Now and Then: Computer Reminiscence
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The computer, otherwise known as a processor, is a simple description yet a device with complex functions, intricate codes, and immense capabilities. It is an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. Yet little that we know that it was originally a job title, generally occupied by women, referring to recurring computations of mathematical equations. Due to its repetitive process, early inventors and mathematicians devised a way to lessen the effort in exerting such procedure. Early computers were primarily used for aiding mathematical calculations such as the Abacus, which uses the concept of positional notation. It uses a system of writing numbers in which the position of a digit affects its value. Actually, it doesn’t do the computing, but it assists people to keep track of the numbers as they calculate. However, as the need to do multifarious calculations arouse, John Napier discovered the technology of an algorithm, a step-by-step recursive computational procedure for solving a problem in a finite number of steps. Indeed, necessity is the mother of all inventions, as a prodigy child at 19, Blaise Pascal invented the gear-driven adding calculator, Pascaline. Evidently, these early calculators were the triggering point of the emergence of processing machines such as the Differential Analyzer by Charles Babbage, to handle simple calculus problems; electromechanical machines such as the Enigma used to encrypt and decrypt secret codes; gadgets to decode these messages such as the Colossus Mark I; and eventually the materialization of electronic digital computers such as the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) intended to solve systems of linear equations. To note, as the first digital electronic computer, it pioneered the components of modern computing consisting of binary arithmetic, electronic switching elements, regenerative capacitor memory and the concept of organizing memory and computation separation. It was then that the Z3 computer by Konrad Zuse was invented that established the first freely programmable, working computer in the world based on a binary floating-point number and switching system, which is very similar to a modern computer comprising of separate units – a punch tape reader, a control unit, a floating-point arithmetic unit, and an input/output device. While these gadgets, machines, and devices were designed to comply with fixed commands that are not capable of editing programmed instructions, these are distinguishable to modern day computers that possess versatility and accuracy.
Even though Babbage’s Analytical Engine was still being conceptualized, Ada Lovelace prognosticated the computers’ capability of processing algorithms beyond mere mathematical computations and wrote the program codes. She was regarded as the world’s first programmer. These programs are translated to a machine language for a computer to understand, and upgraded to assembly language, and eventually high level languages. If software programming has advanced and upgraded, computer hardware has kept up with the pace too, as the quest for faster runtime and more storage data increases. Throughout history, computer hardware and software has defined the era it was built in. In early times, the computers were generally outsized occupying the whole room, while presently, computer sizes vary depending on its use. It encompasses mainframes, workstations, towers, desktops, laptops, hand held personal computers, personal digital assistants, and to top it all, supercomputers that are used for complex and unthinkable calculations involving quantum mechanical physics, weather forecasting, physical simulations, climate research, and molecular modeling.
Computers nowadays are customizable wherein users can opt for their desired specs accommodating their intended use, either for internet video streaming, or gaming experience. Popular processors are Intel i7 920 2.66GHz Quad Core, and 1 x AMD Athlon XP 2100+ / 1.73 GHz (266 MHz). For extreme hardcore gaming, video card performance is vital. Large leaps by ATI’s Radeon 5800 have quite easily taken the top spot for single-GPU performance. Not to be outdone is Nvidia’s dual GPU card, the GTX 295 – essentially 2 GTX GPUs running in SLI on a single card.
Computers are constantly evolving and upgrading rapidly. The supercomputers today may only be a normal computer tomorrow. However, it wouldn’t hurt if we indulge ourselves with these to enjoy the height of it. After all, enjoy present pleasures as not to injure the future ones.
