Computer History
Date | Event | c.
2400 BC | The abacus - the first known calculator, was probably invented by the Babylonians as an aid to simple arithmetic around this time period. This laid the foundations for positional notation and later computing developments. | 1300 | Ramon Llull invented the Lullian Circle: a notional machine for calculating answers to philosophical questions (in this case, to do with Christianity) via logical combinatorics. This idea was taken up by Leibniz centuries later, and is thus one of the founding elements in computing and information science | c.
1400 | Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics in South India invented the floating point number system. | 1492 | Leonardo da Vinci produced drawings of a device consisting of interlocking cog wheels which can be interpreted as a mechanical calculator capable of addition and subtraction. A working model inspired by this plan was built in 1968 but it remains controversial whether Leonardo really had a calculator in mind. Da Vinci also made plans for a mechanical man: an early design for a robot. | 1614 | Scotsman John Napier reinvented a form of logarithms and an ingenious system of movable rods (referred to as Napier's Rods or Napier's bones). These rods were based on the lattice or gelosia multiplication algorithm and allowed the operator to multiply, divide and calculate square and cube roots by moving the rods around and placing them in specially constructed boards. | 1642 | French polymath Blaise Pascal invented the mechanical calculator.[27] Called machine arithmétique, Pascal's calculator and eventually Pascaline, its public introduction in 1645 started the development of mechanical calculators first in Europe and then in the rest of the world. It was the first machine to have a controlled carry mechanism.[28] Pascal built 50 prototypes before releasing his first machine (eventually twenty machines were built). The Pascaline inspired the works of Gottfried Leibniz (1671), Thomas de
2400 BC | The abacus - the first known calculator, was probably invented by the Babylonians as an aid to simple arithmetic around this time period. This laid the foundations for positional notation and later computing developments. | 1300 | Ramon Llull invented the Lullian Circle: a notional machine for calculating answers to philosophical questions (in this case, to do with Christianity) via logical combinatorics. This idea was taken up by Leibniz centuries later, and is thus one of the founding elements in computing and information science | c.
1400 | Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics in South India invented the floating point number system. | 1492 | Leonardo da Vinci produced drawings of a device consisting of interlocking cog wheels which can be interpreted as a mechanical calculator capable of addition and subtraction. A working model inspired by this plan was built in 1968 but it remains controversial whether Leonardo really had a calculator in mind. Da Vinci also made plans for a mechanical man: an early design for a robot. | 1614 | Scotsman John Napier reinvented a form of logarithms and an ingenious system of movable rods (referred to as Napier's Rods or Napier's bones). These rods were based on the lattice or gelosia multiplication algorithm and allowed the operator to multiply, divide and calculate square and cube roots by moving the rods around and placing them in specially constructed boards. | 1642 | French polymath Blaise Pascal invented the mechanical calculator.[27] Called machine arithmétique, Pascal's calculator and eventually Pascaline, its public introduction in 1645 started the development of mechanical calculators first in Europe and then in the rest of the world. It was the first machine to have a controlled carry mechanism.[28] Pascal built 50 prototypes before releasing his first machine (eventually twenty machines were built). The Pascaline inspired the works of Gottfried Leibniz (1671), Thomas de