Three Preceding Technologies

Mauchly and Eckert

The ENIAC in Action

Speed and Money

Dawn of a New Age

We Love Computers

Cloud Computing Software and and Data Storage History(suggested by Payton. Thanks to her.)

Three Preceding Technologies that led to the ENIAC

Like all great inventions, the ENIAC built on existing concepts. Here are three that played a large role in the development of the ENIAC:

1. Mechanical Brains
   1. Abacus
   2. Slide Rule
   3. Difference Engine
   4. Mechanical Calculators
   5. Differential Analyzer
      
2. The Vacuum Tube
   1. Faster Switches mean Faster Computers
   2. Electromagnetic Relays
   3. Tube is like a "valve"
      
3. The Punched Card
   1. Jacquard Loom
   2. The US Census of 1890
   3. Tabulating Machines grow in popularity

These three ideas found a home in the mind of Professor John Mauchly, who conceived of the ENIAC. You can learn more about Prof. Mauchly in the next section: Mauchly and Eckert.

Mauchly and Eckert