HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTING DEVICES II
JACQUARD’S LOOM
Is a mechanical loom, invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in the year 1801. It was used for manufacturing textiles with complex pattern. [e.g. damask, brocade etc.]. It was usually operated with punch cards.
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DIFFERENCE ENGINE
This device was invented by Charles Babbage (known as the Father of Computer). It was used in producing astronomical and mathematical table. It uses the decimal number system (base 10) to carry out its work. It was invented in the year 1821. It was mainly used to tabulate polynomial functions. It is a mechanical calculator.
ANALYTICAL ENGINE
This was invented in the year 1833 by Charles Babbage. It was the first digital computer operated with punch cards.
HOLLERITH CENSUS MACHINE
It was built in the year 1881 by a scientist named Herman Hollerith. The device was used in the United States of America Census Commission. It is also called Census Tabulator.
BURROUGH’S MACHINE
It was invented by William Seward Burroughs (an American scientist) in the year 1885. It was used for clerical works.
EVALUATION
- Mention the names of the devices invented by Charles Babbage with their years of invention
- The tabulating machine used in the U.S. for census was invented by______.
- State one use of these devices;
[a] Jacquard’s Loom [b] Difference Engine
ASSIGNMENT
State the full meaning of the following acronyms;
[a] ENIAC [b] EDSAC [c] EDVAC[d] UNIVAC [e] PC
See also:
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTING DEVICES