History of the Computer - Computers and Technology by Michael Cooper
... Children are being taught basic computer skills in the classroom in order to prepare them for the future evolution of the computer age. The history of computers started out about 2000 years ago, at the birth of the abacus, a wooden rack holding two horizontal wires with beads strung on them. When these beads are moved around, according to programming rules memorized by the user, all regular arithmetic problems can be done. Another important invention around the same time was the Astrolabe, ...