The past and present on our world of computers.

"The history of computer dates back a lot longer than the 1900s, in fact computers have been around for over 5000 years.

In ancient time a "computer", (or "computor") was a person who performed numerical calculations under the direction of a mathematician.

Some of the better known devices used are the Abacus or the Antikythera mechanism.

Around 1725 Basile Bouchon used perforated paper in a loom to establish the pattern to be reproduced on cloth. This ensured that the pattern was always the same and hardly had any human errors.

Later, in 1801, Joseph Jacquard (1752 - 1834), used the punch card idea to automate more devices with great success."

Read more here... http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-Computers&id=94915

Then i started wondering if the lil laptops we use today compared to the original suppercomputers of the early 80's..

And they far surpass them..

Surprisingly enough, supers are often built from existing CPUs but there ends all likeliness with existing hardware.

Terms like super scalar, vector oriented computing, and parallel computing are just some of the terms used in this arena.
Since 1995, supers have been built up from a GRID, meaning an array or cluster of CPUs (even ordinary PC's) connected by a special version of, for example, Linux; thus acting like one big machine. The cost of this type of super is dramatically lower compared to the millions needed to build "conventional" types of supercomputers. As if we can say "conventional" without raising an eyebrow or two.

A fact is that supers are the fastest machines in their time. Yes, we smile looking back at the ENIAC but, back in 1942, it was a miracle machine and the fastest around."

A lot of interesting info in this link with pictures of all the past supers.. http://www.thocp.net/hardware/supercomputers.htm

In the mean time, here is a project set on helping us to create our own..

The Parallella project will make parallel computing accessible to everyone.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adapteva/parallella-a-supercomputer-for-everyone

Project Goals

Making parallel computing easy to use has been described as "a problem as hard as any that computer science has faced". With such a big challenge ahead, we need to make sure that every programmer has access to cheap and open parallel hardware and development tools. Inspired by great hardware communities like Raspberry Pi and Arduino, we see a critical need for a truly open, high-performance computing platform that will close the knowledge gap in parallel programing. The goal of the Parallella project is to democratize access to parallel computing. If we can pull this off, who knows what kind of breakthrough applications could arise? Maybe some of them will even change the world in some small but positive way.

Last but not least, we can't forget about the greatest supercomputer of them all OUR BRAIN...

Our Brain à Supercomputers

Computers have come a long way but they still primitive compared with our own brainpower. Our brains can handle much more information and processing than any supercomputer yet developed. The brain is so far superior to current computers that scientists seek ways to mimic its “wiring” in modern computers.

Researchers using the brain as a model place organic molecules called DDQ on a gold substrate or base as a replacement for silicon chips. These molecules have several properties that make them ideal for computers. First, current computers use just two binary signals, 0 and 1. All of the pictures, words, and links that a computer screen shows are produced from combinations of those two digits. The DDQ computer, however, uses four signals: 0, 1, 2, and 3. In addition, each molecule can connect with up to 300 others at the same time, similar to the way neurons behave in the brain. This powerful behavior is called parallel processing. In contrast, current computers typically communicate with only one circuit at a time, called linear processing. All of this means that the new DDQ computer can work much faster and more efficiently than any other computer to date. It even has the ability to analyze complex, random events such as natural calamities and epidemics.

Computers continue to improve and the DDQ computer is a long technological leap forward. As a molecular machine it can even “heal” itself if a connection is damaged, and can organize itself into networks. Our brain, which has been working well ever since the Creation Week, is a true masterpiece. It should humble us that the best designs of human engineers are those copied from the work of the Master Designer.
http://www.discoveryofdesign.com/id69.html

I requested a new forum section for computers and would like this moved to that section if at all possible.

Thanks :)

TroubledFelix wrote:

I requested a new forum section for computers and would like this moved to that section if at all possible.

Thanks :)

ok