Scientists Agree: 600 Years Ago, Inca Empire Invented First Computer 2026

David Hansen
Scientists Agree: 600 Years Ago, Inca Empire Invented First Computer
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Researchers claim that the Inca quipu functioned as the world's first computing system.

The advancement of technology has led to the fact that today we have modern devices capable of achieving things that years ago seemed impossible. However, it seems that ancient civilizations also had mechanisms and systems, which could be considered ancestors of ours.


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According to the results of a research published in the journal Computer and Information Science, the Inca empire may have invented the first computing system in human history. It is the "quipu", a device consisting of cords with knots of different direction and color. It was used to encode information, record data, taxes, etc.

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However, despite the analyzes carried out by the researchers, the meaning of the information recorded remains difficult to determine. Nevertheless, the real aim of the study is not to decipher the contents of a quipu, but to understand the relationship that may exist between this device and the development of modern software.

inca

"Quipu": The Revolutionary Invention of the Inca Empire

Researchers argue that the Inca quipu functioned as the world's first computing system, capable of managing complex data through knots, colors and twists of cords. Richard Dosselmann, a computer expert at the First Nations University of Canada and lead author of the study, along with Edward Doolittle and Vatika Tayal, tried to explain the relationship that could exist between the quipu and modern software.

The cords of a 'quipu', which branch out to create a tree-like structure, could be used to organize data like folders on a computer. And the way information is managed could be translated into code written in C++ and Python.

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To prove it's not just theory, Dosselmann's team created three working applications based on data from a quipu: a spreadsheet, a file system, and an image visualization tool. Their analyzes showed that the unordered nature of the structure allows for fast data entry, comparable to that of tables and linked lists.

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David Hansen

Author

David Hansen

An engineer, author and high-tech enthusiast whose passion has been evolving for 12 years. After contributing to numerous online publications, David shares his experiences and discoveries on Grand Goldman. He focuses on Smart Homes, Connected Devices, and how they will improve our lives and society in the future.


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