History of Information History of Information TechnologyTechnology

ObjectivesObjectives

Define modern information Define modern information technology.technology.

Discuss major pre-information age Discuss major pre-information age technologies.technologies.

Compare and contrast early Compare and contrast early computers.computers.

Relate early technology to the Relate early technology to the development of modern personal development of modern personal computers.computers.

Definition of Information Definition of Information Technology (IT)Technology (IT)

Use of computer hardware and Use of computer hardware and software to manage informationsoftware to manage information

A combination of computing and A combination of computing and telecommunications for the telecommunications for the acquisition, processing, storage and acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numeric information.textual and numeric information.

Electromechanical AgeElectromechanical Age Telegraph: invented in Telegraph: invented in

18371837• ““Victorian Internet” – the Victorian Internet” – the

telegraph was the first telegraph was the first world communication world communication systemsystem

Telephone: invented by Telephone: invented by Alexander Graham Bell in Alexander Graham Bell in 18761876

Radio: invented by Radio: invented by Guglielmo Marconi in Guglielmo Marconi in 18941894

These inventions could These inventions could communicate communicate information, but not store information, but not store it.it.

Generational TechnologyGenerational Technology

First generation, 1951-1958First generation, 1951-1958

Vacuum tubes were used as the Vacuum tubes were used as the internal computer components, internal computer components, punched cards and magnetic punched cards and magnetic tapes for storing data, and tapes for storing data, and machine language for machine language for programming.programming.

Second generation, 1959-1964Second generation, 1959-1964

Transistors replaces vacuum tubes, Transistors replaces vacuum tubes, assembly language and high level assembly language and high level languages replaced machine languages replaced machine language, and the removable disk language, and the removable disk pack replaced punched cards. pack replaced punched cards. Transistors enabled manufacturers to Transistors enabled manufacturers to produce smaller computers.produce smaller computers.

High-level programming languages High-level programming languages were created such as Grace Hopper’s were created such as Grace Hopper’s COBOL, which were translated by COBOL, which were translated by compilers into binary format.compilers into binary format.

Third generation, 1965-1970Third generation, 1965-1970

Integrated circuits --complete Integrated circuits --complete electronic circuits on a silicon chip electronic circuits on a silicon chip were developed. ICs led to the were developed. ICs led to the production of even smaller production of even smaller computers called mini computers. computers called mini computers. Software became more sophisticated Software became more sophisticated and interactive processing possibleand interactive processing possible

Operating systems appeared, along with the Operating systems appeared, along with the advanced programming language BASIC.advanced programming language BASIC.

CPUs (central processing units), which CPUs (central processing units), which contained memory, logic, and control contained memory, logic, and control circuits all on a single chip, personal circuits all on a single chip, personal computers (Apple II) and the graphical user computers (Apple II) and the graphical user interface (GUI) were developed.interface (GUI) were developed.

GUI allows interaction with computers GUI allows interaction with computers through images, rather having to type in through images, rather having to type in commands.commands.

Fourth generation, 1971-presentFourth generation, 1971-present

The microprocessor or computer on a The microprocessor or computer on a chip was developed. This made PCs, chip was developed. This made PCs, and other applications possible and other applications possible (calculators, banking,...)(calculators, banking,...)

Fifth generation, present and Fifth generation, present and beyond beyond

recent and emerging technologies, recent and emerging technologies, i.e. voice recognition, artificial i.e. voice recognition, artificial intelligence, neural systems, intelligence, neural systems, quantum computers…quantum computers…

They used very large scale They used very large scale Integrated circuits.Integrated circuits.

