Today’s lecture was about history of computers and the internet.
Computers:
The first ever computer model was found in the 19th century by Charles Babbage. It was a difference engine which was designed to calculate and print mathematical tables. Even though it had proper funding from the government, the engine could not be completed in his life time. Later he created an analytical engine which was a mechanical computer. He was helped by a woman named Ada Byron. She later created the first ever computer program.
Apple, IBM, Microsoft and Linux
Apple was started by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Together they both produced the Apple I which was a primitive machine with a single circuit with no case and keyboard. Computers were not so much in use at that time so they sold only 15 units. Each unit was sold at a price of 666.60 US$. After two years they launched Apple II which was more of a consumer product. The model was a big hit and they had made enough money. Later through addition of an application on the computer, the market ran after their product. At very less age both the founders had become very rich.
After looking at the success of Apple, IBM wanted to strike big. IBM was a company w
hich sold huge mainframes for big companies. They were determined get into the personal computer market. They had the hardware to do it but lacked the software. They met Bill Gates who promised them an operating system. In four months IBM had its own PC out in the market place. Each PC was sold for a price of 50$. Bill Gates became a rich man. In association with software giant (Microsoft) under Bill Gates, IBM started to capture the market. Apple still held on to their strong position as their computers had their own graphical user interface (GUI). But IBM and Microsoft came up with their own GUI and launched Windows 3. Apple started to loose its strong market hold.
A Finnish programmer, Linus Torvalds decided to go for his own version of Unix in 1991. When he finished his first draft, lots of people were interested. He named it GNU/Linux. It was a free operating system compared to the other expensive systems like windows, mac and unix. Thus an operating system was born.
Internet, The Web and Cyberspace:
Internet is a network which includes servers, mainframes and personal computers. It is connected to a telephone line, broadband cable, or satellite service. It is used to link people from different parts of the world. It is used as a domain where information can be shared. The Web (also known as the World Wide Web) came out in 1990’s. This was how people started to communicate with each other via computers. It was very hard to use until the availability of browsers such as Mosaic and Netscape. Web pages are written in a language called hyper text mark up language (HTML). People mistake internet and the web to be the same thing, but its not. The web is only a part of the internet. Cyberspace is like a interconnection of imagination and reality.
Electronic mail, File transfer Protocol and Internet relay chat:
Email is a virtual mail system which is used to send information/files from one person to another. The types of files may include images, animations, videos, worksheets and programs.
File transfer protocol (FTP) allows you to download files from another computer onto your computer. It can also be used to upload files.
Internet relay chat (IRC) is one of the basic applications which allowed people to type in real time. It is used mainly for chatting. Even file transfers can be done on it. This application rose into popularity due to launch of instant messengers such as MSN messenger and Yahoo messenger.
Today’s lecture gives you information about origin of computers, internet and its related programs.
Computers:
The first ever computer model was found in the 19th century by Charles Babbage. It was a difference engine which was designed to calculate and print mathematical tables. Even though it had proper funding from the government, the engine could not be completed in his life time. Later he created an analytical engine which was a mechanical computer. He was helped by a woman named Ada Byron. She later created the first ever computer program.
Apple, IBM, Microsoft and Linux
Apple was started by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Together they both produced the Apple I which was a primitive machine with a single circuit with no case and keyboard. Computers were not so much in use at that time so they sold only 15 units. Each unit was sold at a price of 666.60 US$. After two years they launched Apple II which was more of a consumer product. The model was a big hit and they had made enough money. Later through addition of an application on the computer, the market ran after their product. At very less age both the founders had become very rich.
After looking at the success of Apple, IBM wanted to strike big. IBM was a company w
hich sold huge mainframes for big companies. They were determined get into the personal computer market. They had the hardware to do it but lacked the software. They met Bill Gates who promised them an operating system. In four months IBM had its own PC out in the market place. Each PC was sold for a price of 50$. Bill Gates became a rich man. In association with software giant (Microsoft) under Bill Gates, IBM started to capture the market. Apple still held on to their strong position as their computers had their own graphical user interface (GUI). But IBM and Microsoft came up with their own GUI and launched Windows 3. Apple started to loose its strong market hold.A Finnish programmer, Linus Torvalds decided to go for his own version of Unix in 1991. When he finished his first draft, lots of people were interested. He named it GNU/Linux. It was a free operating system compared to the other expensive systems like windows, mac and unix. Thus an operating system was born.
Internet, The Web and Cyberspace:
Internet is a network which includes servers, mainframes and personal computers. It is connected to a telephone line, broadband cable, or satellite service. It is used to link people from different parts of the world. It is used as a domain where information can be shared. The Web (also known as the World Wide Web) came out in 1990’s. This was how people started to communicate with each other via computers. It was very hard to use until the availability of browsers such as Mosaic and Netscape. Web pages are written in a language called hyper text mark up language (HTML). People mistake internet and the web to be the same thing, but its not. The web is only a part of the internet. Cyberspace is like a interconnection of imagination and reality.
Electronic mail, File transfer Protocol and Internet relay chat:
Email is a virtual mail system which is used to send information/files from one person to another. The types of files may include images, animations, videos, worksheets and programs.
File transfer protocol (FTP) allows you to download files from another computer onto your computer. It can also be used to upload files.
Internet relay chat (IRC) is one of the basic applications which allowed people to type in real time. It is used mainly for chatting. Even file transfers can be done on it. This application rose into popularity due to launch of instant messengers such as MSN messenger and Yahoo messenger.
Today’s lecture gives you information about origin of computers, internet and its related programs.
Picture sources: http://www.briansolis.com/2007/09/crisis-communications-20-apple-and.html, http://blog.protectwebform.com/p/category/ocr,
No comments:
Post a Comment