SUBJECT - Evolution Of

Information Technology(IT)
Q) When did the evolution of IT begin?
Ans : The evolution of IT began in the 1970s.

Topics for the Evolution of Information Technology (IT) are listed below:

I.Evolution Of Computers - talks about changes in hardware

technologies.
 Evolution of Computing Devices
 The Generation of Computers

II. Evolution Of Storage And Display Technologies - talks about changes in

enabling technologies.

III.Evolution Of Software - talks about the changes in software over time.

 Evolution of Operating Systems
 Evolution of Programming Language
 Evolution of Software Applications
EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS

 Evolution of Computing
Devices
 Abacus
• Developed around 3000 years BC by
the
Mesopotamians and later improved by Chinese.
3000 • An abacus consists of beads divided into two
BC parts which are movable on the rods of the
two parts.
• Addition and multiplication etc. of numbers is
done by using the place value of the digits of
the
numbers and position of beads in the abacus.
Napier’s ‘Logs’ and ‘Bones’
• Also called Napier’s rods, are numbered
15 rods (10 in total) whichcan be used to
perform multiplication of any number by
50 a number 2-9.
to • For example, to multiply 6 by 58, the
1 index
6 bone is placedbeside the 5 and 8 bones.
1
Blaise Pascal’s
Adding Machine
•(16
A4m
2)achine made up of gears which were used
for adding numbers quickly.
• It consisted of numbered toothed wheels having
unique position values. The rotation of wheels
controlled the addition and subtraction
operations.
• This machine was capable of carry-
transfer
automaticaly.
Leibnitz Calculator (1671)
Gottfried Leibnitz, a German mathematician,
improved the adding machine and constructed a
new machine that was able to perform
multiplication and division as wel .
 Jacquard’s Loom(1801)
• Joseph Jacquard manufactured punched cards
and used them to control looms in.
• Thus the entire control weaving process
was
automatic. The entire operation was under a
program’s control.
• With the historic invention of punched
cards, the era of storing and retrieving
information
started that greatly influenced the
later
(1822) Babbage’s Difference inventions and advancements.
Engine
• Charles Babbage, a professor of mathematics,
developed Difference Engine machine to
calculate logarithmic tables to a high degree
of precision.
• The difference engine was made to calculate
various mathematical functions
such as
 Analytical
Engine
• Charles Babbage designed an Analytical Engine, a general-purpose machine,a
real ancestor of the modern day computer. The Analytical Engine was mainly
183 in Conceptual phase and was never completed in form of a real machine.
3 • Analytical Engine was capable of performing different functions based on
programming; cameup with important concepts like central processor,
storage area, memory, input-output devices and two major innovations
like comparisons and modification of stored information.

First Program (1834)

• Ada Byron, Lady Lovelace(Daughter of poet Lord Byran) impressed
with the concept of the Analytical Engine created plans for how the
machine could calculate Bernoulli numbers.
• This is regarded as the first “computer program,” and she is the
first “programmer.”
 The US Department of Defense namedalanguage Adain her
honour in
1979.
Hollerith’s Machine
(1887)
• Herman Holerith(1869-1926) fabricated whatwas dreamt of by
Charles Babbage.
• He fabricated the first electromechanical punched-card tabulator
that
used punched cards for input, output and instructions.
• This machine was used by American Department of Census to
compile their 1880 census data and was able to complete
compilation in 3 years which earlier used to take around 10
years.
• Later Hollerith foundeda company that became International
Business
(1939) First Electronic Computer
Machines(IBM) to market the technology.
• The prototype of first electronic computer was assembled by John Atansoff
and
Cliford Barry, which was completed in 1942 using 300 vacuum tubes.
• John Atansoff came up with the concept of using binary numbers, which
is still in use.
 Mark-I
(1 9 43)
Prof. Howard Aiken constructed Mark-I, an automatic, general purpose electro-mechanical computer,
which couldmultiply two 10-digit numbers in 5 seconds – a record at that time.

