brass square box, called the Pascaline, used eight toothed wheel to add up the numbers to eight digits. This tool is based counter number ten. The weakness of this tool is only limited to the sum.

Calculator History 

 In 1694, a German mathematician and philosopher, Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz (1646-1716) fix the Pascaline by creating a machine that could multiply. Just like its predecessor, this mechanical device work by using the wheels of the serrations.

By studying the notes and drawings made ​​by Pascal, Leibniz can fine-tune the instrument.

 Calculator History  

 It was only in 1820; mechanical Calculator became popular.

Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar finds a machine that can perform four basic arithmetic functions. Colmar mechanical  Calculator, arthrometer, presented a more practical approach in the calculations because the device can perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. With his ability, arthrometer widely used until World War I. Together with Pascal and Leibniz, Colmar helped build a mechanical computing era.

 Beginning of the computer that is actually formed by a professor of English mathematician, Charles Babbage (1791-1871). In 1812, Babbage noticed the natural compatibility between machines and mathematics mechanical machine that is very good at doing the same tasks repeatedly without a mistake; being a simple repetition of mathematics requires certain steps. And then the problem is growing up to put the machine mechanics as a tool to address the needs of mechanics. Babbage's first attempt to address this issue appeared in 1822 when he proposed a machine to perform the calculations of differential equations. The machine was called the Differential Engine. By using steam, the machine can store programs and can perform calculations and print the results automatically.

 After working for ten years Differential Engine, Babbage was suddenly inspired to start creating a general-purpose computer first, called the Analytical Engine. Babbage's assistant, Augusta Ada King (1815-1842) has an important role in the manufacture of this machine. He helped revise the plan, seek funding from the British government, and communicate to the public specification of the Analytical Engine. In addition, a good understanding of Augusta about this machine makes it possible to put the instructions into the machine and also make it the first female programmer. In 1980, the U.S. Defense Department named a programming language with the name of the ADA as a tribute to him.

 Calculator History  

 In 1889, Herman Hollerith (1860-1929) also applied the perforated cards to perform calculations. His first task is to find a faster way to do the calculations for the U.S. Census Bureau. Previous census conducted in 1880 took seven years to complete the calculations With growing population, the Bureau estimates that it takes ten years to complete the census count.

 Hollerith uses perforated cards to enter census data are then processed by a mechanical device. A card can store up to 80 variables. By using these tools, the census can be completed within six weeks. Besides having the advantage in speed, the card serves as a data storage media. The error rate calculations can also be reduced drastically. Hollerith then develops the tools and sells them to the public. He founded the Tabulating Machine Company in 1896, which later became International Business Machine (1924) after some time of the merger. Other companies such as Remington Rand and Burroughs also produce perforated card reader for a business venture. Perforated cards used by businesses to process data dn government until 1960.

 Calculator History 

 In the next period, several other engineers to make new discoveries. Vannevar Bush (1890-1974) created a  Calculator to solve differential equations in 1931. The machine could solve complex differential equation that is considered complicated by academics. The machine is very large and heavy as hundreds of teeth and the shaft needed to perform calculations. In 1903, John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry tried to apply an electric computer boolean algebra in electrical circuits.

This approach is based on the work of George Boole (1815-1864) in the form of a binary system of algebra, which states that any mathematical equation can be expressed as true or false. By applying the conditions are right and wrong into the electrical circuit in the form of connected-disconnected, Atanasoff and Berry made ​​the first electric computer in 1940. However, those projects stalled due to loss of funding sources.