Mark IMark I

Created by Harvard Created by Harvard student Howard Aiken student Howard Aiken in 1942in 1942• Weighed 5 tonsWeighed 5 tons• First programmable First programmable

digital computerdigital computer• Used paper tape rather Used paper tape rather

than punch cardsthan punch cards• Grace Hopper is Grace Hopper is

credited with the term credited with the term “debugging” when she “debugging” when she found the first computer found the first computer “bug,” a dead moth“bug,” a dead moth

Electronic Numerical Integrator and Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) Computer (ENIAC)

11stst generation: used vacuum generation: used vacuum tubestubes

First electronic computerFirst electronic computer Created by John Mauchly and Created by John Mauchly and

J. Prosper EckertJ. Prosper Eckert Funded by U.S. ArmyFunded by U.S. Army Built to calculate artillery Built to calculate artillery

firing tablesfiring tables• Replaced female Replaced female

“computers”“computers” Could not store informationCould not store information 18,000 vacuum tubes 18,000 vacuum tubes

unreliableunreliable

EDSACEDSAC

First stored-program First stored-program computercomputer

Invented by Mauchly Invented by Mauchly and Eckert, with the and Eckert, with the help of John von help of John von NeumannNeumann

Performed first Performed first calculation in 1949calculation in 1949

First graphical First graphical computer gamecomputer game

UNIVACUNIVAC

First commercially available First commercially available computercomputer

Invented by Mauchly and Invented by Mauchly and EckertEckert

Weighed 13 tonsWeighed 13 tons First to use magnetic tapeFirst to use magnetic tape Correctly predicted Eisenhower to win 1952 Correctly predicted Eisenhower to win 1952

presidential election with a 1% population presidential election with a 1% population samplesample

First contracts: government institutions First contracts: government institutions (Census Bureau, U.S. Military branches)(Census Bureau, U.S. Military branches)

Modern TechnologyModern Technology

1975: Intel 8080 used in MITS Altair, first 1975: Intel 8080 used in MITS Altair, first personal computer; used Microsoft’s Altair personal computer; used Microsoft’s Altair BASIC softwareBASIC software

•1971: Intel 4004 1971: Intel 4004 microprocessor developedmicroprocessor developed

Modern Technology, continuedModern Technology, continued

1976: Apple I is sold as a 1976: Apple I is sold as a motherboard, without a motherboard, without a keyboard, monitor, or casekeyboard, monitor, or case

1981: Microsoft MS-DOS operating 1981: Microsoft MS-DOS operating systemsystem

1984: Apple Macintosh1984: Apple Macintosh 1985: Microsoft Windows1985: Microsoft Windows

1993 – Multimedia desktop 1993 – Multimedia desktop computerscomputers

1994 – Apple and IBM introduce PCs 1994 – Apple and IBM introduce PCs with full-motion video built in; with full-motion video built in; wireless data transmission for small wireless data transmission for small portable computers; first web portable computers; first web browser invented (Mosaic)browser invented (Mosaic)

SummarySummary

Information technology is the use of Information technology is the use of computer hardware and software to computer hardware and software to manage informationmanage information

Inventions such as the telegraph, Inventions such as the telegraph, telephone, and radio are used to telephone, and radio are used to communicate, not store, informationcommunicate, not store, information

Methods of data storage, retrieval, Methods of data storage, retrieval, processing, and transmission change processing, and transmission change over technology generations.over technology generations.

Summary, continuedSummary, continued

The earliest computers, Mark I and ENIAC, The earliest computers, Mark I and ENIAC, performed calculations but could not store performed calculations but could not store information.information.

At first, only government institutions and At first, only government institutions and corporations used computers.corporations used computers.

The creation of the personal The creation of the personal computer led to the rapid computer led to the rapid development of the IT development of the IT industry, which continues industry, which continues to grow and change today.to grow and change today.

Thanks to:Thanks to:Georgia CTAE Resource Network Curriculum Georgia CTAE Resource Network Curriculum

Office, Office, June 2009 June 2009

To accompany curriculum for the Georgia Peach To accompany curriculum for the Georgia Peach State Career Pathways State Career Pathways

June 2009, Kayla Calhoun & Dr. Frank FlandersJune 2009, Kayla Calhoun & Dr. Frank Flanders

ICT for Library and Information Professionals: ICT for Library and Information Professionals: A Training Package for Developing Countries A Training Package for Developing Countries

by Lourdes T. Davidby Lourdes T. David