(1946) ENIAC(Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)

• Developed by Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, ENIAC was made up of 18,000 vacuum tubes and
occupied a 30 * 50 feet room.
• Programming was done by plugging wiresinto a patch panel and was 5000 times faster than
the Howard
MARK-I.

(1946) John van Neumann Architecture- Stored- Programming

Concept
Dr. John van Neumann suggested the pioneer stored program concept that proposed:
(i) Data and instructions arestored in a single read-write memory.
(ii) The memory contents are addressable by locations
EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS

The Generation of
Computers
FIRSTGENERATION (1940-1956)– Vacuum
Tubes
The first generation computerswere huge ,slow, expensive and
Key Features Remarks
often
 unrel
Big iand
able. clumsy
It used vacuumcomputers
tubes for circuitry.
 Very large space requirement
that used vacuum tubes  High electricity consumption.
 Not very reliable as Electric failure  Generated lot of heat.
occurred regularly.  Slow operating speed
 Large air conditioners were  Restricted computing capacity
necessary because the computers  Limited programming capabilities
generated lot of heat.
 Used stored program concept
 Programming in machine language

Input and output devices: Either No Memory Type : Magnetic Drums

Input Devices (Hardware programs ) Storage: Punched cards and paper Tapes
or Control Panel with Switches
(used in UNIVAC)

Major computers : ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator), EDVAC (Electronic
Discrete Variable Automatic Computer), EDSAC( Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer),
UNIVAC-I (built by Univac division of Remington Rand)
SECOND GENERATION (1956-1963)- Transistors
The creation of transistor sparked the production of a wave of second
generation computer. Transistor was a smal device used to transfer the
electronic signals across a resistor . Transistors had many advantages
comparedFeatures
Key to vacuum tubes. Remarks
• Transistor replaced vacuum tubes.  Not General –purpose computers
• Smaller in size compared - mostly suitable to scientific and
to 1st generation computers. bulk data processing tasks only; not
• Generated lesser heat than for business purposes.
earlier  The machines were costly.
computer.  Frequent maintenance required.
• Lower
electricity
consumption.
• More reliable
and faster .
• Programming in machine language
as well as assembly language.

Input and Output Devices Memory Type : Magnetic Core

Major :computers :- IBM 1400
Teletypewriters and and 7000 Series, Magnetic
Storages: Control Data 3600
Tape, etc.
Hard-
punched cards disk
THIRD GENERATION (1964-1971)- Integrated
 The development of integrated circuits (IC) in 1961, signaled the beginning of the third
Cirgceu its
neration computers the integrated circuit technology, which had reduced the size and cost
of computers enormously.
 It is also known as semiconductor.
Key Features Remarks
• Integrated circuits • Proved to be highly reliable,
• Computers smaller, faster and relatively inexpensive , and
more reliable faster.
• Lower power consumption

