Basic

Computing
Periods
Prof. Candice B. Yee, MM
Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring,
benefiting from, or creating computers. This is a very
broad definition that comprises the development of
computer hardware, the use of computer applications,
and the development of computer software. This text
focuses on the last of these enterprises, the
development of computer software.

*Because software development is based on computer

hardware, we will discuss the general nature of
computer hardware and its relationship to software as
a way to prepare students for software development.
 Periods of Computing

Four main periods in history that divide the era of ICT.

• Pre-mechanical
• Mechanical
• Electromechanical
• Electronics
PERIODS of Computing Evolution
Pre Mechanical Period
3000 BC (Before Christ) to 1 450 DA (Anno Domini)
Pictographs - the signs were written
vertically. The hand on the upper
right means "to receive". The dots
along the top are numbers.
Abacus - the first counting device
that process information
During this period humans started communicating
using words and pictograms curved in rocks.
The earliest forms of Sumerian writing were pictographs
("picture words") where the sign resembles the object it
represents (grain, hand, etc.).
Storing of information was revolutionized when paper
was produced from papyrus plants.
They compiled records written on paper and bound them
together, eventually books was first introduced
Then books grew in number and needed to be
compiled and stored in areas; hence libraries were
created
Libraries- first data centers in history
PERIODS OF ICT DEVELOPMENT
Mechanical Period
Started around 1450-1480

This period concentrated primarily on the

development of machines that will enhance
calculation speed.

Pascaline – the first mechanical calculator was invented.

Pascaline – Invented by famous mathematician

inventor Blaise Pascal along Wilhelm Schickard
in 1642

Analytical Engine - Invented

by Charles Babbage in 1837 to
automate counting and
calculations. This invention
earned Babbage the title “Father
of the Computers”
PERIODS OF ICT DEVELOPMENT
Electromechanical Period
Started around 1840-1940

The beginnings of telecommunication.

The use of electricity for information handling and
transfer bloomed.
1837 – Telegraph was invented by William
Cooke and Charles Wheatstone,
1844 – Samuel Morse first invented a single-
circuit telegraph, which gave rise to Morse
code.
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell was granted the
patent for the telephone.
Alexander Graham Bell - invented the
telephone.

Telegraph - transmit information over long

distance. It was considered as the first
electrical communications device.
Electronic Period
Started around 1940 to present

Focus on the advent of solid state devices

or electronic devices.

The last period of ICT history.

Four main events in Electronic Period:
1. The late vacuum tubes period
2. The transistors period
3. The integrated circuits period
4. Computer processors period
The late vacuum
tubeslatter period of vacuum tube
The
machines is the start of electronic period.
Vacuum Tubes - was developed by Lee
De Forest which provide electricity
controlled switch.
The ENIAC, circa 1946
ENIAC – Electronic Numerical Integrator
and Computer. First high-speed, digital
computer capable of being reprogrammed
to solve a full range of computing
problems. It was a big machine that
occupied an area of 167 square meters.
The Transistors and Integrated
Circuit
Transistor – is an electronic device
with properties and functions similar
to vacuum tubes.
Integrated Circuit – composed of a
group of transistors and circuit elements
compressed in a single package.
1947 – transistors was invented
It is the foundation of every
electronic device today.
1957 – first full transistor
computer was developed and was
faster than vacuum computers.
1958 – Integrated Circuit (IC)was
introduced by American Electrical
Engineer Jack Kilby. It is used in
processing devices, and processors are
constructed in IC forms.
 Computer Processor

PC used these processors made of IC’s to deliver

user applications.

Olivetti Programma 101 - first

commercial personal computer
invented by the Italian engineer Pier
Giorgio Perotto.
IBM 5150 – was introduced in August 1981
and was developed by the IBM Entry
Systems Division Team led by Don Estridge.
Living in the
Era 4 th

Industrial
Revolution
 The Jetsons (1962)

Flying Video- Smartwatch

Vehicles conference

Robotics Telehealth 3D Printed Food

Ripples of
Technologies
 Where Are We In The Industrial
Revolution?

IR 1.0 IR 2.0 IR 3.0 IR 4.0

(Manual) (Electrical) (Automation/ (Intelligenc
Internet) e)
 The Survival
Test

Which Industrial Revolution

Are We in
Why the
IR4.0
Journey is
so
Difficult?
Education
4.0
Conference
4.0
IOT Maturity

Autonomous

Control O p ti m iz
Monitoring ation
MONITORING CONTROL OPTIMISE
Vehicle Car Security Preventive
Maintenance

Phases of IoT
Maturity
(Example -
AUTONOMOUS Automobile
Self-Driving car
Industry)
How Disruptive is IoT in Automobile
Industry?

What’s after
Autonomous
Taxi?
FLYING
TAXI
AAV – Autonomous
Aerial Vehicle
Can Robots Replace
Humans?