Comm 151 Exam 1 Questions
What was the first message sent over "the internet" and from where to where was it sent? (1 point)
"LOGIN" ......wasn't it only "LO" because it crashed? Yes, it was just LO from UCLA to Stanford
List three potential benefits of "uninhibited communication." (1pt, Lecture 7, Slide 17)
-Avoid dominance of irrelevant or distracting factor such as personal characteristics -avoid group-think or social conformity -More extreme or unpopular views likely to be aired
What does describing CMC as "lean" or "impoverished" signify? Within this framework, what qualities characterized CMC? List two. (1pt, Lecture 7, Slide 16)
-Cutting out social context cues and leading to impersonal communication. -Thus, well-suited for focused collaboration on technical tasks (main focus of early studies); poorly suited for interpersonal relations CMC Possessed Poor "Media Richness"
What are two reasons why HG Wells didn't really like encyclopedias or universities? What did he propose as a better alternative and what was his reasoning? (3 points) Hint: Class 3: Rise of Mass Media
-Encyclopedias are overwhelmed and out of date. Universities is stodgy still and unwilling to take relevant topic. -He is impressed with microfilm and wants all knowledge collected and organized on it in a permanent world encyclopaedia,
Who is Paul Otlet and what would his plan for electric telescopes have allowed users to do? [1 point] (Lecture slides Class 02, slide 27)
-He is a Belgium who tried to set up a bibliography of all human knowledge -Searching and browsing through millions of interlinked documents images and video file. -Use device to send the messages to one another, share files and congregate in online social network.
How did Raymond Tomlinson's email hack differ from the original email system already in place? In addition to his hack, what did he Mr. Tomlinson become most known for? [3pt] hint: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20011207friday.html
-He was the one who made it possible to send e-mail from one machine to another over a computer network. -He was known for he was creating an icon,@, for the wired world.
What is Memex, what problems does it help to solve, and what are some of its limitations? Please also compare and contrast Memex with smart phones. (3 points) Hint: Class2 Slides
-Memex is a device that store all books/ records/ communications. Be mechanized so be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility. Operated in distance and slanting translucent screen. -Memex limitation is that it can't processing data. It just a file cabinet. Comparing smartphone, storage capacity is small and contents will be on microfilm
What is packet switching and what is the protocol used for it? (1 pt) Hint: Class 5 slides (video)
-Packet switching is a digital network transmission process in which data is broken into suitably-sized pieces or blocks for fast and efficient transfer via different network devices. -Transmission Control Protocol
What type of effect did email have on the volume of conventional mail and the postal workforce? Did the outcome mirror that which was projected by The General Accounting Office in 1981? [1pt] hint: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20011207friday.html
-The General Accounting Office predicted in 1981 that electronic mail would sharply reduce the volume of conventional mail and would cut postal employment by two-thirds by 2000. - In 1981, the General Accounting Office predicted, incorrectly, that e-mail would put two-thirds of postal workers out of work by 2000.
Please explain why Usenet was created. In other words, what was Usenet trying to replace? In addition, list at least three outcomes that came from Usenet (positive or negative) (3 points) HINT: 1st. part- Class #6 Reading titled "Giganews Usenet History" (1979 Origins) 2nd. part- Class #6 CMC Modes, Slide #14
-To replace a local BBS-style announcement system that was made obsolete with a recent hardware upgrade. -Emoticons, trolls, and slang acronyms found their first common usage on Usenet. -local social network of sort
What is a Hypercard and what was it used for in the 1980s? [1 point] (Lecture slides Class 06, slide 19)
1)Hypercard is an offline tool for easily making interactive hyperlinked documents. 2)Included an extremely intuitive programming and user interface design tool, easy database and document management system. And simple multimedia authoring environment.
What were three mechanical and analog problems with the difference engine? (1 point) Class 2 Slide#22
1.Speed is limited 2. Physical limitation 3. Inflexible.
How would you write the number 25 in binary? (1 point)
11001 1x24 + 1x23 + 0x22 + 0x21 + 1x2^0 16+8+0+0+1=25
What are dumb terminals? What were they used for?
