Computers and personal computers, so common today, have a beautiful story behind in which constant work, plagiarism (and clones) and constant innovation are the protagonists.
Let’s see what exactly a PC or personal computer is , sticking to what the concept itself refers to, what makes it up, where it comes from , as much as and idea as you have already entered into computational matters, of which great historical milestone has been a part and , of course, what we can use them for today .
You will find it curious, at least, to see how the sector and the concept went until we get to where we are today and, without a doubt, will serve to value the work of dozens of experts for almost a century. Let’s go there!
Index:
What are personal Computers in computing? Definition
A personal computer is a non-shared computer of small dimensions , suitable for it to use at home, which works entirely digitally and that has the capacity to process needs of a user and solve them with exactitude, satisfying the needs of this at a basic and general level provided that it is given an individual use.
Although the first devices were far from being what we know today, we cannot help but verify that, in effect, the essence, and with it, its parts (although now modified) are essentially the same. Thus, we have a personal computer, minimally, by :
- Motherboard : It is the piece that fits, by slots, all the others, that joins them and gives them life, from the most basic to those hardware elements more innovative.
- Processor : It is a component that, as the name implies, works to process the information, of all kinds, that runs through the computer, from the startup to that of the secondary tasks.
- Heatsink : It is the element that dissipates the energy, in this case, heat, that the parts produce when they are in operation. In this way, the temperature is maintained in an acceptable gradation so that the equipment can operate.
- RAM memory : This is the quick access memory, so to speak, which is used as an escape method and takes part of the load of the operation of the equipment.
- Hard disk : It is the piece of hardware in which we can store elements, the storage memory Previously, a hard disk was not necessary as such, because the computer concept was very different, but nowadays, every computer has, in fact, part of its hard disk already occupied by softwares that are previously installed and is also used for functions that we, as a user, do not see.
- Power supply : It is the element that supplies the energy to the set.
- Peripherals >: Although they are not necessary to operate the computer, there are some necessary so that we can obtain information from it and vice versa: mouse and monitor as little.
- Cabin : It is the box in which these and other components are stored. It has a specific way to comfortably place the elements we have seen optimizing the space.
Obviously, today, with the needs that users have, we search much more and we end up incorporating more elements: network cards, graphics, speakers, CD and DVD players and recorders, card readers … However, to For the computer to work none of this is necessary.
Origin
If we look back we realize that the origin of the personal computer is as old as we want to consider , because, in one way or another, we can always relate in some way the main milestones of the computing.
In any case, the majority will agree that the Datapont 2200 was the first device with an idea from which the PC could start in terms of dimensions, capacity and “peripheral” elements .
It included a multichip CPU, an elongated screen and a thick keyboard , all embraced by a housing that unified it.
The Xerox Alto and Xerox Star also had much of what I could identify on a computer today as the graphical user interface, the desktop metaphor, the use of the mouse, the map display of bits, servers, connection to Ethernet …
History
The idea of a personal computer appears when the computer is demanded by an increasingly large audience . First large corporations, then laboratories, large shops … It was only a domestic use. The concept as such will appear for the first time in the New York Times in what was embodied in the words of those who JW Mauchly thought about the future of the sector.
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The first model conceived as such is Programma 101 , by the Italian Olivetti, who developed it between 1962 and 1964. This was the device that helped the man reach the Moon in 1969. See all computer generations in full.
It was in 1977 that Commodore and Apple launch two teams that promote as personal computers , PET 2001 and Apple II respectively although, if we have to be honest, the one we have always considered the predecessor of the personal computer is the IBM PC.
The point that makes these three devices (and not Olivetti’s) the ones known as first personal computers is the appearance of the spreadsheet, which made these teams become work tools , first of office and then domestic.
Millions of copies of the three models were sold and the end of the decade was marked by the appearance of dozens of types of personal computers , of all types of brands, which rivaled in a time when making them was quite cheap, which meant that by the beginning of the next decade everyone had a PC at home.
Evolution
The evolution of computer equipment has been quite rapid if we consider what each feat supposed at the time. So much so that its evolution is given in differentiated generations, five that we have been able to study and the sixth, in which we find ourselves. Of these, is the fourth one that includes the appearance of the PC or Personal Computer .
Infographics: Brief history of computers
Computer generations
Like the feats of industry we have come to classify them by historically calling them “industrial revolution”, computers have also had such importance that they have their own classification, this time, for generations.
First (1940-1952)
The first generation of computing begins in the year 1940 , when you start to get accurate results with the use of machines in fully digital processes These tests were, considering the moment, quite fast.
In six years the one that has taken the fame of first computer, the ENIAC, built with valve electronics and working with the most basic machine language we have known appears. Impossible to reprogram and 30 meters long , it was an experimental project and never a production model.
