This document discusses the history and evolution of computers from their origins to modern times. It defines computers as programmable machines that can perform tasks according to prerecorded instructions. The document outlines the major hardware components of computers and how they have changed over time, from early mainframes to the development of personal computers driven by software innovations. It also discusses the concept of disruptive innovation and how new technologies can displace existing ones by entering at the low end of the market and eventually achieving higher performance.

1. Innovation
Hardware & Evolution Pathways

2. Algorithms
Hardware
Software
Strategy
Interface
Automation & AI
Key Topics
Defining a computer
How does it work?
Technology Evolution
Disruptive Innovation

3. Image source: Stanley Kubrick's 2001 a space Odyssey

4. Image sources: Computer History Museum / Sydney Pollack: The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage

5. Image sources: Computer History Museum / Sydney Pollack: The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage

6. Programable Machine
Definition 1: A computer is a programmable
machine with two main features:
1. It performs a specific task.
2. It can execute a prerecorded list of
instructions (a program).
http://www.webopedia.com
Universal Machine
Definition 2: A computer is a general-
purpose device that can be programmed to
carry out a set of arithmetic or logical
operations. Since a sequence of operations
can be readily changed, the computer can
solve more than one kind of problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer

7. Audio conversion device
Barcode reader
Biometrics (e.g. fingerprint scanner)
Business Card Reader
Digital camera and Digital Camcorder
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Finger (with touchscreen or Windows Touch)
Gamepad, Joystick, Paddle, Steering wheel, and Microsoft
Kinect
Gesture recognition
Graphics tablet
Keyboard
Light gun
Light pen
Magnetic ink (like the ink found on checks)
Magnetic stripe reader
Medical imaging devices (e.g., X-Ray, CAT Scan, and
Ultrasound images)
Microphone (using voice speech recognition or biometric
verification)
MIDI keyboard
MICR
Mouse, touchpad, or other pointing devices
Optical Mark Reader (OMR)
Paddle
Pen or Stylus
Punch card reader
Remote
Scanner
Sensors (e.g. heat and orientation sensors)
Sonar imaging devices
Touchscreen
Voice (using voice speech recognition or biometric
verification)
Video capture device
VR helmet and gloves
Webcam
Yoke
Internal Hardware
Processor (CPU)
Drive (e.g. Blu-ray, CD-ROM, DVD,
floppy drive, hard drive, and SSD)
Fan (heat sink)
Modem
Motherboard
Network card
RAM
Sound card
Video card
3D Printer
Braille embosser
Braille reader
Flat panel
GPS
Headphones
Computer Output Microfilm (COM)
Monitor
Plotter
Printer (Dot matrix printer, Inkjet
printer, and Laser printer)
Projector
Sound card
Speakers
Speech-generating device (SGD)
Television
Access Ports
AT port (old keyboard port)
Firewire port (IEEE-1394)
Game port
Joystick port
LAN or network port (RJ-45)
LPT port (printer port)
Modem or phone port (RJ-11)
PS/2 port (keyboard port and
mouse port)
Serial port (DB9)
USB port
Output Device
Input Device Processing

8. Processor
Memory
Interface

10. Algorithm
Heuristic
Mystery

12. Pivot
Valley of
Death
Profit Hill
Decline
Product
Launch
Qualitative
Quantitative
Qualitative
Gain
(+) $$$
Invest
(-) $$
Break Even
Product Pipeline
Spark
Exit
New Idea
Mystery
Algorithm
Heuristic
Mystery

13. Gain
(+) $$$
Invest
(-) $$
Break Even A
D
C
B
A
Qualitative
Quantitative
Heuristic into
Algorithm
Production
(Optimization)
Machining
& Tooling
Heuristic into
Algorithm
Design
(Applied Research)
Prototypes
& Technical
Specifications
Mystery into
Heuristic
Concept Development
(Pure Research)
Qualitative
Initial Concepts &
Intellectual Property Algorithm
into Mystery
Quality Control
(Maturity)
Inspection
&Trend
Analysis

14. Stages Concept Development Design & Engineering Production Quality Control
Key Tasks Pure Research & Science Applied Research Optimization Trend Analysis
Analysis Type Qualitative Quantitative More Quantitative Both
Best Qualified
(From Drama of Leadership)
Artist Crafts(wo)man Technocrat All Three?
Data Encoding
(From Knowledge Funnel)
Mystery to Heuristic Heuristic to Algorithm Heuristic to Algorithm Algorithm to Mystery
Production Rendering Technical Drawings
Human to Human Communication
Toolpath & Simulations Verification & Measurement
Human to Machine Communication

15. Hardware Evolution
Video: Killer Applications 39:35 - 47:00 (7 min) Example of
visicalc, a killer application and one of the first software
packages that helped the PC to become a consumer must-have.
https://youtu.be/AIBr-kPgYuU?t=39m35s
Video: Open Architecture 57:10 – 1:00:02 (5 min) IBM and the
development of open architecture as an industry standard.
https://youtu.be/AIBr-kPgYuU?t=3430
Video: Who invented the Computer? (5 min) A discussion of
the origins and ideas behind the origins of computing
https://youtu.be/d1pvc9Zh7Tg
Video: Steve Jobs & Bill Gates (90 min) a 2007 in depth
discussion about the future of computers with two industry
founders https://youtu.be/wvhW8cp15tk?t=2232
Article: Why a simple spreadsheet spread like wildfire
Article Why the IBM PC Had an Open Architecture
Article: The deal of the century: the story of the IBM PC

16. The Innovator’s Dilemma
Clayton Christensen is the Kim B. Clark Professor of Business
Administration at the Harvard Business School. “Disruptive innovation, is
a term of art coined by Christensen, that describes a process by which a
product or service takes root initially in simple applications at the bottom
of a market and then relentlessly moves up market, eventually displacing
established competitors” https://claytonchristensen.com/
In his book, Christensen argues that sustaining Innovations do not create
new markets or value networks but rather only evolves existing ones with
better value, allowing the firms within to compete against each other's
sustaining improvement. By contrast, a disruptive innovation helps to
create a new market and value network, and eventually disrupts an
existing markets (over a few years or decades), displacing an earlier
technology
At the same time, disruptive innovations can hurt successful, well-
managed companies that tend to ignore the markets most responsive to
their customers and have excellent research and development susceptible
to disruptive innovations, because “the markets have very tight profit
margins and are too small to provide a good growth rate to an established
(sizable) firm”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disruptive_innovation

18. Dilemma Zone

19. TIME
LEVEL
OF
PERFORMANCE
Meet Expectations
Meet Expectations
IBM 370
Above Expectations
(Expensive + High Quality)
IBM 4831
1970s 1980s 1990s
Apple 2
Macintosh
Above Expectations
(Expensive + High Quality)
Below Expectations
(Cheap + Low Quality)
IBM PC jr.
Below Expectations
(Cheap + Low Quality)
Apple 1
Altair 4400

20. Key Concepts
Disruption
Video Disruptive Technology (5 min) A short review of the
definition of disruptive technology. For a more detailed
account of this theory watch Clayton's full lecture below.
https://youtu.be/Cu6J6taqOSg
Video Stages of Disruption (2:38 min) the three phases of
disruptive development https://youtu.be/tefu0dmt9l0
Case Studies
Video: IBM Case Study (6:38 min) A look at development of
IBM products https://youtu.be/UQSVrpIiwNU
Video: Product Disruption 40:00 55:00 (15 min) Lecture
Christensen explaining the process of disruption for both
Honda and Dell Computers.
https://youtu.be/rpkoCZ4vBSI?t=40m