A "dumb terminal" is linked to a host computer and cannot stand alone
What is a Carterfone and why did AT&T try to ban it ? (3 points) Hint: Lecture 4
A device that manually connects a two way radio system to a telephone system. It allows someone on the radio to communicate to someone on the phone. 2.to help establishing that telecom system wasn't ruled by telecom company.
What was the Mundaneum? How did it fail? Hint: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17mund.html
A hyper-library created by Paul Otlet that used catalog cards and telegraph machines to index and link information. Unfortunately, the Belgian government cut the fund, and the final blow was Nazis removing most of the parts of the Mundaneum.
Name one of the most-used websites before Google and briefly state what it was used for. (1 point) HINT: Lecture 6 Slides 23-24
AOL. yahoo. Web portal and online service provider
Where did the first computer networks begin? Why did they start there? (3 pt.)
ARPANET
What was the hush-a-phone and why was it a relatively useless invention? (1 point)
AT&T had even tried to block "hush-a-phone" (muffle the sound of your mouth): WANT TO BE OUTLAWED The hush-a-phone was a box that one would talk into to muffle their voice It was useless because it was quite literally a box to talk into. One could just speak quietly.
Which Modem did KRON (San Francisco) Newscast use and what was its purpose? (1 Point) Hint: Class 6 Slide
Acoustic coupler modem To read newspaper
Who purposed DynaBook , what features of DynaBook were wanted, and who did DynaBook target at? (3 points question) Hint: Class 5 slides
Alan Kay purpossed DynaBook. 2.Page-sized 1 million pixel display/ 2 pound slate/ Long battery life/ Graphical interface and easy access to digital media. 3.target is children.
What's the name of the first personal computer and who invented it? (1 point question) Hint: Reimer, Jeremy. 2012. "From Altair to iPad: 35 years of personal computer market share. Data shows that smartphones and tablets have been adopted far faster than PCs." Ars Technica. Aug. 14, 2012. http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/08/from-altair-to-ipad-35-years-of-personal-computer-marketshare/
Altair by Ed Roberts (potential similar question) the first computer program: (from Koerth Baker 2013 article) was the Jacquard Looms (credited by IBM as using the same punch cards as in the First Computer Program)
What was the Dynabook? Hint: https://www.wired.com/2008/11/museum-celebrat/
An idea of laptop developed by Alan Kay who wanted a 1 million pixel display, portable computer targeted at children.
What was the Antikythera mechanism? what was it used for? (2 points). Hint: 1st lecture
Antikythera mechanism is considered to be a very early "computer". It can be used to track time, movement of celestial bodies, eclipses, and timing of Olympic games
What happened to the Mundaneum as it evolved, and what events contributed to its downfall? (3 point question) https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17mund.html
As the Mundaneum evolved, it began to choke on the sheer volume of paper. Otlet started sketching ideas for new technologies to manage the information overload. In 1934, the Belgian government lost interest in the project after losing its bid for the League of Nations headquarters and stopped providing financial banking. The Nazis marched through Belgium in 1940. The Germans cleared out the original Mundaneum site to make way for an exhibit of Third Reich art, destroying thousands of boxes filled with index cards.
What is the difference between "asynchronous" and "synchronous"? Hint: Class 6: CMC Modes
Asynchronous is (not simultaneous interaction by connected users, like chat) text based communication; very quick transmission Asynchronous means each user responds "as their schedule permits", such as email Synchronous is like real time communication between two people or talking on the phone, a response is expected right away
What did BBS use to log in to remote computers, which is different from today's web? Consequently, what impact did this kind of login system have on BBS's sphere of influence? Who were the primary users of this system? (3 points) hint: Feb. 16, 1978: Bulletin Board Goes Electronic
BBS used traditional phone lines to log in to remote computers, meaning that if you wanted to dial in to a BBS out of your area, you'd be looking at long-distance charges from the phone company. Consequently, early BBSs were very locally oriented systems, but before too long the limitations gave birth to phone phreaking and other hacks. Because of the complexity, limitations and slowness of BBS, the early system was largely populated by computer enthusiasts willing to shell out big bucks for the fastest modems. academics also were strong users of BBS
What typically happens to older technologies as they fade out of widespread use? 1pt (Hint: Reimer, Jeremy "From Altair to iPad: 35 years of personal computer market share. Data shows that smartphones and tablets have been adopted far faster than PCs." http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/08/from-altair-to-ipad-35-years-of-personal-computer-marketshare/)
Become "niche"
What is the Difference Engine and what flaw of print did it intend to solve? Answer: Class 2 - Lecture Presentation (Slides 12 & 15)
Broke complex calculations down into simple additions and subtraction Errors. It intend to solve the problem of having difficulty finding finding values and error filled calculations.
