An abacus - this was the original calculator. They are still used today in China and the middle east.
A Slide Rule - This was used to perform complex calculations quickly. It preceded the electronic calculator.
A drawing by Leonardo da Vinci of a gear-driven computing device - this was never built.
Jacquard's Loom - this was invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1801 and used punch cards to program a pattern to weave. It is probably the very first example of machine computing for industrial purposes, and modern computers are still based upon the idea behind Jacquard's punch card system.
The Hollerith Desk - This was invented by the founder of IBM and was first used to automate the 1890 census. It saved the U.S. government more than 5 million dollars, and is the direct precursor to electronic general-purpose computers.
The Harvard Mark 1 - this was the first electro-mechanical computer. Though much more advanced in terms of speed and storage, modern computer architecture, conceptually speaking, is essentially unchanged.
The first computer bug - This was found in the Harvard Mark 1 by Grace Hopper, and represents the first computer glitch. The term "bug" originated from this. Yes, the first computer bug was literally a bug!
A Few Interesting Cartoons
Don't overdo it!
Welcome to the 21st Century.
Not a cartoon, but still kind of amusing.
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