If someone approached you and asked “In what year was the first computer invented?”, would you know the answer? You might say somewhere in the 1940′s or 1950′s, but it could have been much earlier than that, depending upon how you look at it. However, there may never really be a solid answer to that question, but a little research reveals that there are several good answers to the question “when was the first computer invented”.
The personal computers we use today didn’t happen overnight and perhaps they came from the laboratories and universities of the 1950′s and 1960′s. However, computers have spent a much longer time in the making. From tally sticks to the first use of vacuum tubes, here are some of the accepted answers to when the first computer was invented.
To help understand the question a little more, we should first define what is meant by “computer”. Dictionary.com defines computer in several ways. The predominant definition requires the computer be electronic in nature. However, that doesn’t necessarily need to be the case.
Computers can also be a person that computes using tools to perform the computing. The tools people used can be either erroneously or correctly termed as a computer, depending upon your own point of view. This is what makes any answer to this question a little fuzzy.
To help you determine what you might call the first computer ever invented, here is a list of the first computers ever invented.
ENIAC (Electronic Numerator Integrator Analyzer and Computer) – Built by John W. Mauchly Jr., J. Presper Eckert Jr., and J.G. Brainerd at the University of Pennsylvania, the ENIAC was built for about $400,000 and used 18,000 radio tubes. It was housed in a 30×50 foot room.Announced to the world as a ‘Giant Brain’ by the press and operational in November 1945. It held immediate importance to the world and began the spreading of computer architecture seminars and lectures.
Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine – Many consider Englishman Charles Babbage‘s Analytical Engine back in 1837 to be the first computer. While the original device was never built by Babbage, it wasn’t until 1991 when a perfectly functioning difference engine was built using Babbage’s original plans. Babbage is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer which eventually led to the construction of more complex mechanical computers.
Tally Sticks – The first known counting devices or tools were Tally Sticks from about 35,000 BC. The tally stick was a memory aid device that allowed the recording and documenting of numbers, quantities and even messages. The image shows the oldest known tally stick, made from Lebombo bone. While not a computer by today’s standards. Back in it’s day, it began the process of tracking and counting that would eventually lead civilizations to more complex machines. The person using the sticks could be called a computer though!
The Abacus - The abacus was invented by the Babylonians in 2400 BC and is also called a counting frame. Used to perform addition and subtraction operations, it was unwieldy for complex calculations such as multiplication and division.The use of the abacus spread across the world and was used by many civilizations for thousands of years, making it the most used calculator in human history (aside from the human brain of course).
Z1 Computer – A German engineer by the name of Konrad Zuse made the Z1 computer in 1936. The Z1 read its instructions from punched tape and was able to perform multiplication and division by repeated addition and subtraction operations. Konrad Zuse built the Z1 in his parents apartment.
Colossus Mark 1 – The Colossus was the first electronic computer developed by the British to crack the LORENZ codes used by the German high command and was operational in January 1944. It was designed by engineer Tommy Flowers with the help of Allen Coombs.The Colossus Mark 2 was build just in time for the Normandy Landings on June 1st, 1944.
UNIVAC I – The UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer I) was the first commercially available, “mass produced” electronic computer manufactured by Remington Rand in the USA and was delivered to the US Census Bureau in March 1951. It used 5,200 vacuum tubes and consumed 125 kW of power. 46 machines were sold at more than $1 million each. The fifth machine was sold to CBS for predictions on the 1952 presidential election.
As you can see, there isn’t a single year that the computer was first invented, rather, it happened over the course of several thousand years and only since the 1980′s has it become the phenomena as we know it today.
All images are courtesy of Wikipedia and are the property of each individual owner.
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Who knew? Isn’t it amazing that they used to housed in giant rooms and now some take up less than a square foot!
Nice history lesson Wayne..wouldn’t it be sweet to have some of the tubes from those old computers..nice conversation piece for the geek.
I would’ve guessed 1954, but that’s what it would have been…a guess.
Absolutely killer blog post! So interesting.
I read about the Difference Engine a few years back and was amazed. I wonder how someone with Babbage’s IQ would do with today’s resources.
@Karen – The rate of improvement decades beyond that makes me wonder what we’ll see around 2030.
@Adam – I wish I had some of those tubes. Hell, I wish I still had my Commodore.