Explain what Bush's Memex was created to do and why the invention was never actually built. (1 pt) Hint to both: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/07/as-we-may-think/303881/ and Lecture 2
Bush envisioned the memex as a device in which individuals would compress and store all of their books, records, and communications, "mechanized so that it may be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility". The memex would provide an "enlarged intimate supplement to one's memory".
What forms of systematic filing and categorization was used in libraries to organize the amount of information present after the creation of the printing press? (1 point) Hint: Class 2 Lecture, Slide 23
Card catalogue and sorting schemes Dewey Decimal system -topic -title -author
What is a device of significance that no individual has heard of before? (1 point) Hint: Lecture 4, Slide 13
Carterfone
Why were early "Bulletin Board Systems" largely populated by computer enthusiasts willing to buy the fastest modems? (3pt) Hint: Gilbertson, Scott. 2010. "Feb. 16, 1978: Bulletin Board Goes Electronic." Wired. February 16. http:// www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/02/0216cbbs-first-bbs-bulletin-board/
Complexity, limitations and slowness People had to dial into a phone line through the Trash-80 PC, type a message in the monochromatic terminal and wait days - sometimes even weeks - before they repeated the process to (hopefully) find a reply. Unlike today's web, BBS used traditional phone lines to log in to remote computers, meaning that if one wanted to dial in to a BBS out of his/her area, one ould be looking at long-distance charges from the phone company.
What is the modern definition of a computer? (1point)
Computer = device that computes - programmable electronic machine perform high speed mathematical/logical operations/assembles/stores/correlates processes info
According to Kiesler et. al, what are three of the social psychological aspects of computer mediated communication? (3 points)
Declines in participants' communication with family members Declines of size of social circle Increase in their depression and loneliness
What is the difference between "displacement hypothesis" and "social compensation hypothesis"? (1 point) HINT: Class # 9 reading titled "Psychosocial Causes and Consequences of Online Video Game Play"
Displacement Hypothesis: A person using the the internet will displace himself or herself from offline social communities, creating negative effects of well-being. Social Compensation Hypothesis: A person will be able to expand his or her social horizon with the internet, creating positive effects of well-being.
Who inspired Bill Gates to create Microsoft? (1 point) Hint: Lecture 5 page 11
Dr. Henry Edward Roberts, a developer of early PC (Altair).
What is the first "Killer App" for networked computer? (1 point) Hint: Class6 Slides
Email.
What was the direct predecessor to the World Wide Web? How did its installation make it more successful than prior bulletin board systems, and why did it ultimately fail? (3 pt)
Gopher, didn't need to physically install it (could be downloaded/easily accessed), failed because they tried to license it when the WWW launched
What did Harold S. Osborne envision? (1 point) HINT: Check the class # 4 reading titled "Your Telephone Of Tomorrow"
He envisioned a tiny instrument as the ultimate shape of a phone. He mentioned how a /telephone number would be given to a baby at birth and it will be theirs for life.
Who is Dr. Leonard Kleinrock and What is he known for? (1 point) Hint: class field trip.
