Chapter 1: What is a Computer?
ubiquitous computing
(invisible computer) Technology that recedes into the background and becomes part of the environment. The condition in which computing is so woven into the fabric of everyday life that it becomes indistinguishable from it.
Midrange Computers
(or minicomputers) are larger computers that are relatively small, inexpensive, and compact computers that perform the same functions as mainframe computers, but to a more limited extent.
1 gigabyte
1 billion bytes
1 megabit
1 million bits
1 megabyte
1 million bytes
1 petabyte
1 quadrillion bytes
1 Terabyte (TB)
1 trillion gigabytes
1 Kilobite
1,000 bits
1 Kilobyte (KB)
1000 bytes
first generation
1951-1958; vacuum tubes
second generation
1959-1963; Transistors
Third Generation
1964-1970; Integrated circuits
Fourth Generation
1974 IBM single chip processor, microprocessor/ microcomputer. Miniaturization still in this generation today.
Analytical Engine
1st mechanical computer. Ran off of punched cards. never completed by him.
sever
A computer that provides services (Internet access, email, file, or print services) to and/or shares resources with client computers over a network
client
A computer that requests data stored on a server.
smartphone
A device that integrates a cell phone with the features of a PC, such as the ability to store information, receive email, and install programs.
distributed computing
A form of computing where systems in different locations communicate and collaborate to complete a task.
Byte
A group of eight bits. To represent characters, each symbol (letters, digits, other characters) needs to be given a unique sequence of bits
Two-in-one notebook
A portable computer that converts to a tablet by detaching the screen from the keyboard
Computer
A programmable (usually electronic) machine that converts raw data into useful information
notebook computer
A small, portable personal computer.
multiuser computer
A system that allows multiple, simultaneous users to connect to it, allowing for centralized resources and security. Multiuser computers are also more powerful than personal computers.
What is a compact desktop computer with an integrated monitor and system unit?
All-in-one
virtual reality
An artificial world that consists of images and sounds created by a computer and that is affected by the actions of a person who is experiencing it
augemented reality
An overlay of virtual content on the physical world The virtual content does not interact with the physical world
_________ is an overlay of virtual content on the physical world.
Augmented Reality
Bits
Binary number system(base 2) the smallest unit of data in a computer. All Data entered into a computer must be converted into bits (binary digits)
desktop computer
Computer designed so the system unit, input devices, output devices, and any other devices fit entirely on or under a desk or table.
Grace Hopper
Created first compilers. Laid the work for automatic programming. Takes the information we know to convert into the language of computers
Alan Turing
English mathematician who conceived of the Turing machine and broke German codes during World War II (1912-1954)
______ is the study of the relationship between workers and their workspaces.
Ergonomics
ASCII contains codes for most of the languages in use today.
False
Bioinformatics allows you to design a workspace for your comfort and health.
False
Moore's Law states that the number of transistors that can be placed on an integrated circuit will double roughly every 18 years.
False
The idea that computers are all around us is called convergence.
False
Third-generation computers used transistors.
False
mainframe computer
Fast and Large computer system capable of processing massive volumes of data
Charles Babbage
Father of computer
grid computing
Form of distributed computing using a group of computers in one location
Grace Hopper
Found the first computer "bug" found in the Harvard Mark 1=I
Joseph Marie Jacquard
French inventor of the Jacquard loom that could automatically weave complicated patterns (1752-1834)
_________ consists of 24 satellites that transmit signals to determine the receiver's current location, time, and velocity through triangulation of the signals.
GPS
embedded computer
Gasoline pumps, microwave ovens, traffic lights, etc.
A _______is a complex integrated circuit that contains processing circuitry.
Microprocessor
Turing Test
One method of determining the strength of artificial intelligence, in which a human tries to decide if the intelligence at the other end of a text chat is human.
Jacquard Loom
One of the first programmable machines
Moore's Law
Said that the number of transistors that could be placed on a computer chip would double every 2 years for at least a decade (actually 18 months)
Ada Lovelace
She is considered to be the first computer programmer.
Internet of Things (IoT)
Smart homes, Alexa
A(n) _____________ is an example of convergence.
Smartphone
Ergonomics
Study of the relationship between workers and their workspace
_________ perform complex mathematical calculations, such as those used in weather forecasting and medical research.
Supercomputers
Operating System (OS)
System software that provides an interface between the user or application program and the computer hardware.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The connection of the physical world to the Internet Devices located, monitored, and controlled by embedded computers
convergence
The integration of technology on multifunction devices such integration, of technology on multifunction devices such as smartphones has accustomed us to carrying technology with us
Jacquard Loom
The loom was controlled by a "chain of cards", a number of punched cards, laced together into a continuous sequence.
Binary Code
The most basic language a computer understands, it is composed of a series of 0s and 1s. The computer interprets the code to form numbers, letters, punctuation marks, and symbols.
Information Processing Cycle
The process that converts data into information
Second-generation computers used ________ to process data.
Transistors
All-in-one is a type of desktop computer.
True
Computers convert data into information using the information processing cycle.
True
Today's computers use microprocessors.
True
Users connect to servers via clients.
True
Volunteer computing projects harness the idle processing power of hundreds or thousands of personal computers.
True
The_______ is a measure of a computer's ability to display intelligent behavior.
Turing Test
What is the binary code that can represent most currently used language characters and is the standard used on the Internet?
Unicode
all-in-one computer
a compact desktop computer with the system unit integrated into the monitor
Microprocessor
a complex integrated circuit that contains processing circuitry (transistors as well)
Personal Computer (PC)
a computer that can perform all of its input, processing, output, and storage activities by itself and is intended to be used by one person at a time
volunteer computing
a form of distributed computing that relies on the processing power of hundreds or thousands of volunteers' personal computers
supercomputer
a mainframe computer that is one of the most powerful available at a given time
Jacquard Loom
a mechanical loom that simplifies the process of manufacturing textiles with complex patterns.
Enterprise server
a server used by large corporations to provide employees access to special software used to run the company's business
subnotebook computer
a small portable computer, such as a notebook
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)
developed in the 1960s using a 7-bit system that represented 128 characters and included English alphabet symbols in both uppercase and lowercase, numbers 0 through 9, punctuation, and a few special characters.
Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC)
first commercially available computer, predicated outcome of the 1952 presidential election
Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)
first working digital, general-purpose electronic computer. Fully functional and can be reprogrammed
Computer
general-purpose machines, meaning they can be programmed to do different things
Output
information returned to the user
Storage
information stored for later retrieval
Input
raw data entered
Processing
raw data manipulated to create useful information
convergence
smartphones
most popular devices
smartphones
embedded computer
specially designed computer chip that resides in another device
Mixed Reality
the combination of the real physical world with interactive virtual images or objects. Holograms you can interact with the real world
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
the main microprocessor in a computer; the brains of the computer.
Unicode
the standard on the Internet and includes codes for most of the world's written languages, mathematical systems, and special characters.
bites measure
transfer rates (internet connection)
Ada Lovelace
wrote a computer language for the Analytical Engine.