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Information Processing: Historical Perspectives

Hollerith tabulator and sorter ca. 1900. © HULTON-DEUTSCH COLLECTION/CORBIS

invented in 1947, were less expensive than vacuum tubes, code (comprised of 0s and 1s) that a computer under-
generated less heat, and produced more reliable comput- stands directly. Each different computer model had a
ers. Computers made with transistors yielded greater unique programming language. For example, UNIVAC
demand as a result of their small size, lower cost, and bet- had different machine language than that used with the
ter reliability. IBM 752. To ease the task of programming computers,
As the demand for computers increased, computer machine language was replaced with assembly language.
programmers were becoming consumed with the tedious Programmers used assemblers to convert or translate Eng-
process of programming the computers to function. Com- lish-like code, developed using assembly language, into
puter programmers used machine language to give machine language. This low-level language improved the
instruction to the computer. Machine language is binary speed at which programs could be written.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION 383