👉 Computing originated from the need to automate and process information more efficiently than humans could alone. The concept traces back to ancient civilizations, where mechanical devices like the abacus and early calculators were developed. However, the modern computing era began in the mid-20th century with the advent of electronic computers, which replaced mechanical and manual methods for data processing. Key milestones include the invention of the transistor in 1947, leading to smaller and more powerful computers, and the development of the first programmable computers like ENIAC in the 1940s. The introduction of the stored-program concept by John von Neumann in the 1940s further revolutionized computing, allowing computers to store both data and instructions in memory. This evolution culminated in the creation of personal computers in the 1970s and 1980s, democratizing access to computing power and paving the way for the digital age we live in today.
