Technological Advancements
A law that states that the number of transistors present in circuits will double every two years. Its current relevance is somewhat debated
Moore's Law
This computer was created to crack encrypted messages sent by German soldiers and officials during WWII. It was a major factor in turning the war in favor of the Allied Powers
Colossus
The year that the Colossus computer was created. It helped turn the tide of WWII by allowing for the decryption of encoded German messages
1943
This man theorized and partially created both the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine
Charles Babbage
This concept refers to the general computing potential of a device. Could be seen as a "measure of strength" in terms of completing tasks
Computing Power
Because of the ever-increasing efficiency of computing devices, these mobile computers are able to run desktop operating systems and programs in a form-factor that allows them to be easily carried from place to place
Laptops
This was one of the first supercomputers put to work after the end of WWII. The creation of this device was funded by the U.S Military in 1943, but it wasn't completed until after the war had ended
The ENIAC
This decade brought the likes of the C programming language and Unix, two innovations that would fundamentally shape the field of computing going forward
1970s
Assistant to Charles Babbage. Known for her work on his contraptions and for creating what may have been the very first "program"
Ada Lovelace
This concept in computing deals with the actionable use of electricity when given to a computer weighed against wasteful use. Improving it usually involves decreasing the the electrical usage of a computer while minimizing wastefulness, two aspects of computing that have constantly improved throughout the life of the field
Computing Efficiency
This programming language, initially created by Bell Labs in the 1970s, would become a staple language in the field of computing for decades after its initial creation. Created to run efficiently on low-end hardware
The C Programming Language
This devices, conceptualized by Charles Babbage in the 1800s, was designed for the "automatic production of mathematical tables (such as logarithm tables, tide tables, and astronomical tables)
The Difference Engine
During this year, Alan Turing published papers that defined what a "Turing Machine" is, setting a standard for what would be expected for computing devices going forward.
1936
This notable Swedish programmer created the Pascal programming language and helped establish international standards for computer programming
Niklaus Wirth
In software development, this refers to an interface shown to the user that allows them to interact with programs and ask them to carry out tasks. Generally developed for ease of use
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
These devices were developed after WWII as a more efficient and reliable replacement for vacuum tubes. These devices were designed to regulate voltage and / or current on a much smaller scale
Transistors
This device, further iterating on concepts thought of by Charles Babbage with his Difference Engine, aimed to be more of a general computing device. Charles Babbage didn't live to see its full creation
The Analytical Engine
Charles Babbage died during this year, not living to see the creation of his theoretical computing devices. His work would go on to influence much of what came afterwards in computing history
1871
This man created the "Differential Analyzer" during his time at MIT. He based this device on a revised version of the wheel-and-disc integrator by Hannibal Ford
Vannevar Bush
This concept details the trend of unnecessarily complex or needlessly slow code in programs that has presented itself more strongly as computers have become more powerful.
Bloat / Bloated Code
These devices were develop the slower, less reliable devices known as "relays" that came before them. They consist of an air-tight glass tube with two or more electrodes in it, allowing for the control of electrical current flow
Vacuum Tubes
This device inspired the design of the "Differential Analyzer" created by Vannevar Bush. It was initially created by James Thomson, but an improved version was made in 1919 by Hannibal Ford
The Wheel-and-Disc Integrator
During this year, IBM distributed what would become the first mass-produced electronic computer, the IBM 701
1952
One of the earliest adopters of "vacuum tubes". Used them to optimize aspects of telephonic communications while working at the British Post Office Research Station
Thomas Flowers
Refers to the way that people interact with computers. Usually involves various devices or methods used by a person to input or receive information from them
Human-Computer Interaction / Human-Computer Interfacing