The Beginning of Computers

[darkceus]

First of all, this forum is more inclined to hear answers of those who have great experience and knowledge in computers, but other people are welcome as well to post here.

I just want to know:
Computers, rely on electrical signals right? When and how did people start this? I mean, we can combine elements, create alloys, etc. way before, so what materials did they use to create the physical structure for an artificial brain? How on earth did they put information on electrical signals? And who are the very first people who have done the very basic structures of this artificial brain (I already know some, like Charles Babbage. Please put their contribution in this technological advancement) ?

So, um, that's all. I hope that somebody answers my questions.

P.S. I just want to share what my father told me about this (he answered me on another view): "It's called thinking out of the box."

 

[DESTROYER123]

When you say electrical signals you mean 10101010001111010 or electricity????
Because the 10101010101 is used only by computers so that's something unique n' cool but electricity is used by almost everything!

 

[gorillabull]

like u said this forum is not for people who got a computer for chrismas

 

[darkceus]

Maybe electrical signals? That's another thing. How can something (see e.g.) come from 1's and 0's?

e.g. color displays, conditions, loops, value assignment.

 

[DESTROYER123]

When it come to computers, I'm a noob.
I just wanted to know what are these electrical signals
*Casts Wind Walk and walks away*

 

[darkceus]

lol subscribe here then and let's wait for them masters. XD

 

[darkceus]

It's okay gorillabull. I just said it's more inclined to those who have great experience/knowledge in computers, but others are also welcome. Who knows, maybe other people want to know the answers to my questions as well.

 

[gorillabull]

lol subscribe here then and let's wait for them masters. XD

Or just use google

 

[The_wand_mirror]

Pfff what you are asking is very hard to explain and understand, if we would go into detail you would get into al kinds of math stuff that i don't understand. I once started a study on this but after 2 weeks i bailed.

Its all 1's and 0's. think of a computer as a bunch of on/off switches. Letter A being represented by the binary code: 01000001. And so on. Every click button, every keystroke, every function (action or reaction) is represented by a code.

The computer then interprets the standardized code representation into an action/reaction, outputting and/or inputting resulting code. Images, movies, etc are simply just pixels of color, each pixel mapped to a coordinate on the monitor, each coordinate represented by a binary code. Each color mapped as well. I'd suggest that if you want to start your understanding from the very bottom up, start reading about state machines, boolean algebra, Finite automotons. Move on to binary algebra/math. Move onto assembly then some research on operating systems and how they work.

All OS's are attempting to do the same thing regardless as to who makes them (OSX, Unix, Windows). It's a very complex subject, which cannot be completely answered. it must be studied to fully understand. Hope this helps!

 

[Dr Super Good]

The first physical computers were mechanical machines like those used in World War 2. Only later did electronic ones appear.

Before then there was an idea of a computer but it was entirely theoretical. Programming also existed but with no physical machines to run the programs (people wrote code but there were no compilers or interpreters to run it, it only could be run by tracing it manually).

 

[darkceus]

Just to clarify: I already know about computers and how they read things; what I want to know is those (physical computers) evolved into electronic ones? How did they convert electricity into something thinking, or just something other than electricity? I'm sorry if I'm getting kind of vague here, but I still hope you understand.

EDIT: +
Does electricity just run into heavily modified natural substance (e.g. silicon) where it just passes through a series of 'ways' (circuits) and then suddenly silicon 'interprets' (how the hell) what the electricity meant by just running into specific patterns? Does anyone get what I am saying here?

In short, what exactly happens in an early electronic machine? Even just a telegram, so I can probably know how they work from just putting together materials.

 

[Dr Super Good]

How did they convert electricity into something thinking, or just something other than electricity?

Gears turning based on how cards made other gears turn. Electricity was only used to power motors. The first electronic computers were a while after WW2.

Does electricity just run into heavily modified natural substance (e.g. silicon) where it just passes through a series of 'ways' (circuits) and then suddenly silicon 'interprets' (how the hell) what the electricity meant by just running into specific patterns? Does anyone get what I am saying here?

That makes no sense at all.

The silicon is used as a doping substrate, meaning it is mixture with other elements which either can gain or lose an electron. This is used to make transistors. The typical transistor works using electric fields to shift the floating charges in the silicon to form a conductive bridge (1) or isolate (0). The doping itself can diffuse over time which is why computer components have a limited life. Over voltage on the component increases the current exponentially and thus can create forces strong enough to diffuse the doping. That is how modern electronic machines work.

In short, what exactly happens in an early electronic machine?

As they had no silicon components, it was all done using more analogue techniques (with thresholds for logic levels). For example, a valve was used instead of a transistor which works by ionizing air instead of forming a conductive bridge by shifting the charge of doped materials.

Even just a telegram, so I can probably know how they work from just putting together materials.

I do not think telegrams involved any digital electronics at all. They were probably completely analogue systems like radios and telephones.

 

[Ralle]

I listen to a podcast called Security Now!. It has a mini series about how computers are made from the bottom up, I enjoyed listening to it, maybe you will too:
http://twit.tv/sn233

 

[darkceus]

Ahh I get it now (at least some concept. didn't really understand the rest), thanks Dr Super Good. And oh, also the thing I made was just an example, I just picked the first thing I can come up with that is related to computers (silicon), and I was making a draft on how you can answer the question. Again, thanks!

Thank you too Ralle, maybe I shall enjoy it too. Thanks for the link! This can be closed now I guess?

 

[Ralle]

Why would it get closed? It's a cool discussion.

 

[Roland]

Why would it get closed? It's a cool discussion.

I agree with Big daddy, Ralle, Thumbs up for don't close the Thread!

 

[darkceus]

Okay then. I'll be looking forward for more info posted here.