Changes

A '''computer''', is a machine that is designed to perform multiple different tasks set depending on the program it has stored in its memory. These could be solving [[mathematical]] problem, or controlling [[Robots|robotic arms]].  Computers manipulate data in the form of [[binary|binary code]], which is base 2. This means that there can only be a 1 or a 0 in any place value.

A '''computer''' is a machine that is designed to perform a huge variety of information-processing tasks, depending on the program it has stored in its memory.  Computers manipulate all data in the form of numbers, and encode all numbers in [[binary|binary code]], which is base 2. This means that there can only be a 1 or a 0 in any data.  This makes it possible to process data electronically, since one voltage can be used to represent a zero and another voltage for a one.

[[Image:Babbage.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine.]]

[[Image:Babbage.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Contemporary illustration of what Charles Babbage's Difference Engine might have looked like.]]

Prior to the advent of computing machines, the definition for ''computer'' was a human being who performed complex mathematical calculations. This was accomplished with the aid of a manual counting device, such as an [[abacus]] or a [[slide rule]], and was mainly used by traders and early bankers to keep a reliable record of funds

Prior to the advent of computing machines, the definition for ''computer'' was a human being who performed complex mathematical calculations. This was accomplished with the aid of a manual counting device, such as an [[abacus]] or a [[slide rule]], and was mainly used by traders and early bankers to keep a reliable record of funds

Charles Babbage, a [[British]] scientist who lived in the 19th century, has been credited as the designer of the first digital computer, the Difference Engine, a machine set to do calculations reliably up to six decimal places.  It was entirely mechanical. However, the Engine was never constructed, being deemed as "had derived no emolument whatsoever from the government" by a member of parliament. He also designed an even more sophisticated "Analytical Engine", that would actually have been a programmable computer in the modern sense; it, too was mechanical.  Though it was never built, Augusta Ada wrote some programs for it (to compute Bernoulli polynomials), making her the world's first computer programmer.  A small version of the Difference Engine, was built after his death by his son.<ref>http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/Babbage.html</ref>

Charles Babbage, a [[British]] scientist who lived in the 19th century, has been credited as the designer of the first digital computer, the Difference Engine, a machine set to do calculations reliably up to six decimal places.  It was entirely mechanical. However, the Engine was never constructed, being deemed as "had derived no emolument whatsoever from the government" by a member of parliament. He also designed an even more sophisticated "Analytical Engine", that would actually have been a programmable computer in the modern sense; it, too was mechanical.  Though it was never built, [[Ada Lovelace|Augusta Ada]] wrote some programs for it (to compute Bernoulli polynomials), making her the world's first computer programmer.  A small version of the Difference Engine, was built after his death by his son.<ref>http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/Babbage.html</ref>

Babbage later designed an even more clever "Difference Engine Number 2", that was also not completed in his lifetime.  But in 1991, the bicentennial of Babbage's birth, this computer was built in the British Science Museum, from Babbage's original plans.  It operates flawlessly, though a few billion times more slowly than modern electronic computers.  It is operated by turning a crank.

Babbage later designed an even more clever "Difference Engine Number 2", that was also not completed in his lifetime.  But in 1991, the bicentennial of Babbage's birth, this computer was built in the British Science Museum, from Babbage's original plans.  It operates flawlessly, though a few billion times more slowly than modern electronic computers.  It is operated by turning a crank.

The first computer comparable to the modern day computer, an electronic calculation machine, was the [[ENIAC]]. Built as a artillery support machine, it was unveiled in early 1946.<ref>http://ftp.arl.army.mil/~mike/comphist/</ref>

The first computer comparable to the modern day computer, an electronic calculation machine, was the [[ENIAC]]. Built as a artillery support machine, it was unveiled in early 1946.<ref>http://ftp.arl.army.mil/~mike/comphist/</ref>

{{Clear}}

{{Clear}}

==See Also==

==See Also==

* [[Brain-computer interface]]

*[[Ada Lovelace]]

* [[Tails (operating system)|Tails Anonymous Secure Operating System]]

*[[Brain-computer interface]]

* [[Linux]]

*[[Linux]]

* [[IBM]]-[[HP]]-[[Dell]] and [[Microsoft]] [[Windows]]

*[[IBM]]-[[HP]]-[[Dell]] and [[Microsoft]] [[Windows]]

* [[Apple Computer]] [[MacOS]] for [[Apple Macintosh]]

*[[Apple Computer]] [[MacOS]] for [[Apple Macintosh]]

* [[Mobile device]]s: [[Smartphones]] and [[tablet computer|tablets]]

*[[Mobile device]]s: [[Smartphones]] and [[tablet computer|tablets]]

* [[Apple Computer|Apple]] [[iOS]] for [[iPhone]]-[[iPod]]-[[iPad]]

*[[Apple Computer|Apple]] [[iOS]] for [[iPhone]]-[[iPod]]-[[iPad]]

* [[Android (operating system)|Android]]

*[[Android (operating system)|Android]]

* [[BlackBerry OS|Blackberry]]

*[[BlackBerry OS|Blackberry]]

* [[Microsoft]] [[Windows Phone]] with [[Windows 8]]

*[[Microsoft]] [[Windows Phone]] with [[Windows 8]]

* [[Acorn computers]]

*[[Acorn computers]]

* [[ZX Spectrum]]

*[[ZX Spectrum]]

* [[:Category:British Inventions]]

==External Links==

==External Links==

*[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/fcomp.shtml Who Made the First Computer?]

*[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/fcomp.shtml Who Made the First Computer?]

*[http://www.cs.iastate.edu/jva/jva-obit.html John V. Atanasoff Dies at Age 91 Invented First Electronic Computer.] Washington Post Obituary.

*[http://www.cs.iastate.edu/jva/jva-obit.html John V. Atanasoff Dies at Age 91 Invented First Electronic Computer.] Washington Post Obituary.

*[http://www.anl.gov/Science_and_Technology/History/Anniversary_Frontiers/comphist.html#avidac AVIDAC to Virtual Reality] Argonne History (U.S. Department of Energy).

*http://www.msu.edu/course/lbs/126/lectures/history.html

* https://charlescarrollsociety.com/2012/09/15/no-knock-raid-a-great-video

* [http://epic.org/privacy/privacy_resources_faq.html Online Guide to Privacy Resources]<ref>"EPIC was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging privacy issues relating to the National Information Infrastructure, such as the Clipper Chip, the Digital Telephony proposal, medical records privacy and the sale of consumer data. EPIC conducts litigation, sponsors conferences, produces reports, publishes the EPIC Alert and leads campaigns on privacy issues. For more information email: epic-info@epic.org, or contact EPIC, 1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009. Tel: (202) 483-1140. Executive Director: Marc Rotenberg."</ref>

==References==

==References==

{{reflist|2}}  

{{reflist}}  

 

[[Category:Computers]]

[[Category:Computers]]

[[Category:Operating System]]

[[Category:Operating System]]

[[Category:Apps]]

[[Category:Apps]]

[[Category:Cryptography]]

[[Category:Cryptography]]

[[Category:Internet]]

[[Category:Internet]]

[[Category:Software]]

[[Category:Software]]

[[Category:Open Source]]

[[Category:Open Source]]

[[Category:Inventions]]

[[Category:Inventions]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British Inventions]]

[[Category:British Inventions]]