Birthing The Computer
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Birthing the Computer
Author: Stephen H. Kaisler
language: en
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Release Date: 2016-12-12
Birthing the Computer: From Relays to Vacuum Tubes is the first in a multi-volume series on historical computing machines. This series will span the development of computer systems from the Zuse machines of the early 1930s to about 1995 when microprocessors began to be commoditized. Each volume will focus on a range of technologies, or a class of machines or a particular vendor, and will describe the hardware of the machines and its peripherals, the operating system and system software, and its influence upon programming languages. This volume begins with the Zuse machines which were constructed from relays, but contained the basic elements of a computer system, namely input, computing engine, and output. Early machines from Atanasoff and Berry, Aiken, Stibitz, and IBM are described. The transition from relays to vacuum tubes increased speed and performance significantly, and led to the first true computers in ENIAC, EDSAC, and EDVAC which used paper tape and Williams tubes for I/O and storage. These machines were built by universities. Several early machines were purpose built such as Colossus and BINAC, and created with government support and industrial know-how. By the mid-to-late ‘50s, computing machines were being built by universities (the SSEM, Whirlwind, and IAS machines), governments (the NBS SEAC and SWAC, and several other machines), and industry (the UNIVAC series and the English Electric DEUCE). Most of these machines were constructed using the von Neumann architecture, and represent an evolution of thinking in how computing machines were to operate along with some innovative ideas in software and programming languages. By the end of the 1950s, the design, development, programming and use of computing machines were in full ferment as many new ideas were proposed, many different machines were designed and some were constructed. Computing machines became a commercial enterprise. Governments receded from building machines to levying requirements and funding construction, while universities continued to explore new architectures, new operating systems, and new programming languages.
Birthing the Computer
Author: Stephen H. Kaisler
language: en
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Release Date: 2017-06-20
Birthing the Computer: From Drums to Cores examines the evolution of computer systems architecture based on two evolutionary developments: memory technology – magnetic drums to magnetic cores – and CPU technology – transistors. This evolution, exemplified by a number of academic and commercial computing machines, yielded significant performance improvements and more storage leading to more effective utilization. These features would drive the development of programming languages and system software that would enhance the usability of the machines to solve more complex problems in both business, government, and scientific domains. The machines described in this volume represent the leading edge of the transition to second generation computer systems. They introduce a number of key technology concepts in computer architecture and system software that are found in every computer system today, albeit in a more modern form.