The History of Information Technology

THE HISTORY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

HISTORY OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE

• In the early days the first computer programmers used binary codes to instruct computers to perform various tasks. However, the process was tiring.

• Early software was often custom-written.• Later software was being bundled with

hardware by Original Equipment Manufacturers such as IBM and Data General.

Cont’d

• UNIX (developed by AT&T in 1969) was an early operating system which became popular and still exists today. Before the microcomputer a good software program typically sold up to 1,000 units at $50,000-60,000 each.

• In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft to create software for both businesses and personal computers.

Cont’d

• Microsoft created an operating system for software computers called MS-DOS and released it as a product.

• Although announced in 1983, the Windows operating system was not released until 1987.

• Microsoft’s software became a popular operating system after the 1995 release of Windows 95

Cont’d

• In 2001 Microsoft introduced Windows XP with a new user friendly interface. Released in 2006 Windows Vista and followed by Windows 7 which supported mobile computing and wireless internet access.

• Now, with Windows 8, Microsoft has focused on touch-enabled computing.

THE HISTORY OF COMPUTER HARDWARE

• The first single chip CPU called the Intel 4004, was designed in 1971 which was a 4 bit, 16 pin processor that operated at 740KHz. Presently there are CPUs with a bit of 64.

Cont’d

• The first mouse was created in 1963 which used 2 wheels positioned at a 90 degree angle. The ball mouse was invented in 1972 and the optical mouse 1980.

Cont’d

• The first computer monitor was the Cathode Ray Tubes and was used with a keyboard. Presently, LCD monitors have become more popular.

Cont’d

• Computer keyboards were created through the use of typewriters which was created in 1714. The modern keyboard was then invented in 1868.

HISTORY OF THE INTERNET

• The internet then known as Apranet was brought online in 1969 which was the first network to use internet protocol. It expanded through various funds and commercial internet providers emerged. The Apranet however was decommissioned in 1990.

• In the 1980’s the world wide web was worked on and developed which changed way of life.

HISTORY OF TELECOMMUNICATION

• First attempts at communicating was through cave drawings, smoke signals and drumming etc.

• The mail system came about in which persons wrote letters to be delivered.

• The telephone was invented in 1876 by Alexander Bell and the first email message was sent in 1972.

Cont’d

• After the year 2000 the internet had developed to facilitate communication through social media and video conferencing etc. Phones have also become wireless allowing people all over the world to communicate with each other at any time and place.

CHARACTERISTICS WINDOWS UNIX

COST Prices range from

$8,000JMD-&14,000JMD

Can be freely distributed or

downloaded and cheaper than

WindowsSIZE Maximum file

size 16 terabyteMaximum file size

8 zibabyte

PROCESSING ABILITY

Does not handle high server loads better than UNIX

Handles high server loads better than Windows