Introduction to PCs - Part 1

Welcome to the exciting world of personal computers!

In the short span of two and a half decades, the personal computer has revolutionized the way our society works, learns, and entertains itself. Today more and more seniors are learning to use personal computers.

Yes, you're entering into a field that has continually generated more and more jobs, even as the economy has stalled to a stand-still. PC technology has made it easy for ordinary people to perform useful works, at home, school, or the workplace.

Today, I would like to introduce you to a brief history of computers with a special focus on the PC. Don't panic! I'll try to do it in a friendly manner.

Beginnings
We have evidence of calculating devices dating back thousands of years.

• Babylonian merchants were keeping records on clay tablets by 3,500 B.C.
• Ancient Romans used counting tables and grooved tablets to keep track of their business accounts.
• Chinese developed an abacus (image above). The abacus is still widely used there, as well as in Japan and Russia.
  

Invention of the first mechanical calculating machine in 1642 is attributed to the French mathematician Blaise Pascal. A German mathematician, Gottfried von Liebniz, soon improved on Pascal's mechanical calculator by making a machine that could add, subtract, multiply, divide and extract square roots.

In 1830s, Charles Babbage, an English Mathematician developed detailed design plans for an analytical machine. Babbage had some success with early prototypes of his machine, but was unable to complete a working version of his machine.

Task: Make a comment on this small lesson. Ufffff!!!! that was hard, isn' it?
To be continue..!