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Jan 1, 1500
Cog-Wheeled device: the first mechanical calculator
It was designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. -
The slide rule by Oughtred
It was invented by William Oughtred. Until the early 1970s (when was invented the eletronic calcultor) it remained the tool of choice of mathematicians. -
"The numerical wheel calculator"
It was invented by 18 year-old inventor called Blaise Pascal. It was sold throughout Europe with the name of Pascaline and was used a system of gears (turned by hand) to do addition and subtraction. It also used punched cards to store datas. -
Gottfried Leibniz
He improved upon Pascaline by adding multiplication, division and square root capabilities. -
Charles Babbage
In the 1800s Charles Babbage used the mechanical technology of the age to develop his problem-solving tools. -
Mechanical Loom by Joseph Marie Jacquard
He developed a mechanical loom that used punched cards to control its operation.The different combinations of punched holes created different patterns and designs in the woven material. -
Babbage and Herschel
The two friends ran into a problem: they found many errors while thy're checking data calculated. -
Analytical Engine
The new device was conceived by Babbage and it was based on the results of its own computations. It could make decisions like the sequential control, branching or looping. -
Still on the Babbage's Machine
The scientist died without finishing the Babbage's machine, that was very complex. -
About United States
From 1880 to 1890 the United States population grew from 50 million to 63 million. National census statistics were necessary. So, Dr Herman Hollerith developed an eletric tabulating system of machines that compiled the census mechanilly. Thanks to these machines the count was faster (only six weeks). The machines operated on the principle of punched cards. -
The foundation of the Tabulating Machine Company
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International Business Machines (IBM)
The Tabulating Machine Company merged into an organization: it became the IBM, the world's largest computer company. -
The building of Babbage's Machine
Babbage's machine was built between 1989 and 1991 by dedicated members of the Science Museum in London. -
Abacus
(2600BC) Invented in China for the expansion of commerce and the need for accurate recordkeeping. It was an instrument for performing calculations by sliding counters along rods or in grooves.
