👉 Before the advent of modern computers, computing was primarily done through mechanical and electromechanical devices. Early computing machines, like Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine in the 19th century, used gears, levers, and punch cards to perform calculations. These machines were large, complex, and required significant manual intervention. The first electronic computers emerged in the mid-20th century, notably with ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) in 1945, which used vacuum tubes to perform calculations at unprecedented speeds. These early computers laid the foundation for modern computing, introducing concepts like binary code and programmable logic that are still fundamental in today's digital technology. Despite these advancements, they were limited by size, power consumption, and the need for manual reprogramming, which paved the way for the development of smaller, faster, and more versatile computers that we use today.
