Introduction: History of Information Technologies
Many theories have been created about the advancement of human society over history, and many of them consider technological progress as a primary factor in driving human civilization development. However, there are evolutional technologies that are the main milestones of the different eras. Fire is a great example of such a technological milestone, followed by several informational revolutions, including the evolution of languages, and the invention of telegraph, telephone, printing press, and computers. Today, the world is in the modern era where Information Technology and AI cover all our lives.
The Birth of Computing: From Abacus to Analytical Engines
By Diving into annals of IT development, we encounter a series of transformative epochs that have driven technology forward, shaping the world as we know it. There are many epochs, each marking a distinct era in the evolution of IT.
people started by using sticks and stones for counting purposes, Then the Chinese invented the Abacus around 4,000 years ago, and after that many important computing machines emerged such as the slide rule (analog computer for multiplication and division), Pascaline (mechanical calculator capable of arithmetic operations), Leibniz’s machine (an improved version of the Pascaline), The difference engine (a calculating and printing device) and Analytical Engine. these tools have main roles in the advancement of Computing which is now the backbone of the IT revolution.
The Electronic Era: Vacuum Tubes, ENIAC, and Transistors
During this period, electronic devices started to appear particularly computers that utilized vacuum tubes. The ENIAC was the pioneering computer that could solve mathematical problems. However, it lacked program instructions. Had drawbacks such, as its size, expensive cost, and high electricity consumption. Then came the breakthrough with the invention of transistors, which replaced vacuum tubes. This led to progress as computers became smaller, faster, and more efficient.
Rise of Personal Computing
Information technology moved to an advanced level by introducing circuits that contained transistors on a single chip. Microprocessors combine memory, logic, and control circuits, in a portable form. We went from room vacuum tubes to handheld devices like IBM and Apple PCs, which catered to both personal and business needs. Language software tools like Word, for Windows and Access made it possible for people to use computers without requiring any expertise. The popularity of computers eventually led to the development of networks, handheld devices, and ultimately the internet shaping connectivity.
Networking and the Internet: Small World
The internet has made great progress since it was first created. Initially, it was a small network used by researchers and scientists to share information. However, it grew and changed into a large network that links billions of devices around the world. Networks are connected with each other via wires, cables, radio waves, and other types of networking infrastructure. All data sent over the Internet is translated into pulses of light or electricity, also called “bits,” and then interpreted by the receiving computer. The speed of bit transformation relies on the type of conductor (Coaxial, twisted-pair, Optic fiber cables …). As we mentioned the Internet connects different devices around the world that have different hardware and software, so making the connection between them was the main challenge for inventors, anyway this problem has been solved by creating standard protocols like TCP/IP to make unified connection methods regardless the specifications of the machines.
Unleashing the Era of AI and IoT
After AI was a theory for a long time, In this age the fiction has become true, where now researchers and scientists create AI machines capable of doing different human activities like voice recognition, self-learning, object detection in images and video and many others that make people depends on AI in their own life where the dream of Smart House now is real, on the other side of advancement and regardless of AI Revolution, the term of IOT (Internet Of Things) spread widely, and it means connecting every single object around the world with each other, such as computers, watches, fridge, telephone, even jackets, and Aeroplane.
Conclusion
In conclusion, information technology developed and advanced over history, and human beings always tend to make things easier so they search and come up with new inventions. These changes play a core role in our lives, on the other hand, information changes are increasing rapidly and we should be always up to date to be able to keep up with the most modern techniques, mentioning that we should be aware of all of this advancement is accompanied by the propagation of cybercrimes.