Chapter 7
History of Computers
Most people take computers for granted today without even noticing their impact on society. To gain a better understanding of our digital world, this chapter examines the history of computing: hardware, software, and users. This chapter begins with the earliest computing devices before moving into the development of the electronic, digital, programmable computer. Since the 1940s, computers fall into four “generations,” each of which is explored. The evolution of computer software provides three overlapping threads: changes in programming, changes to operating systems, changes to application software. The chapter also briefly considers how computer users have changed as the hardware and software have evolved.
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