@Heff – Yeah, I would have guessed too. I love Wikipedia.
@DeadRooster – Thanks William! I’m sure there are those among us that will be doing some amazing things, but yeah, I wonder that about many people in history.
I stumbled upon this and began to realize that there were many firsts, and no one single answer. Thought it would be a fun post, glad you guys liked it!
I had a Timex Sinclair back in the early 80s but since I couldn’t get it to do much I gave up on it. I’d say the real coming of age for computers has been in the last 20 years with the internet. I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t use a computer now.
Now imagine when they cross computers with biotech. Won’t that be interesting.
After seeing the tally sticks, I have the banana boat song stuck in my head.
Hey Mr. Tally Man. Tally Me Banana.
Thanks.
Demeur, I remember those. I saw one in a Safeway pharmacy dept. and used to wait about 20 minutes for frogger to load up. lol When biotech is introduced and mass marketed, things will look pretty scary I think.
Oh crap Evyl, HAHAHAHAHAHA! Now I’m going to have that song in my head. Thank you Evyl…thank you very much.
Hmm…I don’t think I have that song…
Damn earworms all around. Damn you Evyl!
Got to you too eh? haha
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Very interesting article. I am a big tech guy and it is always fun to read about the history of the computer. It is funny that my current pc is more powerful than a full room of vacuum tubes that took up a ton of space.
If we look back in the past, we can’t just believe how fast technology grows. things are getting smaller and smaller where in we can bring them almost anywhere we wanted.
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The very first computer I “used” was at school in the 1970′s. We didn’t actually get to see the computer because we would fill out punch cards and a week later we’d get a printout with the results.
Well, it takes me back. My first computer programming course was done with punch cards. As a joke I would slip an extra card into the 3 foot stack of a neighbour and the same was done to me and it was a real fun trouble shoot.
It amazing to think that they used to be the size of an entire room, and needed several people to operate it. 60 years later you can easily balance one on your lap. Just fasinating.
My Grandad acctually told me about the UNIVAC I, aswell as the 52 presedential election. He said it was the biggest invention of modern times and that it would change the future, they were right!
Twitter: waynejohn
says:
It is pretty interesting to see how far along we’ve come. I often wonder if the future will one day show as significant a difference as the UNIVAC to the laptop does today. Thanks for visiting and commenting, Mike!
I am a big tech guy and it is always fun to read about the history of the computer.
When I was going to school 15 years ago, we got teached on the computer for one hour a week – today nothing runs without the computer
Twitter: pc_prima
says:
My first inclination would probably be to say sometime in the middle of the twentieth century, too, but, you’re right, it all depends on your definition of what a computer is. The computer as we know has only been around for several decades, but getting to that point took thousands of years of foundation laying. Great idea for a post! Apologies that I’m over two years late getting to it
Twitter: waynejohn
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Ha, no apologies necessary, Petra. We all find things in our own time. You and I are pretty new friends, no?
Twitter: pc_prima
says:
This is true
For some reason, though, whenever I find an old, interesting article that I want to comment on, I feel somewhat hesitant. I wouldn’t want people to think I’m combing their blogs for a free backlink or something 
But I guess that’s what blog entries are there for, right? To be read and commented on.
Twitter: waynejohn
says:
I know what you mean. I sometimes wonder about the comments on old posts, but then, I’m also advertising them on the sidebar too, so it makes sense that regular commentators would visit them and perhaps comments. It’s all good, Petra!
Twitter: finallyfast
says:
I just saw this post on the “recent comments”. The fact that a computer millions of times less capable than a pocket-sized smartphone was basically the size of an entire building just 50 years ago (or whenever…disregarding things like ‘tally sticks’) is so amazing that it’s almost creepy in a strange way, because of what’s inevitably on the horizon for us 50 years in the future.
Twitter: waynejohn
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The near future is going to be mind-blowing I think. Can’t wait to see what happens!
1837? mm. I dont know if I believe that, well I believe it but I don’t know if I would call that a computer. I guess we would have to look at the definition of a computer and what constitutes a computer
I studied Charles Babbage as the real inventor of the machine, which reflects from your post. We should sometimes to be proud on pur history, which gives us the devlopmental stages and efforts made therein.