Webster’s Dictionary defines “computer” as any programmable electronic device that can store, retrieve and process data. The basic idea of computing developed in the 1200’s when a Moslem cleric proposed solving problems with a series of written procedures.

As early as the 1640’s mechanical calculators were being manufactured for sale. Records exist of earlier machines, but it is common belief that Blaise Pascal invented the first commercial calculator, a hand powered adding machine.

A step towards automated computing was the development of punched cards, which were first used successfully with computers in the 1890 census. Herman Hollerith of MIT developed a system that could read information that had been punched into the cards automatically, without human help. Because of this, reading errors were dramatically reduced, work flow increased, and, most importantly, stacks of punch cards could be used as easily accessible memory of almost unlimited size. Different problems could be stored on different stacks of cards and accessed when needed.

These advantages were seen by commercial companies and soon led to the development of improved punch-card using computer

Over the next five years the advances in computers was due mostly the government and military. The computer at this time was not a feasible asset to a company or individual due to its extreme size and cost of running.

All these technological advances has allowed business to produce products at a faster rate, reduce the cost and as with all goals of business, keep the customer happy.

Customers want quick and easy access to the product. If they have questions they want answers now. With the advent of the home computer and the use of the Internet, business can provide customers with immediate accessibility to the company, their order and products available. Companies can now conduct business without face to face transactions.

It is imperative that the business manager be aware of technological changes, understands their implications and can foresee how they effect the company. One can not just sit back and allow progress to fly by. At the speed that changes are occurring a business that does not adapt to and recognize the changes will find itself wallowing in past as their competitors take over the market.

ENIAC used 18,000 vacuum tubes, about 1,800 square feet of floor space, and consumed about 180,000 watts of electrical power. It had punched card I/O, 1 multiplier, 1 divider/square rooter, and 20 adders using decimal ring counters, which served as adders and also gave as quick – access (.0002 seconds) read – write register storage. The executable instructions making up a program were embodied in the separate “units” of UNIAC, which were plugged together to form a “route” for the flow of information. This unit is a far cry from the desk top I am currently using to complete this report.

s by International Business Machines (IBM) and Remington (the same company that makes shavers), Buroughs and other corporations. These new and improved computers used electromechanical devices in which electric power provided mechanical motion – like the turning wheel of an adding machine.

Some topics in this essay:
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