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Computer A data processor that can perform substantial computation, including numerous arithmetic or logic operations, without intervention by a human operator during the run. Charles Babbage began construction of the first mechanical computer for calculating logarithms and trigonometric functions in 1822. | Central Processing Unit | The computer chip primarily responsible for executing instructions. Normally abbreviated as CPU. | | Interface | A boundary across which two systems communicate. | | Memory | In a computer system memory is used to store data temporarily or permanently. | Historical Notes - 1623 William Schickardt builds the first calculating machine from wood.
- 1834 Charles Babbage draws up the first plans for a digital computer.
- 1889 Hollerith invented the first calculating machine, used punch cards.
- 1892 In America, William Burroughs produces an adding-subtracting machine with a printer.
- 1946 The University of Pennsylvania developed the ENIAC computer, containing 18,000 vacuum tubes.
- 1951 First commercially available computer, the UNIVAC 1.
- 1971 Pocket calculator invented by Texas instruments.
See also: Babbage, Charles, Bug, Central Processing Unit, Code, Computer Software, Digital Computer, Instruction, Landauer′s Principle, Microcomputer, Microprocessor, Moore′s Law, Reduced Instruction Set Computer, Supercomputer.
  
Subjects:- Computing
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