Computers have evolved dramatically since their inception.  A business first purchased a computer in 1951;  the pace of change is so rapid that a newspaper illustrated the equivalent automotive advancement: a Rolls Royce costing under $3, achieving millions of miles per gallon, and possessing immense power, all while incredibly miniaturized.  This rapid evolution obscures the origins of modern computers.  Early methods of data management include knotted ropes and clay tablets. The abacus, a 5000-year-old device, is considered a pioneering computing aid, facilitating trade and taxation systems.