ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of computing hardware (1960s-present)

Okay kiddo, let's talk about how computers have changed over time. In the 1960s, computers were really big and expensive. They were mostly used by big companies and the government. These computers didn't have screens like we do now, instead they had little lights and switches that people used to give commands to the computer.

In the 1970s, computers started to get a little bit smaller and cheaper. Companies like Apple and Microsoft started making personal computers that people could use at home. These computers had screens and keyboards, but they were still pretty basic compared to what we have today.

In the 1980s and 1990s, computers got even smaller and more powerful. They started to be able to do a lot more things, like playing games and streaming videos. People also started to connect their computers to the internet, which meant that they could communicate with people all over the world.

In the 2000s, computers started to change a lot. Laptops and tablets became really popular because they were easy to carry around. People also started using smartphones, which are like little computers that you can hold in your hand. These smartphones can do almost everything that a computer can do, like sending emails, taking pictures, and playing games.

Nowadays, computers are everywhere! They're in our cars, our televisions, and even in our refrigerators. They're still getting smaller and more powerful, and they can do amazing things that we never thought possible. We can talk to computers and they can talk back to us. We can ask them questions and they can give us answers. And who knows what amazing things we'll be able to do with computers in the future?