• High-level languages developed  Less human labour

• Size of main memories reached was
about 4 MBs and storage drive required at assembly stage.
capacities reached up to 100
MBs
Input and Output Devices Memory Type : Core Memory &
: DRAM chips
Keyboards, Printer Storage : Hard disk,
Floppy Disc
Major computers : IBM-360, ICL-1900,2900 & 2903, Honeywell 316 or
6000
FOURTH GENERATION (1971-PRESENT)-
IMn ic
19r
7o
1pInt
relcce
o re
sas
teo
drs
the first microprocessor and the era of fourth generation
computers started
. During the fourth generation, hardware technology such as silicone chips,
microprocessor, and
storage devicesKey
wereFeatures
invented. Remarks
 Microprocessor is developed for computer memory and logic.
• Large and Very Large  Computer costs came down so
Integrated circuits, (LSI & VLSI) rapidly that these found
places at most offices and
• Microcomputer series such as IBM
homes.
and APPLE developed.
 Smaller and faster.
 Portable computers developed.  More speed,
 Great development in Reliability, Storage
data communication. capability
 Programming in High
 Personal software
Level Languages.
Industry boomed.
Input and Output Devises : Keyboard, Memory : Memory chips
mouse, joysticks, speakers etc.
Storage: Hard disk, Floppy disks,
CD,DVD, Blu-ray discs.
Major computers: Pentium(p5,dual core, quad core etc.), Power PC, AMD, Apple Dell etc.
FIFTHGENERATION (PRESENTS & BEYOND)-Artificial
The fifth generation computers aretechnologicaly advance and are still being developed to become
In t
e li
g en ce
more efficient, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, advanced robotics
that are being used today. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make
Key a
artificial intelligence Features
reality. Remarks
• Parallel-processing- Found applications in:
many processors are grouped
• Intelligent systems that could control
to function as one large group
the route of a missile and defense-
processor.
systems that could fend off attacks
• Superconductors- it is a
• Word processors that could be
conductor through which
controlled by means of speech
electricity can travel without
recognition.
any resistance resulting in faster
transfer of information between • Programs that could translate
the components of a computer. documents from one language to
another.
Input and Output Devices Memory : Memory chips
:
Storage : Hard disk, CD, DVD,
Keyboard, mouse, joysticks,
voice Flash memories, blu-ray discs, cloud
input
Major Computers : Many Robots and Robotic
EVOLUTION OF STORAGE AND
DISPLAY
TECHNOLOGY
Evolution of Storage andDisplay Technologies
The electronic revolution started from 18`ht -19htcentury and changed the human life forever.
The associated data storage technologies also evolved with computer evolution. Let us learn
how these storage technologies evolved over time.
Machine - Herman Hollerith invented a punch-card that could be read
Readable by a machine.
Punched Card
(1890)
• Invented in Austria, the magnetic drum was an early form
of computer memory.
Magnetic • Electromagnetic pulse was stored by changing the
Drum magnetic orientation of ferromagnetic particles on the
(1932) drum.

• Magnetic tape used magnetic pulses to store data over

magnetized tapes.
Magnetic Tape • They had the capacity of storing as many as 10,000 punch
(1951) cards.
• They became very popular as backup media.
 • It is a set of magnetized circular platters that store
data as magnetic dots.
• Introduced as data storage for IBM computers, these
Hard Disk Drive devices were not very popular in 1960s and 1970s due
(1958) their immense size and price.
• In 1990s they were the most popular data storage
devices.

• Floppy Disk is a thin flexible magnetic disk, covered

by a protective plastic jacket.
Floppy Disk • The earliest floppy disks stored data upto 80 KB of
(1969) data.
• Inexpensive and mobile floppy disks were considered
a revolution in data storage.
• CD (Compact Disks) were created in 1980s by Philips
Optical Storage and Sony as replacement of aging floppy disks.
Media • DVD (Digital Video Disks), created in 1990s, were
CD (1980s), the next evolution of CD.
DVD s(1990s) • A DVD could store more data of upto 8-10 CDs.
 • A flash drive a solid state memory.
Flash Drive • It is a inexpensive, small, compact and mobile storage media that
(1998) has successfully replaced the floppy disks from storage scene.

Blue ray The next-generation optical disk can store enormous amount of
Disks data in its storage space of 400 nanometers.
(2000)
Similar to how data is stored on the internet, cloud storage allows
The Cloud data to be stored on multiple servers, which are generally hosted by
(21st Century) a third party.

Just like storage technologies, the display technologies also evolved

over time. Folowing lines briefly enlist the evolution of Display
Technologies.
 CRT First developed in 1897, CRTs were used in television sets and
(Cathode Ray Tube) in early computers as the display screen.
(1897)
LCD • Suggested in 1963 for display screens
(Liquid Crystal • LCDs first found application in watches and calculators.
Display) • For computer displays, LCDs were permanently used in
(1963) 1990s only.

Plasma Monitor From the first prototype release in 1964, they found space as
(1964) display screens because of their long life and wide range of
contrasts and colors.

Touch Screen • Touchscreen technology, although invented in 1965

Monitors • Found its place as display technology only after
(1965) Apple released first iPhone in 2007.

