Final answer:
The first computer was developed after World War II, with significant machines like the UNIVAC I and IBM 701 coming in the early 1950s. The invention of the microprocessor in the 1970s by Intel led to more affordable and compact personal computers, with the Apple Macintosh in 1984 pioneering the user-friendly graphical interface.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Inception of the First Computer
The first computer was developed at the end of World War II and has since undergone significant evolution. Initial computers, like the UNIVAC I delivered to the US Census Bureau in 1951, and the IBM 701, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and were used predominantly by the military and businesses for complex data handling tasks. These computers, which were based on vacuum tube technology, filled entire rooms and were much less powerful than today's microcontrollers.However, the development of the microprocessor in the 1970s brought about a revolutionary change. The Intel Corporation's invention of more powerful and programmable integrated circuits led to the release of the first marketed personal computer, the Altair 8800. This spearheaded the era of personal computing with subsequent entries by Apple, Commodore, and Tandy.
The Personal Computer Revolution
By the 1980s, the cost of computing technology had decreased significantly, and personal computers became more common in businesses and homes. The introduction of the Apple Macintosh in 1984, with its user-friendly graphical interface, set a standard that would be adopted industry-wide. The rise of the personal computer marked a substantial shift in consumer electronics, leading to the exponential growth in the number and computing power of personal computers.Engineers, particularly in companies like Apple and IBM, played a key role in making these technological advancements accessible to a broader market, laying the groundwork for the ubiquitous presence of personal computers today.