Advances in wartime cryptography
The development of computing has been continuous since the invention whatsapp lead of the analytical engine, but a significant leap forward only occurred during World War II. Numerous efforts were launched, and progress was made, especially in the fields related to cryptography . Cryptography is the art of creating and breaking codes. During the war, computers were used to process the enemy's secret messages faster than humans could ever hope to (Limehouse, Kevin, Google IT-Support Certification, Module 1 > From Abacus to Analytical Engine).
The rise of new players and technological developments
After World War II, new players such as IBM and Hewlett Packard entered the industry. These companies collaborated with academic, business, and government entities to develop new technologies. One of the most significant innovations was the introduction of magnetic tape, which provided a more reliable and efficient way to store data compared to the old punched cards. This revolutionized data storage and laid the foundation for modern mass storage technology. (Limehouse, Kevin, Google IT-Support Certification, Module 1 > From Abacus to Analytical Engine.)
Early Computers: Bugs and ENIAC
The famous computer scientist Admiral Grace Hopper had a funny story about engineers working on the Harvard Mark II computer. They were desperately trying to figure out the cause of a malfunction and finally found the source of the problem: a butterfly had gotten into the computer! This incident led to the introduction of the term “bug” to refer to computer errors. (Limehouse, Kevin, Google IT-Support Certification. Module 1 > From Abacus to Analytical Engine.)
Transistors replace vacuum tubes
The development of computers was revolutionized by the invention of transistors . Transistors perform similar functions to old vacuum tubes, but are much smaller and more efficient. Today, a small computer chip can contain billions of transistors. This miniaturization and increased efficiency have allowed computers to achieve significant improvements in performance and portability. (Limehouse, Kevin, Google IT-Support Certification. Module 1 > From Abacus to Analytical Engine.)