Evolution of technology project (computers) PLEASE HELP!?

Question

Okay..

Who created it?

who laid the foundations for its creation, when and how?

what is the oldest prototype of this tech?

what previously existing elements were used to create this new tech.?

did any groups activly try to stop the development of this technonogy?

how has the new technology diffused throughout north america?

ANYONE WHO GIVES ME GOOD ANSWERS OR A WEB SITE WITH IT ALL ON WILL GET BEST ANSWER! Please help!!!

Answer 1

Charles Babbage is considered the father of computing. The computer he created was as big as a room.

This is perhaps the 4th of 5th generation of computers. I know that the 2nd gen was based on transistors, 3rd gen on Large Scale Integrated Circuits(LSI), 4th gen on VLSI Circuits. (V stands for Very).

I am not aware of anyone trying to stop the development of this technology, but a lot of people did not see much use for the "Adding machines" that were much slower than a calculator and much larger.

Sorry, you will have to google for more. I studied all this over 20 years ago.

Answer 2

How are you defining computers for this project? Would Babbage's Difference Engine count?

http://www.maxmon.com/1822ad.htm

If that counts, then there are bajillions of articles on it to help you.

Answer 3

During WW2, in England, they were trying to crack the German military codes, which used an electronic "Enigma Machine" to encrypt at one end, and a similar one to decrypt at the other. The Germans thought their method was so good that it would never be cracked, but at Bletchley Park, and with a machine at the British Post Office, they managed to do just that. They had previously broken the Japanese Naval code, and knew about Pearl Harbour, but Churchill wanted the Americans in the war, so didn't warn them, and after the war he had all those early computers destroyed, so no one would be able to break the English communications. They also used the information to decimate the Italian fleet in the Mediterranean, but were smart enough to direct one of their planes in sight of it, so it would be assumed by the Axis forces that it was mere bad luck that their presence and location was detected. The Germans blamed "spies & arseholes" for their misfortunes, never realising the truth, such was their arrogant overconfidence in the superiority of the technology of the "master race". After the war, in America, a computer the size of a house, called Univac, was built, but these early computers used vacuum tubes, which were very inefficient, requiring huge amounts of power. Then, in the 60s, transistors came along, and eventually integrated circuits, and when these were developed, it became possible for universities and colleges to have them. Then they were developed further, with ever greater complexity, and eventually even the general public could afford a simple one.