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Computer Engineering as a Discipline

The document provides an introduction to Computer Engineering, highlighting its evolution from the 1830s with Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace to its establishment as a distinct field in the 1970s. It discusses key developments such as the invention of the transistor and the Intel 4004 microprocessor, which revolutionized technology and led to advancements in various sectors. The author expresses their expectations and aspirations within the field, emphasizing the importance of innovation and creativity in shaping their future career as a computer engineer.

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neil roque
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7 views

Computer Engineering as a Discipline

The document provides an introduction to Computer Engineering, highlighting its evolution from the 1830s with Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace to its establishment as a distinct field in the 1970s. It discusses key developments such as the invention of the transistor and the Intel 4004 microprocessor, which revolutionized technology and led to advancements in various sectors. The author expresses their expectations and aspirations within the field, emphasizing the importance of innovation and creativity in shaping their future career as a computer engineer.

Uploaded by

neil roque
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Engineering as

a Discipline
(CMPE 101)

Assignment 1:
Introduction to Computer Engineering

Carlos Andrei C. Roque


BSCPE 1-2

October 5, 2024

Written Report
The field of Computer Engineering is a combined principle of Electrical

Engineering and Computer Science that is used to develop computer

software, hardware, and the system. Although before diving into the

technology that we have today, let me show you first a brief introduction

about the evolution of computer engineering before proceeding. It all started

back at 1830’s when Charles Babbage and Ava Lovelace laid the first step or

foundation for the future of computers. Charles Babbage was a

mathematician, philosopher, and a mechanical engineer, he is often referred

as “the father of the computers” and known for designing the first

mechanical computer. Meanwhile, Ava Lovelace was referred as “the first

computer programmer” and wrote the very first algorithm that is intended to

be process by a well-known machine way back called as “the Analytic

Engine”, also developed by Charles Babbage during their collaboration.

Moving on to the Emergence of the Computer Engineering during the 1950s-

1960s. It all started when the transistor was invented by three scientists in

Bell Labs, they are John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley. The

invention of transistor revolutionized electronics that paved the way for

modern computers. Then during the 1970’s, the computer engineering is

seen as a separate department or field that mainly focuses on developing

computer hardware and software until today’s date. In this period the Intel

4004 microprocessor was first developed which shifted the waves for the

development of computers. Universities then started to establish computer

engineering as a separate department. The feats achieved by these people


inspired curious minds which then helped in the advancement of modern

technology. The key areas of a computer are the system, hardware, and

software. The hardware consists of motherboard, processors, storage, and

input and output devices. Next is software, this component is developed by

programming then run in a hardware. An embedded system is a computer

system designed to perform specific functions or execute specific tasks as

part of larger mechanical or electrical systems. While certainly not the

'personal computers' running a broad range of applications most common

users and developers are used to, embedded systems are often specifically

applied and often subject to the constraints of real-time computing. The

impact of computer engineering helped the society by making everyday life

easier. For example, the development of construction machines. These

machines helped construction workers to be more efficient in their work field

causing their work time to be shortened. Next is the creative innovation of

computer engineers. For instance, communication in the old days always

come in a form of letter, then overtime because of this timely method the

telephone was invented until in today’s period, we use a technology known

as a smart phone. This is all because of computer engineers, they continue

to develop technology helping the modern society in various sectors like

telecommunication, healthcare, finance and banking, automotive, and many

other more. To give an example, in automotive sector, computer engineers

developed a system where a vehicle can drive automatically without the

driver managing the vehicle. This example alone shows how innovative
computer engineers are in any type of fields. Being in a computer

engineering program, all my expectations have been met in this program

where they teach you how to be innovative and creative which inspired me

to learn more knowledge which will guide me in my future career path. I

expect that my future career will help me be a competitive computer

engineer and if possible, I want to be well known in this specific field.

References:
 History of the transistor. (n.d.).

https://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/transist.htm#:~:text=The

%20transistor%20was%20successfully%20demonstrated,John

%20Bardeen%20and%20Walter%20Brattain.

 Who was Charles Babbage? (n.d.). College of Science and Engineering.

https://cse.umn.edu/cbi/who-was-charles-babbage

 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024, September 18).

Charles Babbage | Biography, Computers, Inventions, & Facts.

Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Babbage

 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024a, September 11). Ada

Lovelace | Biography, Computer, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ada-Lovelace

 Riordan, M. (2024, September 11). Transistor | Definition & Uses.

Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/technology/transistor/Innovation-at-Bell-

Labs

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