1623

Wilhelm Schickard designs the first calculator for use adding large figures. Called the calculating clock.

1642

Pascal invents an adding machine (Pascaline) too aid his father who was a tax collector, it was too expensive to keep running.

1666

Samuel Morland builds a mechanical calculator, only able to add and subtract.

1834

Charles Babbage begins his work on the "computer". His is more like a mechanical calculator than an electronic device. He is noted as the inventor of the first digital computer. Called the analytical engine.

1912

Alan Turing starts the first serious work on a model, comparable to the modern computer. Isn't commercially produced until the 1950's by IBM.

1936

The first freely programmable computer is designed.

1960's

The first talk of the Internet began. The RAND corporation began talking of a communication program that could survive a Nuclear war.

1962

The first computer game invented.

1964

The first computer mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart.

1971

Alan Shugart &IBMThe "Floppy" Disk . Nicknamed the "Floppy" for its flexibility.

1975

The first PC (personal computer) was released. Didn't do much more than get " a whole lot of tech-nerds really excited." (Learning at Griffith, Lecture Two, A Short History of the computer) "there is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home" Ken Olson Chairman DEC.

1990's

People began to get excited and see the possibilities of the computer.

Bibliography

Lecture notes "A Brief history of Computing" , Learning at Griffith, Accessed 13.8.09, 14.8.09

http://www.warbaby.com/FG_test/Timeline.html Accessed 13.8.09

http://www.computersciencelab.com/ComputerHistory/History.htm Accessed 17.8.09

www.hitmill.com/computers/computerhx1.html accessed 17.8.09

www.computerhope.com/history Accessed 17.8.09

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_computing_2400_BC%E2%80%931949 Accessed 17.8.09

http://www.dreamcomputers.com.au/216.htm Accessed 17.8.09