Computers in the 1950's through 70's

       The 1950's, '60's, and '70's were a time of great growth in the computer industry. Many new inventions were made which allowed computers to process faster and handle more data. This time period provided the foundation on which modern computer technology.

    

                                     The 1974 Alto computer

       From the beginning of this era to the end there is a marked improvement in computer technology. The early 1950's included the giant IAS and IBM 7000 computers. While the 60's brought about both advancements in computing and robotics. Finally the 1970's began the moderinization of computers with new desktop sized machines such as the Alto and the Apple I. The '70's also brought the beginning of video games through companies such as Atari.

Who Invented Computers?

         Many people ask who created the computer? The answer to this question is many people. It is not a single person but rather a variety of computer projects that eventually got computers to where they are today. Through many private computer projects people built knowledge on how to create better computers and eventually modern computers reached the current computing power of today's machines.

         These modern computer projects began in the 1930's and 40's as works of universities and government. Since then computers have been in a state of constant advancement to reach the point at which they are today. So in effect, computers were created because of history and not because of the works of a single person.

        Early 1940's Computer                             Modern Computer

Early History of Computers

         Computers date back farther than many people are aware.  Some forms of computing such as calculators and slide rules have been around for hundreds of years, but the first "modern" computers began to appear in the mid-1900's. 

         In 1939 the first computer company Hewlett-Packard was founded. Their first machine was the 200A Audio Oscillator which was very limited in computing and could only produce sound effects. The next year another big advancement was made in the computer world when Bell Telephone created the complex number calculator and used telephones to send it commands. This was the first example of remote access computing.
        Throughout the 1940's many other computers were produced which increased computing capabilities. These include the Z2 in 1941 and the ENIAC which increased computer speed 1,000 times over previous computer models. These computers advanced and gave hope to the young computer industry in the early 1900's.