Computing Devices in 19th Century

1. ABACUS: This is the first calculating device invented by Chinese. It is made up of a frame divided into two parts by a horizontal bar an vertical threads. It is also known Soroban in Japan and Suan Pan in China. It is used for adding and subtracting numbers.
2. JOHN NAPIER BONE: In 1917, Scotsman named John Napier invented logarithm which are a technology that allows multiplication. It consists of a set of eleven rods, with four sides each used as a multiplication tool. These rods were made with bones.
3. SLIDE RULE: Napier’s invention led directly to slide rule. It was first built in England in 1632. It uses two logarithm scales to allow rapid multiplication and    division of numbers.
4. PASCAL’S CALCULATOR: In 1642, Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and scientist at age 19 invented the PASCALINE which is the first mechanical calculating machine. It is used for addition and subtraction of up to 8 digits number.
5. LEIBNITZ’S CALCULATOR: It was realised by scientist tat Pascal’s toothed wheels could also perform multiplication by repeated addition of number. Baron Von Leibnitz , the German philosopher and mathematician worked on Pascal machine in 1671 but did not complete his first calculating machine until 1694. It can multiply, divide, add and subtract.
6. JACQUARD’S LOOM: Jacquard’s Loom was one of the first machines that were run by a program. It initiated the storage of information on punch cards. The punch cards were secured tightly alongside each other in a sequential manner. It is used automatically produce textile designs as per the program on the punched card.
7. BABBAGE’S DIFFERENCE ENGINE: Charles Babbage designed the difference engine in 1822 and produced the first reliable life tables that were in use for the next 50 years. It could solve polynomial equations using numerical method called “the method of difference”.
8. HERMAN HOLLERITH TABULATING MACHINE: Herman Hollerith’s punch cards and tabulating equipment are used in the US census. It assisted in the processing of the data from the 1890 U.S. census.