Historical Development of Computer- Early Computing Devices - Mechanical and Electromechanical (JS1 NOTE)

 Historical Development of Computer

Early Computing Devices - Mechanical and Electromechanical

Early Computing Devices (Introduction)

Early ages counting devices are fingers, feet, toes, pebbles, grains, sticks, cowries, e.t.c. The major problem with these devices is that, they cannot be used for counting large numbers efficiently.

The invention of mechanical counting and calculating devices includes:

i.                    Abacus

ii.                  Slide Rule

iii.                Pascal’s Arithmetic Machine (The Pascaline)

iv.               Joseph Jacquard Loom

v.                 John Napier (Napier Bones)

vi.               Gottfried Leibniz Machine

i.                    Abacus : It was developed in China. To count or make calculations using it, you slide the beads along the string.

ii.                  Slide Rule: This was invented by an English man called William Oughtred. It uses the principle of logarithms, addition, subtraction, square root and raising number to a given powers like 42.

iii.                Pascal’s Arithmetic Machine (The Pascaline) : Blaise Pascal invented the first true calculating machine called Pascaline in 1642. It was operated by turning it dials with hands.

iv.               Joseph Jacquard Loom: Between 1801 and 1804, Joseph Jacquard, A French silk- weaver invented an automated Loom. The Loom was used to put required patterns on the cloth.

v.                 John Napier (Napier Bones) : A Scottish Mathematician and the inventor of logarithms in 1617. The device was made up of a set rods carved from bones.

vi.                Gottfried Leibniz Machine: A German Mathematician that produced a machine that could add, subtract, multiply, divide accurately and perform a square root function.  

Class Activities

1. List any four (4) early counting devices

2. Explain any three (3) from the mechanical counting devices