OLED (Organic • Invented in 1987

Light Emitting • The OLED displays were first introduced as display screens
Display) to consumers in 2009.
(1987) • The OLED technology these days is being used in display
screens of computers, smart phones, television sets etc.
 EVOLUTION OF
SOFTWARE
Computer is a machinery that works with thehelp of software.

A software is a stored set – of – coded – instructions.

With the advent of computer technology, software also has

evolved.

We shall be discussing evolution of

software through following categories.
 EVOLUTION OF
SOFTWARE

 Evolution of Operating
Systems
 Operating System (OS) is the most essential software for a
computer for it is the master control program that runs
the computer.

 In 1960s, when computers were developed mainly for

research and scientific activities, the early operating
system was developed at Bell Labs in 1969, namely
UNIX.
 With the manufacturing of personal computers, in 1980 Bill Gates
Bill Gates and Paul Alen designed first operating
system for personal computers, namely QDOS (Quick
and Dirty Operating System) which was later released
as MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) in 1981.

 In 1991, Linus Torvalds released an operating system

Kernel namely Linux, written on the lines of UNIX and
released it to public.
Paul
Command User Interface – All the above mentioned three operating
systems UNIX, MS-DOS and Linux used commands as the way of
interaction.

Graphic User Interface – With the invention of mouse, a new way of

human- computer interface was devised – the Graphical User
Interface(GUI). The GUI used graphic icons and pointing device like mouse
to give instructions to computer.

Initial computers to successfully use GUI were XeroAlto and XeroxStar in

1973. Apple commercialy released GUI based Macintosh computers in 1984.

Based on the success of Apple’s Macintosh computers Microsoft designed its

GUI based operating system known as Windows. Starting with Windows 95,
many successors of GUI based Windows Operating Systems are released by
Microsoft. Latest in the series is Windows 8 released in 2012.
EVOLUTION OF
SOFTW
AR E
Evolution of Programming
Language
Evolution of Programming Language
Software are developed through various programming languages.
Programming started with machine language and evolved to new- age
programming systems. Early programming was done in machine
1st Generation Programming language. So machine language is the first
language(1GL) generation programming language.

Next programming generation was the

2 n d Generation Programming
language(2GL)
3rd Generation Programming
language(3GL)
Assembly Language programming. Together
1GL and 2GL, i.e., machine language and
assembly language are called low level
languages- easier for computer to understand
but difficult for programmers.
The third generation programming languages
were more normal English language like and
hence easier for programmers to understand.
The 3GLs are thus also called High Level
Languages(HLLs). Many 3GLs are ALGOL,
COBOL, Fortran, BASIC, C, PASCAL etc.

4 t h Generation Programming
language(4GL)
5th Generation Programming
language(5GL)
These programming languages are
closer to natural language than 3GLs.
Most popular 4GL is SQL(Structure
Query Language).
The fifth generation programming
languages are used mainly in Artificial
Intelligence research. Some 5GLs are
Prolog, OPS5, Mercury etc.
 EVOLUTION OF
SOFTWARE
Evolution of Software
Applications
Evolution of Software
Application
The advancement of hardware was not sufficient to change the human life-style, had it not been
supported by software and software application. Let us see how software applications evolved over
time.

Command Line Programs(1980s)- The first generation software application included compilers, device-
drivers etc, which were mainly command line programs.

Desktop Application(1990s)- With the popularity of graphical interface, GUI based desktop applications
of multiple types and forms were released: Office Application, Audio and Video players, Utility
programs, Browsers etc.

Web Application(21tscentury)- WithWeb’s availability, the next generation applications were developed
keeping world wide web in mind. Web applications were developedkeeping in mind that they can be
accessed from any location over Internet.
Most popular web applications include Email clients like Gmail, Ymail etc; Social networking platform
like
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Quora etc. ; VoIP Programs like Skype etc. and many more.

Mobile Application(21ts century)- Advent of computer technology has resulted into smartphones being
affordably available, thus mobile application were the obvious outcome.