In 1949 another prototype appears, also of laboratory, never thought to be launched but as an element of proof of the advances of the sector. We can say that EDVAC was the first device that relates, in terms of ideas, to those of a current computer.
In 1951 the first computer in history, the UNIVAC I , was released, which, by the way, was the first product of the company behind it. Obviously, neither you nor I bought it; The client was the US Census, with a purely mathematical purpose, counting.
Two years later, the computer that was first in sales for a long time, the IBM 701, appears on the market.
Over the years, IBM continues to lead both sales and innovation and launches the magnetic drum, an idea that ended up evolving in the magnetic disk we all know.
Second (1958-1964)
The milestone that causes this denomination is the replacement of vacuum valves in the manufacture of computers, which now carry transistors . This means that the devices are considerably smaller and therefore consume less energy. See second generation of computers here.
Now, computers have moved to work with high-level language , more complex than the previous machine language used. This is made possible by the work of Maurice Wilkes , who invents what is known as microprogramming, simplifying the development of computational units.
Again, the protagonist was IBM , selling the first magnetic disk system, developing what was the first high-level programming language, known as FORTRAN and giving to know the mainframe IBM 1401, which sold very large units, making it the most successful in history.
In 1962 you work on the first computer game , which was Spacewar!
In 1964, IBM , again, launches a family of computers of the same software and different features at the same time that it launches microprograms commercially.
Third (1965-1971)
The third generation of computers occurs with the use of silicon pads integrated circuits , a fact that allowed the processing to be much more capable while reducing both machine volume and in costs.
Almost immediately after, when only one model with these circuits was popular, microprocessors appear (the first was the Intel 4004). See third generation of computers here.
It was the combination of both elements that made it possible to pack small transistors and more elements in the same complete circuit chip, which, in turn, achieved unthinkable efficiency in relation to the assembly of the devices.
A way of programming that continues to be maintained today is also introduced for large computers, which shows that, in effect, this was a very successful revolutionary change.
The new computers, known as “series” completely uprooted all the previous ones, being more reliable, flexible and precise .
Fourth (1971-1980)
In this fourth revolution of computers we have a knowledge and development of the microprocessor , of very recent appearance (so much that it was barely known on a social level), and the development of the chip , which, among its many applications, replaces the memories of magnetic rings. See fourth generation of computers here.
Another essential aspect that marks the era is the development of personal computers , that is, the machines we are talking about today, the small equipment for the home user. This is made possible, in fact, by the small size that had been achieved for chip microprocessors. There is also a significant boost from the supercomputers.
Fifth (1981-2000)
There is a new revolution, totally overwhelming, with the appearance of the first laptop . In view of the unstoppable advance of technology in the IT field, the efforts in software multiply exponentially. See fifth generation of computers here.
Japan took the lead in what is known as a true mission in which artificial intelligence (although the concept did not exist at the time) allowed us to work with teams that really offered experiences to user. The project was a failure during the time that lasted, although it is clear that from the moment it was known where the steps should be taken. Milestones of the generation were the CD player and the re-standardization of clones .
Sixth (2000-present)
The emergence of wireless connectivity marked the beginning of a new generation in which we still find ourselves. Hand in hand come improvements in connectivity, in network cards, in the designs of the equipment, in the development of the phones and the appearance of truly intelligent elements. See sixth generation of computers here.
What are personal computers for today? or PC´s?
Answering this question is very easy and very difficult at the same time. It is simple because, at present, a computer serves us for practically anything, and if it does not allow us to do something, at least it teaches us the way to do it.
Storage
One of the functions they have today, even if it is not, by far, the main one, is to serve as a place for storing digital content . This can be generated by the computer itself, by ourselves working on it, by other people and download and even generate it with other devices and launch it to the computer so that it remains there.
We talk about images that we take to make a cover of a job, photos that we take with the camera and we pass them by cable, videos that we liked and have downloaded from our streaming provider, text documents that we have written and We have considered saving to consult them on another occasion …
Intermediary with other devices
We have already seen that we can, from our camera, pass our photos to the team. That is, serves as an intermediary between us and the other devices, helping us in some way with the digital products that are handled .
In this particular case it would be to store the photographs but we can do much more. For example, if we connect it to a printer we can make a digital document go to physical format. We can also pass audio tracks to a CD and enjoy it on the stereo, in the car …
Entertainment
The bulk of the population uses the computer as entertainment element . Why? Very easy. Today the options are counted by hundreds. We can play video games both online and without network access , with friends or by ourselves.
We can listen to music from providers of audio tracks or video platforms, chat, make profiles on social networks and meet people, paying them every day with our experiences and occurrences , write a blog, make entertainment videos ourselves or enjoy the creations of celebrities and strangers, draw, watch series and movies (online or downloading them), connect the equipment to the TV to multiply the entertainment experience …