There are five components to an information system (Figure 16.6): hardware, programs, data, procedures and people. The first computer was assembled by Charles Babbage in the mid-1880s using steam power to drive an assembly of gears, counters and dials. In 1946 the U.S. Navy sponsored the ENIAC electronic (vacuum tube) computer which has since gone through four developmental periods. Today ‘ s PCs could referred to as sixth generation products.