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 We’re
all used to seeing computers. We see them everywhere, every day, and lots of things
are controlled by them – even cars! But, funnily enough we still think they’re
really modern technology. People say kids of today are the “com-puter generation”
and that we live in the “computer age”. Well, guess what? They’re
wrong – your grandparents were! And they did!
Although
computers weren’t exactly around with the dinosaurs, they aren’t as
modern as most people think. The first electronic digital computer was actu-ally
built by two Americans, Dr John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry way back in 1937
– before World War II! Of course, it looked a lot different to your average
PC – but it was still a computer. The first computers
were huge. In 1943 Dr John Mauchly and J Presper built one which weighed thirty
tons and occupied a thirty-by-fifty-foot space! Not the sort of thing you would
really want take home and stick on the desk is it? In 1951-52
a company called IBM was the first to see a future with com-puter technology.
It is still a major player in the world of computers today. In 1981 IBM revolutionized
the computer by introducing the first PC (personal computer) to the world. Finally,
here was a computer that could sit on a desk that wasn’t about to collapse
under its weight, and it didn’t have to be shut away in its own special room
because it was so big and noisy. Bill Gates, Microsoft’s founder, got his
big chance to start earning his mega-bucks when IBM asked him to develop an operating
system for this new PC. People all over the world were pretty
quick to decide that they really liked these small, nifty-looking PCs. In 1981
300,000 were sold, and in less than 8 years more than 54 million were being used
in the United States alone! Wow! Talk about a growth spurt! The
Internet’s also been around a while, too. It began way back in 1969 with
a network of four computers located at four different US universities. Compared
to this the World Wide Web (or www), is still a bit of a new kid on the block.
It didn’t develop until several years later in 1991 when an English man,
Tim Berners-Lee, designed a programme that let people create documents called
web pages. The Internet and the Web are often described as the fastest growing
areas of modern computer technology. So, what do you think
will happen with computers in the future?
In 1965 the founder of a computer
company called Intel (which is the world’s largest manufacturer of microprocessors
– the little chips inside the computer that actually process information)
Gordon Moore made a prediction. He reckoned that nearly every two years the size
of the computer chips would halve, but at the same time the power of the computer
would double. And you know what? He’s been exactly right! This prediction
is called ‘Moore’s Law’. That’s why when you look at things
like your celly, it’s way smaller than those crusty older models, but it
does lots more things – like games and internet ac-cess.
So, imagine
that! In a few years you might be texting your friends with a celly the size of
your watch!
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Test
yourself and see if you’re computer generated. 1. When
was the first computer made?
A) Back when the dinosaurs were around.
B)
In 1937.
C) Last year. 2. What did Bill Gates do?
A)
Made lots of money selling socks.
B) Developed an operating system for PCs
C) Built a giant computer. 3. What were the first computers
like?
A) So tiny it was hard to find them.
B) Humungus.
C) They sat
on a desk and needed watering 4. The Internet began when?
A) Some people went fishing in 1981 and caught a computer.
B) In 1969 with
four computers at different universities.
C) Once my grandparents were born. 5.
What is Moore’s Law?
A) The more the merrier.
B) Computers will halve
in size and double in power.
C) That computers will grow and end up taking
over the room.
If
you picked mostly the following: A’s You must’ve
been fiddling around on your celly a bit much while you were reading, or still
blow-drying your hair. Never mind, it does look lovely and you have great friends.
But, we do have to tell you that no – your grandparents aren’t actually
that old and crusty. They weren’t around with the dinosaurs – sometimes
they just look that way! B’s You’re pretty good!
In fact – hold the phone! Maybe Bill Gates could do with someone with your
expertise…! C’’s Now you have a mighty good
imagination! You’ve got what it takes to become a real good sci-fi writer
– what with computers needing watering and growing to take over the whole
room – you’ve got a best seller on your hands! Watch out J K Rowling! Back
to Tech Frenz | |
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