Evolutionary and revolutionary development of computing devices

Abstract

This article presents a historical overview of the development of computing technologies from ancient times to the present day. It documents key historical events, device names, dates of inventions and discoveries, as well as computational terms still in use today. The study identifies both evolutionary and revolutionary milestones that contributed to the advancement of computing devices. The review examines early mechanical innovations along with their creators — notable Russian and international mathematicians, mechanical engineers, and inventors — while also providing interesting biographical details. It highlights the contextual circumstances surrounding these inventions and their subsequent industrial production. The paper discusses fundamental discoveries in mathematics and electrophysics that enabled the progressive development of electromechanical and electronic computing systems. It analyzes the established generational classification of computers — from early electromechanical devices and vacuum tube machines to semiconductor-based systems and modern integrated circuit technologies — while also categorizing contemporary computers by their intended applications. Theoretical foundations underlying modern information technologies are systematically reviewed, with acknowledgment of the scientists, mathematicians, and engineers responsible for pivotal breakthroughs in computing and related disciplines. Finally, the paper outlines potential pathways for future advancements in computing technology.