He made several important contributions to the field of computer networking, in particular to the theoretical foundations of computer networking. Packet Switching ARPANET
What is the significance, in regards to the internet, of the FCC overruling the old Tariff Number 132 provoked by AT&T's attack on the Carterfone? (1 point) Hint: Lecture 4
Helped establish that telecom system wasn't ruled by telecom Co's specifically enabled modems to be popular Allowing people to attach modems and other technologies to telephones/their infrastructure, allowed for the further use of networks through telephone lines, which allowed for networks to grow and popularize. Couldn't have networks like BBS's without overturning this tariff
What is a hypertext and what is its historical significance? (1 point) Hint: Lecture 6
Hypertext is a text included hyperlink. Underlying concept of world wide web.
Which company dominated the computer industry, holding 74% of the market, in the early days of computers? (1 pt) Hint: Lecture 4, slide 8
IBM
Which current company in the past tabulated 1890 census data and what was the name of its machine? (1 Point) Hint: Class 3 Slide
IBM Hollerith tabulating machine
What is one of the several less evident advantages of email that the inventors didn't think of? hint: The 30-Year Path of E-Mail
It makes time zone problems evaporate or that it could be a virtual sherpa for transporting documents, photos, or video clips.
What is a Bulletin Board System and what are some characteristics of it? (1 point) Hint: Lecture 06 Modes (Page 12)
Just a computer with a single modem that people with a modem try to dial into download/ swap files. Leave posts and comments.
How does binary code relate to digital technologies? (1 point) HINT: Lecture 3 Slides 13-17
Machines only understand switches (binary numbers - "on" and "off")
Explain what "time-sharing" is in the context of computers. (1 point, Lecture 3)
Many people across nation access to central computer complex by teletype hookup.
What was the tiny yet mighty thing that led to the rise of personal computers? (1 point) Class 5 - Rise of Personal Computing
Microprocessor
What is an Intel chip and why were they used in a variety of devices including portable radios and early computers? (1 point) Hint: Science: The Numbers Game (Class 3)
Microprocessor Small and chip
What was Netscape, and what was its downfall? (1 pt) Hint: lecture slides Let 6 Early CMC Modes slide 22
Netscape was a computer services company best known for its Web browser, Navigator Rapid distribution of the software online spread its use, free download Internet Explorer killed Netscape, Microsoft's Windows computers became very popular and they came with the I.E. browser pre installed
What is the term called when the value of the good or service to a potential customer is dependent on the number of customers already owning that good or using that service? (1 point) Hint: Lecture 6, Slide 10
Network effects
During 1996, was going online a process that was quick and easy? (1 point) Hint: Class 5 - Computing Gets Personal
No, it took a long time to get online People average about 30 minutes per month online Little time online also due to the fact that there wasn't much going on online at the time
What is hypercard and when was it widely used? Hint: Lecture 7
Offline tool for easily making interactive hyperlinked documents ("stacks" of "cards"). Mid-1980s.
What three features that Memex has ? (3points) Hint: class 2 slide.
Operated from a distance Store all books, records and communications. Be mechanized so be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility.
What is the significance of packets? Through what medium were packets sent from computer to computer in the early ARPA-net?
Packets allowed for the transmission of info by splitting it up and sending it to its destination to be put back together/get the whole message. Telephone lines
What are three ways CMC can affect perceptions? (three points) Answer: Class 7, slide 23
People must reason from pieces of info - because they know so little about who they are communication with and how they actually feel Basis of interaction is often commonality which means similar people are congregating in the same place Cognitive reallocation - focus can be placed on the exact words that are going to be use, not on things like breath smell or amount of smiling
Were people generally more optimistic or pessimistic about the future of computers? Why? Give two examples that demonstrate the general thinking. (3 pts) Hints: Lecture 4, slide 9, Lecture 3, slides 8-11, and "Your Telephone Of Tomorrow: Future may bring push-button dialing, video- phones, direct calls anywhere on earth and pocket-size sets." Mechanix Illustrated, Sept. 1956. http:// blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/08/31/your-telephone-of-tomorrow/
People were optimistic about the future of computers because of all of the possibilities the future could hold. Two examples of this positive thinking are of the conceived Memex, that shows the possibilities academics believed the computer could become, and the idea that the computer represents an advance in man's thining processes as radical as the invention of writing, as said by Dr. Herber A. Simon of Carnegie Tech. An IBM economist also believed that computers would lead to a mass leisure class.
