Timeline: 10 Major Developments in the History of the Personal Computer

Jan 1, 1822

The Difference Engine

This was the first device capable of computing several sets of numbers and making compies of the results. This was first invented by Charles Babbage. http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/d/diffengi.htm

Jan 1, 1837

The Analytical Engine

This invention also proposed by Charles Babbage and its concept gave guidelines for the first general computer. It used an arithmetic logic unit, flow control, punch cards, and integrated memory to create the first general-purpose computer concept. http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/a/analyten.htm

Jan 1, 1937

Z1: First Programmable Computer

Konrad Zuse created this in his own home and it is considered to be the first electro-mechanical binary programmable modern computer http://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Relays/Zuse.html

Jan 29, 1943

Colossus

This was the first electric programmable computer, it was created by Tommy Flowers. It was created to help the British code readers intercept German messages.

Jan 29, 1943

The Atanaoff-Berry Computer

This was the first digital computer. Developed by professor John Atanasoff and graduate student Cliff Berry at Iowa State http://jva.cs.iastate.edu/operation.php

Jan 29, 1946

ENIAC

Invented by Eckert and Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania. It used 18,00 vacuum tubes and weighed nearly 50 tons. I believe it was the first digital computer because it was fully functional

Jan 29, 1950

First Stored Program Computer

First used by the United States Government. It is considered to be the first computer capable of storing and running a program from memory. https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_univac1101igitalJul49_583949

Mar 8, 1955

Whirlwind Machine

Designed at MIT it is the first computer with RAM. It was a revolutionary invention that was a digital computer with magnetic-core RAM and real time graphics. http://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Electronic/Whirlwind.html