The First Computer virus - Byte Sized History

The title of "the first computer" can be attributed to different machines, depending on the criteria used (mechanical, programmable, electronic, etc.). Here's a brief overview of notable early computers: The Antikythera Mechanism (circa 100 BC) An ancient Greek analog computer used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendrical and astrological purposes. It's the earliest known device to contain gears and could be considered the first "computer" in a very broad sense. The Difference Engine (1822) Designed by Charles Babbage, the Difference Engine is considered the first automatic computing machine. Although Babbage never completed a full version of this machine, it was designed to perform mathematical calculations. The Analytical Engine (1837) Also designed by Charles Babbage, this was the first design for a fully programmable computer. It was mechanical and never completed, but Ada Lovelace wrote algorithms for it, earning her the title of "the first computer programmer." Zuse Z3 (1941) The Z3, designed by Konrad Zuse in Germany, was the first fully functional electromechanical computer, and it was programmable, making it arguably the first real computer in the modern sense. Colossus (1943) Developed during World War II for British code-breaking efforts, Colossus was the world's first programmable, electronic, digital computer, although it was not Turing-complete. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) (1945) Designed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania, ENIAC was the first large-scale, electronic, digital computer that was Turing-complete, programmable for solving a full range of computational problems. It's often cited as the first "general-purpose electronic computer." The definition of "the first computer" varies based on the specific characteristics considered important (mechanical vs. electronic, programmable vs. non-programmable). Each of these pioneering machines contributed to the development of modern computing in significant ways.