A Brief History of Computers and the Internet

The history of both computers and the internet are vast topics. Here I hope to touch on some of the significant and interesting people and technological breakthroughs that brought us to where we are today.

The prevalence of PCs and use of the internet has seen an explosive growth in the last 30 years. We'll talk about the internet more specifically on another day, and throughout the rest of the semester to give context to other lessons where relevant.

How does a modern computer work?

Hardware Components

CPU
RAM
Storage
Graphics
Interface chips (bluetooth and wifi antennas, usb, ethernet)
Motherboard connects all the components, allowing them to talk directly to one another and work together

Software Stack

Hardware
Firmware, Kernel
Operating System
Application

How did we arrive where we are today?

...with computers in our pockets, on our wrists, in our cars and refrigerators and lightbulbs...

It started with a type of math

Portrait of George Boole — George Boole (1815-1864) mathematician, philosopher, logician (source)

Decimal	Binary
0	0000
1	0001
2	0010
3	0011
4	0100
5	0101
6	0110
7	0111
8	1000
9	1001
10	1010
32	0010 0000
255	1111 1111
256	0001 0000 0000

Sample binary conversion table. If any switch can only have two states (on or off), representing longer numbers or and more complex data requires additional space.

Then a concept of mechanical problem solving machines

Portrait of Charles Babbage — Charles Babbage (1791-1871) mathematician, philosopher, inventor, mechanical engineer (source)

The Difference Engine

x	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144

Calculating tables like this by hand is tedious and error prone.

Demonstration - one of two working Difference Engines in the world, on display at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA

Then programmable problem solving machines

The Analytical Engine

Partially constructed Analytical Engine on display at the London Science Museum — Partially constructed trial model of the Analytical Engine (source)

Thick, hole-punched cards strung together — Punched cards for the Analytical Engine (source)

Portrait of Ada Lovelace — Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) (source)

Then electromagnetic computers (faster, not smaller)

Portrait of Konrad Zuse — Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) German civil engineer, inventor (credit: dpa/Karin Hill)

Occupying a large table under glass case, the Z1 has several rows of vertical pins under flat plates — Replica of the Z1 in the German Museum of Technology in Berlin (source)

The Z3 is a bookcase-sized computer covered with an intricate array of electromagnetic components — Zuse Z3 replica on display at Deutsches Museum in Munich (source)

Portrait of George Stibitz — George Stibitz (1904-1995) (source) inventor of the "Model K" at Bell Labs

Portrait of Alan Turing — Alan Turing (1912-1954) mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, computer scientist, mathematical biologist, and marathon and ultra distance runner

A working replica of a bombe machine, partially disassembled for display — Working replica of a bombe machine at the National Codes Centre at Bletchley Park (source)

Then, some advancements in programming

Portrait of Grace Hopper — Grace Murray Hopper (1906-1992) American Computer Scientist, US Navy rear admiral

Grace Hopper at the control panel/console of the UNIVAC Computer, surrounded by coworkers looking on — Grace Hopper at the UNIVAC console, c. 1960 (source)

Then they got smaller (a lot smaller)

Kilby Integrated Circuit — Jack Kilby's first integrated circuit, 1958

Mohamed Atalla seated at the corner of a table smoking a cigarette during a meeting. Other people are present but their faces aren't visible. — Mohamed Atalla, 1963 (source)

Black and white formal portrait of Dawon Kahng, smiling — Dawon Kahng (source)

Close up product shot of three EPROM chips, showing the tiny integrated circuit through a hole in the top — Microchips (EPROM memory) with a transparent window, showing the integrated circuit inside. (source)

A macro shot showing the fine detail of the integrated circuit inside one EPROM chip — An EPROM microchip die showing the detail of the integrated circuit itself, and the silver wires which connect the die to legs of the chip. This photo covers about 5x4mm (source)

Then hobbyist enthusiasts could afford them

Copy of a postcard invitation to the first Homebrew Computer Club meeting — Postcard invitation to the first Homebrew Computer Club meeting (source)

Commodor PET 2001 series computer — Commodore PET 2001 Series Computer (source)

Tandy (Radioshack) TRS-80 Computer (source)

Then software became easier to use

IBM PC model 5150, 1981 — IBM PC model 5150

PC-DOS logo

PC-DOS screenshot — PC-DOS 1.10 screenshot

The first computer mouse

The Apple Macintosh

Then, the internet brought utility to having computers at home

Early Networks, ARPANET

The Internet

Portrait of Tim Burners-Lee — Tim Burners-Lee

Progress on many fronts made the mobile revolution possible

Chart showing the dramatic reduction in semiconductor size since the 1970s — Semiconductor size reduction since 1970 (source)

Apple A13 Bionic chip presentation, iPhone Sept 2019 event

TSMC chip fabrication process, 2011

x	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144

x	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144

x	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144