History
From Punch Cards to Exascale: A History of Computers and Supercomputers
Published March 2026 | An overview of computing history from the 19th century to the present day Introduction Few technologies have shaped the modern world as profoundly as the computer. What began as electromechanical tabulating machines in the late 1800s has evolved into systems capable of performing over a quintillion calculations per second. This post traces that remarkable journey — from Herman Hollerith’s punch card machine to today’s exascale supercomputers — drawing on key milestones, pivotal inventions, and the visionary engineers who made it all possible. ...