History of Computers : A Timeline of Development (Who Invented Them?)

Computers have come a long way. They began as massive machines the size of a basketball court, powered simply to act as calculators. Today, thanks to continuous advancements, we carry more powerful computers right in the palm of our hands - our smartphones.

As hardware improved, software and the internet grew alongside it. When the Personal Computer (PC) arrived, computers spread into every corner of daily life. Now we’re in an age of smart devices, cloud computing, and AI, and the changes ahead are even more exciting.

17th–19th Century: The First Calculators

In 1642, French mathematician Blaise Pascal built the Pascaline, the first mechanical calculator. Using gears and wheels, it could add and subtract, helping merchants and tax collectors save countless hours.

Later, German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz expanded on the idea with a calculator that could also multiply and divide. Human-made tools for computation were becoming more sophisticated.

In the early 1800s, Charles Babbage designed the Difference Engine and later the Analytical Engine. What made the Analytical Engine revolutionary was that it could be programmed - an idea far ahead of its time. Working with him, Ada Lovelace wrote the first algorithm for the machine, and is now remembered as the world’s very first programmer.

ENIAC

1940s–1960s: The Birth of Electronic Computers

The ENIAC, built in 1946 at the University of Pennsylvania, was the first general-purpose electronic computer. It weighed over 30 tons and used 18,000 vacuum tubes, yet it could perform over 5,000 calculations per second - an incredible breakthrough for science and the military.

A replica of the first working transistor

Soon after, the invention of the transistor in 1947 made computers smaller, faster, and more reliable. By the 1960s, integrated circuits (ICs) packed even more power into tiny chips.

During this time, machines like the IBM 1401 entered offices, banks, and government agencies. Payroll, accounting, census data, and scientific calculations that once took days were now done in hours. Computers were no longer just for labs - they had become essential tools for society.

IBM Personal Computer On display at the Musée Bolo, EPFL, Lausanne.

1970s–1980s: The PC Revolution

In 1971, Intel introduced the 4004 microprocessor, paving the way for personal computers.

By 1977, the Apple II was launched, followed by the IBM PC in 1981. Computers began appearing in schools and homes, with floppy disks used for programs, simple games, and word processing. The “PC era” had officially begun.

1990s: The Internet Goes Mainstream

In 1995, Windows 95 transformed the way people used computers. Its Start button and easy-to-use interface made PCs accessible to everyone, and its success was explosive.

At the same time, the internet spread rapidly. Browsers like Netscape and Internet Explorer opened the doors to the World Wide Web. Suddenly, email, instant messaging, and online games became part of everyday life.

2000s: Web 2.0 and the Multimedia Boom

The 2000s brought high-speed internet into our daily lives. With ADSL and cable, browsing became faster, and people could easily enjoy music, photos, and videos.

Google rose as the world’s go-to search engine. In Korea, Naver and Daum became major portals, offering news, communities, and Q&A services. Blogging culture took off, and early forms of social networking, like Cyworld, started appearing.

In 2005, YouTube was launched, allowing anyone to upload and share videos. From tutorials to music and gaming, an explosion of creative content reshaped culture. At the same time, online shopping, internet banking, and digital payments became everyday habits.

This was the age of Web 2.0, where people weren’t just reading the web - they were creating it.

2010s: The Smartphone and Cloud Era

The 2010s gave us the “computer in your pocket.”

With the iPhone (2007) and Android smartphones, people gained instant access to the internet, maps, photos, and games - all on the go. App stores exploded with millions of apps, and messaging apps like KakaoTalk and WhatsApp replaced traditional texting.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter connected people globally in real time. Everyday life turned into shareable content, and new jobs like influencers and YouTubers emerged.

Meanwhile, cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive changed how we worked. Suddenly, files could be accessed anywhere, and multiple people could edit documents together in real time. Remote and home-based work began taking root.

2020s: The Rise of AI

From 2022 onward, we’ve seen a true revolution. Tools like ChatGPT and other generative AI systems have shown that computers can now write, code, translate, and even create art and music.

AI is already being used in business for automation and data analysis, and in daily life for learning, creativity, and personal assistance.

Looking ahead, AI-powered computers will only get smarter - driving innovation in self-driving cars, personalized medicine, smart cities, and more. The possibilities are endless, and it’s exciting to imagine what comes next.

Wrapping Up

This has been a quick journey through the history of computers, from early calculators to the AI revolution. The big picture is this: technology keeps shrinking in size but growing in power and impact.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next post!

You can view the original Korean blog post at the link below

View in Korean