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History of Computing

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Which is the first general-purpose programmable electronic computer?

The first general-purpose programmable electronic computer is widely considered to be the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer).

The ENIAC was developed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania and was first operational in 1945.
It was designed to calculate artillery firing tables for the United States Army during World War II.

Key characteristics of the ENIAC include:

  • Electronic: Used vacuum tubes instead of mechanical relays.
  • Programmable: Could be programmed to perform different tasks by rewiring and reconfiguring its components.
  • General-Purpose: Capable of solving a wide range of numerical problems, not just specific calculations.

While there were other computing devices before ENIAC, it is recognized as the first electronic, general-purpose, programmable computer.

More information can be found on the Britannica website.

Wrote answer · 3/14/2025
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Who created the computer?

The history of the computer is complex and doesn't have a single inventor. Many individuals contributed to the development of the modern computer over time. Here are some key figures:

  • Charles Babbage:

    He is often considered the "father of the computer" for his invention of the Analytical Engine in the 1830s. This mechanical general-purpose computer was never fully built in his lifetime but contained many elements of a modern computer. Computer History Museum - Charles Babbage

  • Ada Lovelace:

    An English mathematician, is considered the first computer programmer because she wrote an algorithm for execution by Babbage's Analytical Engine. Britannica - Ada Lovelace

  • Alan Turing:

    He was a British mathematician and computer scientist who conceptualized the Turing machine in the 1930s, a theoretical model that defines the limits of computation. He also played a crucial role in breaking the German Enigma code during World War II. Alan Turing - Biography

  • John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry:

    They designed and built the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) in 1937–1942 at Iowa State College, considered by some to be the first electronic digital computer. Iowa State University - The ABC

Therefore, it's more accurate to say that the computer is the result of the work of many brilliant minds over many years, rather than attributing it to a single inventor.

Wrote answer · 3/14/2025
Karma · 40