What market? a pro and a con to the printing press. In addition, describe how the con was addressed. Answer: Class 2 - Lecture Presentation (Slide 23)
Pro: Can invest time in things like complicated calculations or measurement. Cons: require human to encode and decode.
What problem did Charles Babbage have in 1822, and what was the solution for it? (3points) Hint: lecture 2 slide
Problem: Had trouble quickly finding values. Solution: The Difference Engine
What interchangeable objects did the Jacquard Loom utilize that told the machine which threads were in play at any time? What did this addition to the machine allow? 1 pt question. Hint: Class 2's reading - Koerth-Baker, Maggie. 2013. "Jacquard looms: Videos demonstrating early computer programs."
Punching card The Jacquard system vastly increased the pixels available in any weaving pattern, by automatically controlling lots and lots of threads all at once.
What were the 2 main problems with print as a tool for information storage? (1 Point) Hint: Lecture 2, Slide 12
Required human to encode and decode information Errors are big problems.
How was funding for research at the time of the IMP and ARPANET (1969) different than it is today?
Researchers were given lots of money to pursue what they wanted to pursue v.s. What the person supplying the money wanted. According to Kleinrock, the people funding the research would tell you to go find and discover something cool and interesting on your OWN time. Less restrictions than now days when people are given money for research.
What was Vannevar Bush's argument for the need of a machine like his Memex? (1 pt)
Technology had increased transmission speed and permanence of stored but people were increasingly unable to search effectively.
What infrastructure did the first networked computers take advantage of? (1 pt)
Telephone lines
What is the main idea of the "Media Naturalness Theory", and how does it relate to the social implications of computer-mediated communication? 3pts (Hint: Rodriguez, Kelli. "Computer Mediated Communication and Its Effect on the Social Functioning and Psychological Well-being of Traditional Aged College Students." https://www.academia.edu/443650/Computer_Mediated_Communication_and_its_Affect_on_the_Social_Functioning_and_Psychological_Well-being_of_Traditional_Aged_College_Students R)
The "Media Naturalness Theory" asserts that "face-to-face, synchronous interaction is the most natural and therefore optimal mode of communication" . Furthermore, "any mode of communication that is less natural than face-to-face interaction" (i.e.email or instant messaging) "presents greater challenges to and demands more effort from the communicators" The theory is related to the social implications of CMC through CMC's negative effects and thus expresses concerns of CMC CMC relies heavily on conveying the message of the users via text, thus CMC lacks nonverbal cues or feedback that have been shown to be an important component in effective communication Anonymous=lack of accountability= flaming (emotional expression of negative feelings),deceitfulness (i.e. falsifying identity), increases the effects of group identity and norms(unselfconsciousness), impulsivity, less empathy for others, uninhibited behavior, and forms of aggression CMC is that users are replacing quality face-to-face or telephone conversations and social involvement with CMC=people spending more time alone communicating via the internet instead of being socially engaged with one's family, friends, and community
What were the two machines proposed by Charles Babbage that were never built and what were their anticipated functions? 1 pt question. Hint: Class 2's slides.
The Difference Engine and the Analytic Engine
What are some effects of the Internet on social involvement and psychological well-being and what are two possible causal mechanisms of these effects? (3 points) Hint: Kraut, Robert, Michael Patterson, Vicki Lundmark, Sara Kiesler, Tridas Mukophadhyay, and William Scherlis. 1998. "Internet Paradox: A Social Technology at Reduces Social Involvement and Psychological Well-being?"
The Internet was used extensively for communication. Nonetheless, greater use of the Internet was associated with declines in participants' communication with family members in the household, declines in the size of their social circle, and increases in their depression and loneliness. Internet /TV
What's the most important difference between the PC market & the smartphone/tablet market ? (1 point)
The PC market tended to be more regional, they used to sell the most in the country they originated, while the smartphone/tablet market sells well internationally.
Describe what were thoughts when computers were more beneficial and people started to be more optimistic about them. Hint: class 4 PP's. (3 points).
