History of the computer

       The first digital computer and what most people think of as a computer was called the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer). It was built during World War II (1943-1946) and was designed to help automate the calculations being done by human computers. By doing these calculations on a computer, they could achieve results much faster and with fewer errors.

  The first generation of computers, such as the ENIAC, used vacuum tubes and were often as large as entire rooms. These machines were primarily used by large corporations, universities, or governments. Later, computers began using transistors and smaller and cheaper parts that allowed the ordinary person to own a computer.