Computer Science Assignment #1
What is the Jacquard loom, and how does it relate to CS?
1st device to use punch cards. It simplified the creation of textiles. The idea was adopted by Babbage to control the Analytical Engine.
What is a function?
A section of a computer code that is only written once but can be used whenever called in different points in the program, and return there with a value after the section of code is finished or a return is called
What is procedural programming?
A set of instructions telling a computer what to do step by step in order to enact a specific algorithm
What is big data?
A term used to describe massive amount of structured and unstructured information that is so large that it is difficult to process using traditional database and software techniques
Who is Ada Lovelace, and what is her significance related to CS?
A woman who was one of the first to come up with the idea of a computing machine. She was known for her work with her friend Charles Babbage on the Analytical Machine. This machine essentially was a primitive modern computer
What is abstraction?
Abstraction is the process of removing extraneous characteristics of something in order to simplify it to its most basic characteristics. Generally, it suppresses the more complicated aspects of a computer system so the person interacting with the system only has to deal with the top, simplest layer
What are the major components of a computer?
Central Processing Unit, Graphical Processing Unit, Motherboard, Hard Drive, Power Supply, and Disc Drive
Who is Larry Page, and what is his significance related to CS?
He and a buddy decided to team up and launch a search engine, that is now known as "Google"
Who is Alan Turing, and what is his significance related to CS?
He and a team of decoders broke the german's "unbreakable" encoding machine, known as Enigma, in WWII. He has a test named after him that determines whether a machine exhibits human intelligence and behavior
Who is Charles Babbage, and what is his significance related to CS?
He created the first mechanical computer. He was called the "father of the computer", though he is most well known for his concept on programmable computers.
Who is John von Neumann, and what is his significance related to CS?
He has a type of computer architecture named after him, which is a simple design for an electronic digital computer. He worked on the Manhattan Project.
Who is Blaise Pascal, and what is his significance related to CS?
He invented an early calculator. His calculating machine was an essential step in the subsequent development of calculators and computers.
Who is Guido van Rossum, and what is his significance related to CS?
He is author of the Python program language
Who is Alan Kay, and what is his significance related to CS?
He is best known for his pioneering work on subject-oriented programming and windowing graphical user interface design
Who is James Gosling, and what is his significance related to CS?
He is credited with the creation of the coding language known as Java.
Who is Linus Torvalds, and what is his significance related to CS?
He is the founder and coordinator of Linux. The Unix-like operating system that is beginning to revolutionize the computer industry
Who is Tim Berners-Lee, and what is his significance related to CS?
He is the inventor of the World Wide Web
Who is John McCarthy, and what is his significance related to CS?
He was known as the father of artificial intelligence, him and others wanted to make a machine that would reason like a human, that was capable of abstract thought, problem-solving, and self-improvement
What is the CPU?
The brain of the computer. Handles the instructions you give your computer
What is the Internet?
The largest computer network in the world made up of HTML files. These HTML files contain links, images, media
What is RAM?
This type of hardware allows you to open and run programs at the same time.
What is the hard drive?
a device used to permanently store and also retrieve information. It's basically a few circular disks stacked up on top of each other. a little arm writes and stores information down on them using magnets and lasers to permanently write down information
What is object-oriented programming?
a language model that works around objects that include both data (attributes) and procedures (methods)
What is a method?
a piece of code that is called by name that is associated with an object. It is almost like a function, but it's called within its object and can operate implicitly with data within the object
What is an algorithm?
a process or mathematical way to solve an equation, or system of operations especially in a computer
What is computer science?
a way for the user to interact with a computer involving algorithms and data structures including the design and development of software
What is computer programming, and how is it related to CS?
involves the creation of programs/software, which includes outlining processes, procedures, and creating algorithms
What is the motherboard?
the main circuit board that connects all of the parts of the computer together. The motherboard typically contains the CPU, BIOS, Hard drive, RAM, Serial and parallel ports, and all the controllers required to control peripherals
What are the steps involved in producing a professional program?
1. Understand problem 2. Break down the problem 3. Design the program 4. Refine the program 5. Implement the problem 6. Test & Fix
What is coding, and how is it related to CS?
creating a set of instructions used by the computer to execute orders
Who is Grace Hopper, and what is her significance related to CS?
One of the first women to work in the field of computer programming. She created the first computer language compiler, and is accredited with coining the term "computer bug".