Computer history Objectives: 1. Trace the history of computer. 2.

Enumerate the computing devices

used before the development of modern computer. 3. Describe each of the early computing devices/
machines. Do you know that the first computer were women? The term computer was originally a job
title and these jobs were typically filled by women with Math degrees. The mechanical device was given
the name computer because it was intended to replace these workers. Do you know that the first
computer programmer was also a woman? But the computer for which she wrote her programs was
never finished. This was because it was the 1800’s and the computer was as big as a house and powered
by six steam engines

From Stones to Easy Computing The first tools used for calculation were man’s own fingers, and it is no
coincidence that the Latin word “digit” is used to refer a finger or toe as well as a numerical quantity. As
the need to represent larger numbers grows, early man employed readily available materials for the
purpose. Small stones and pebbles were used to represent larger numbers. Thus, it is no coincidence
that the word “calculate” was derived from the Latin word for pebble: calculus. Abucus (1367) is the first
known computer. It is made out of a wooded frame with beads on rods used to do simple calculations. It
was developed and introduced by the Chinese for business transactions and for calculating money.