Computer Science; Early History
What did ABC stand for?
Atanasoff-Berry Computer
Who is the "Father of Computing"? Why does he have the title?
Charles Babbage; first to create automatic calculator, and Analytical Engine still used today.
Who developed integrated circuits? When?
Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments; 1953
What does debug mean?
The first ever computer had a moth removed from it, but now they remove "bugs" by finding what is wrong and clean it.
What does UNIVAC stand for?
Universal Automatic Computer
Why is the abacus included in the history of computers?
was the first device to make calculations
List three details of the Analytical Engine that are still used today.
1) memory storage similar to RAM 2) central processing unit 3) input and output devices
GENERATIONS
1) vacuum tubes 2) transistors 3) integrated circuits 4) microprocessors
Who invented transistors?
Bell Labs
Who built the first accurate mechanical calculator? When? What was it called?
Blaise Pascal built the first accurate mechanical calculator in the 1600s, called the Pascalene.
Who designed the first automatic calculator?
Charles Babbage
What does ENIAC stand for?
Electronical Numerical Integrator and Computer
What two components of computers were used in the Z1?
German inventor Konrad Zuse in 1936 invented a mechanical calculator that included 1) control unit 2) memory function
What computer helped the US Navy during WWII? How did it help?
Harvard Mark I; used to locate ships far away that could not be seen.
What contribution did Alan Turing make to computers?
He created an abstract model that first used an algorithm.
What components did Aiken contribute to the Mark I?
He designed/invented the computers.
Why did Herman Hollerith see a need for a machine that did tabulations quickly?
He used to work for the census bureau and saw how long the 1880 census took to finish (7 1/2 years). He predicted that the 1890 census would take longer than 10 years to complete.
Who developed the microprocessor chip?
Intel Corp. in 1971
When was IBM started and by whom?
International Business Bureau, was started in 1896 by Herman Hollerith.
What components did Hooper contribute to the Mark I?
She wrote the programs.
What machine used vacuum tubes first? What is a disadvantage of vacuum tubes?
The ABC was the first machine to use vacuum tubes; if one vacuum tube went out that all of them went out, easily overheated.
Why is a device used in making cloth included in the history of computers?
The Jacquard Loom was included because it used a stiff card with punched holes to control the weaving machine. Punch cards were used to control computers later on.
Describe the ABC.
first electrically powered digital computer using vacuum tubes, weighed over 700 pounds, took 15 seconds to perform calculations, contained a mile of wire, and used binary code.
How did computers affect WWII?
greatly helped firing artillery at distant enemies, developed codes for our people, and used to translate codes
How was the difference engine powered?
large steam powered calculator
What is binary code?
machine language or series of on/off switches
What was used for memory storage on the UNIVAC?
magnetic tape
What are the brains of the computers?
microprocessor(CPU)
Describe how computers have changed since the Mark 1.
smaller, faster, easier to operate, more reliable, cheaper
What is a compiler?
software that translates English language into computer language (binary code.)
What replaced vacuum tubes in electronic machines?
transistors
What are third generation computers?
used integrated circuits
What are fourth generation computers?
used the microprocessor
What are second generation computers?
used transistors instead of vacuum tubes
What where are the disadvantages of the ENIAC?
very large, overheated, required lots of air conditioning
What is a microprocessor?
a small chip containing millions of transistors