The electronic computer might be the greatest change in the whole history of mankind An advance in man's thinking processes as radical as the invention of writing. Automation will eventually create a mass leisure class that little workforce will be employed Forecasting that the whole concept of people as producers of goods and services will become obsolete as automation advances.
What makes IM messaging a "secondary orality"? (1 point, Schwarz, 2011)
The spontaneous use of language in a format which can be reproduced and distributed It is like FTF(face to face) communication in that it is synchronous, but unlike FTF communication in that it can be preserved and distributed IM's: the peak of the transition from hearing-dominance to sight-dominance Share conversations not by telling but by showing them
What characteristics made the development of microprocessors significant to the rise of personal computers? (1 point) (Lecture 5: Computing Gets Personal, slide 8)
Took switching tasks that used to be formed by individual vacuum tubes (later transistors), and allowed millions of these switches to be packed in a single chip
What does TCP/IP stand for, and what exactly does it do? (1 point) Hint: Class 5
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol - suite of communication protocols used to interconnect network devices on the internet
What led to the rise of the Netscape? Describe how Netscape further marketed themselves and what led to the company's downfall after. (3 points) Hint: Class 7
Tremendous hype and stock price helped foster Microsoft's arrival
Where were emoticons, trolls, and slang terms first commonly used? (1 point) Hint: Class 6 - CMC Modes
Usenet
(1 point) What bulletin board system did slang acronyms such as "BRB" and "LOL", emoticons, flame wars, trolls, and signatures first appear on? • Answer in class 6 PowerPoint
Usenet.
What is the name of asynchronous worldwide bulletin board system?(1point) Hint: class 6 slide
Usenet.
Explain how the characteristics of each of the following helped the development of the web: Usenet, Talk, and Hypercard. (3 points) Class 6 - Modes
Usenet: Asynchronous worldwide bulletin board system. Talk: Early synchronous chat Hypercard: Offline tool for easily making interactive hyperlinked documents
Why was Gopher eventually superseded by the World Wide Web? (1 point) hint: https://www.minnpost.com/business/2016/08/rise-and-fall-gopher-protocol/
Web could be used to connect all the information on the internet through hyperlinks.
How did gopher assist in helping create more awareness of the World Wide Web? (3 points) https://www.minnpost.com/business/2016/08/rise-and-fall-gopher-protocol/
Within a year, there were hundreds of Gopher servers. Berners-Lee, who had publicly introduced the World Wide Web a few months after Gopher's debut, used Gopher to do it. "People look at the World Wide Web today and think it sprang out of Tim Berners-Lee's forehead," Alberti says. "But the fact is, the only way he was able to spread the word about the Web is because the Internet Gopher was there to allow people to download his files, find a discussion group, and talk about it."
Online Video Game exposure is not a risk factor for what three psychosocial factors in what two groups of people? (Kowert 2014)
low social competence, low self-esteem, loneliness
What did Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine propose to the Belgian government to persuade them to support their project? (1 point question) https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17mund.html
proposing to build a "city of knowledge" (that would bolster the government's bid to become host of the League of Nations).
What is the definition of Gopher? How does Gopher works? Hint: class 6, Anderson, Nate. 2009. "Te Web may have won, but Gopher tunnels on." Arstechica.com. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/11/the-web-may-have-won-but-gopher-tunnels-on.ars
software following a simple protocol for borrowing through a TCP/IP internet.
Define and give an example of network effect? What can be explained from the market share of personal computers? How can this effect be applied to smartphone markets? (3 points) hint: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/08/from-altair-to-ipad-35-years-of-personal-computer-market-share/4/
to strengthen platform (PC before; iOS/Android now) === other people connected to you purchased/used the device, so now I will use it too an additional user of a good or service has on the value of that product to others. When a network effect is present, the value of a product or service increases according to the number of others using it. The classic example is the telephone, where a greater number of users increases the value to each. A positive externality is created when a telephone is purchased without its owner intending to create value for other users, but does so regardless. Online social networks work similarly, with sites like Twitter and Facebook increasing in value to each member as more users join.
