The Abacus is the very first computer. However, the first mechanical computer is the creation of Charles Babbage in 1822. It doesn’t really resemble what most would consider a computer today.

 

 

In 1822, Charles Babbage conceptualised and began developing the Difference Engine. It is the first automatic computing machine. The Difference Engine is capable of computing several sets of numbers and making hard copies of the results.

 

Babbage had help with its development from Ada Lovelace, considered to be the very first computer programmer for her work and notes on the Difference Engine.

 

Sadly, due to a lack of funding, Babbage wasn’t able to complete a completely functional version of this machine.

 

In June 1991, the London Science Museum finished the Difference Engine No 2 for the bicentennial year of Babbage’s birth and later completed the printing mechanism in 2000.

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In 1837, Charles Babbage proposed the first general mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine. The Analytical Engine contains an ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit), basic flow control, punch cards (inspired by the Jacquard Loom), and integrated memory.

 

This was the first general-purpose computer concept. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, this computer was also not completed while Babbage was alive.
In 1910, however, Henry Babbage, Charles’ youngest son, was able to complete a portion of this machine and it could perform basic calculations.

 

The development of this machine paved the way for the creation of modern-day computers. Despite not completing his machines, he is still the Father of the Computer.

 

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