Podcast
Questions and Answers
Why is digitizing information considered a breakthrough in computation?
Why is digitizing information considered a breakthrough in computation?
- It enabled machines to read and process data represented as numbers. (correct)
- It reduced the power consumption of early computers.
- It eliminated the need for stored-program computers.
- It allowed for faster manual processing of census data using punch cards.
What significant advantage did stored-program computers offer over their predecessors?
What significant advantage did stored-program computers offer over their predecessors?
- They eliminated the need for a central processing unit.
- They used vacuum tubes for faster processing speeds.
- They were smaller and consumed less power.
- Their instructions were stored in memory, allowing for quick changes and increased autonomy. (correct)
How did the invention of transistors revolutionize computing?
How did the invention of transistors revolutionize computing?
- They simplified the assembly process of complex computer systems.
- They replaced punch cards as the primary method of data input.
- They provided a more reliable, smaller, and energy-efficient alternative to vacuum tubes. (correct)
- They made computers fill entire rooms.
What key process enabled the fabrication of integrated circuits?
What key process enabled the fabrication of integrated circuits?
Who is credited with writing "As we may think," which envisioned a device called the Memex?
Who is credited with writing "As we may think," which envisioned a device called the Memex?
What limitation did the ENIAC have that prevented it from being considered a true computer in the modern sense?
What limitation did the ENIAC have that prevented it from being considered a true computer in the modern sense?
Where did the term 'computer bug' originate?
Where did the term 'computer bug' originate?
Which of the following milestones is associated with Grace Hopper?
Which of the following milestones is associated with Grace Hopper?
What was the significance of the IBM RAMAC released in 1955?
What was the significance of the IBM RAMAC released in 1955?
Which of the following best describes the role of layered software?
Which of the following best describes the role of layered software?
In the context of software stacks, what does each software layer typically implement?
In the context of software stacks, what does each software layer typically implement?
According to the content, why is it important to use the correct computing terms?
According to the content, why is it important to use the correct computing terms?
What is the primary function of the processor within a computer system?
What is the primary function of the processor within a computer system?
In computing, what does it mean to 'abstract' an idea or process?
In computing, what does it mean to 'abstract' an idea or process?
What does it mean to "generalize" in the context of ideas and concepts?
What does it mean to "generalize" in the context of ideas and concepts?
Which of the following best describes the architecture introduced by John von Neumann?
Which of the following best describes the architecture introduced by John von Neumann?
What contribution did Ted Nelson make to the field of information technology?
What contribution did Ted Nelson make to the field of information technology?
What key advantage did the introduction of integrated circuits provide over transistors?
What key advantage did the introduction of integrated circuits provide over transistors?
What was the significance of the Xerox Alto in the history of personal computers?
What was the significance of the Xerox Alto in the history of personal computers?
What problem was the release of VisiCalc trying to solve?
What problem was the release of VisiCalc trying to solve?
What does the term 'Software' refer to?
What does the term 'Software' refer to?
What is the best desription of a algorithm?
What is the best desription of a algorithm?
In the context of the Von Neumann architecture, which component is responsible for performing arithmetic and logical operations?
In the context of the Von Neumann architecture, which component is responsible for performing arithmetic and logical operations?
Which of the following accurately describes the roles of Alan Turing and John von Neumann in the history of computing?
Which of the following accurately describes the roles of Alan Turing and John von Neumann in the history of computing?
In the context of digitizing information, what fundamental change occurred that impacted data processing?
In the context of digitizing information, what fundamental change occurred that impacted data processing?
What was the main functional difference between the ENIAC and computers developed after the introduction of Von Neumann architecture?
What was the main functional difference between the ENIAC and computers developed after the introduction of Von Neumann architecture?
What was the primary reason for the shift from vacuum tubes to transistors in computer design?
What was the primary reason for the shift from vacuum tubes to transistors in computer design?
Why is understanding of computing terms helpful when seeking tech support?
Why is understanding of computing terms helpful when seeking tech support?
In the context of computing, why is the concept of 'abstraction' important?
In the context of computing, why is the concept of 'abstraction' important?
How did the creation of ARPANET evolve the landscape of telecommunications?
How did the creation of ARPANET evolve the landscape of telecommunications?
For software stacks, which of the following choices would be a practical example based on the text?
For software stacks, which of the following choices would be a practical example based on the text?
In the context of John Von Neumann architecture, how would you best describe the relationship between hardware and software?
In the context of John Von Neumann architecture, how would you best describe the relationship between hardware and software?
According to the learning objectives, what should students learn?
According to the learning objectives, what should students learn?
How would you best describe digitizing information?
How would you best describe digitizing information?
According to the information, what should abstraction allow us to do?
According to the information, what should abstraction allow us to do?
In computing, when can we generalize an idea?
In computing, when can we generalize an idea?
What was it about Stored-Program Computers that made them able to progress?
What was it about Stored-Program Computers that made them able to progress?
In the information, what is a major function of transistors that made them helpful?
In the information, what is a major function of transistors that made them helpful?
Which decade saw the release of the first operating system?
Which decade saw the release of the first operating system?
Which decade saw the creation of integrated circuits?
Which decade saw the creation of integrated circuits?
Flashcards
Digitizing Information
Digitizing Information
Representing data as numbers, enabling machines to process digital information.
Stored-Program Computers
Stored-Program Computers
A computer architecture where instructions are stored in memory, allowing quick program changes and complex, autonomous operations.
Transistors
Transistors
A semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power.
Integrated Circuits
Integrated Circuits
Signup and view all the flashcards
Personal Computers
Personal Computers
Signup and view all the flashcards
The Internet
The Internet
Signup and view all the flashcards
World Wide Web
World Wide Web
Signup and view all the flashcards
Layered Software
Layered Software
Signup and view all the flashcards
Turing Machine
Turing Machine
Signup and view all the flashcards
Von Neumann model
Von Neumann model
Signup and view all the flashcards
Hardware
Hardware
Signup and view all the flashcards
Software
Software
Signup and view all the flashcards
Processor
Processor
Signup and view all the flashcards
Algorithm
Algorithm
Signup and view all the flashcards
Abstract
Abstract
Signup and view all the flashcards
Generalize
Generalize
Signup and view all the flashcards
Compiler
Compiler
Signup and view all the flashcards
Study Notes
Learning Objectives
- The "big idea" of computing inventions
- It is important to know the correct terminology
- Understand hardware and software
- Understand the "idea" terms
Computation's Big Ideas
- Digitizing information
- Stored-program computers
- Transistors
- Integrated circuits
- “Personal” computers
- The Internet
- World Wide Web
- Layered Software
Computation's Greatest Hits
- Digitizing information represents data as numbers
- Machines can read digital information
- Census data was digitized in 1890
- In 1880, processing census data by hand took 8 years
- Punch cards digitized the census process but were not computers but card readers
- In stored-program computers, the central processing unit has instructions stored in memory as software
- Programs in stored-program computers can adapt quickly, becoming more advanced and independent
- Early stored-program computers were large, complex and took up entire rooms
- Vacuum tubes were used in early computers, consuming much power and were prone to burn out
The Pioneers
- Alan Turing (1912-1954)
- John von Neumann (1903-1957)
A Little History
- Before the 1960s, the term "computer" referred to a person performing calculations
- Early computer science researchers were mathematicians focused on the theory of computability
- Work in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s defined automatic computing, computability, and programming languages
The Turing Machine
- It is a mathematical model
- It is a theoretical tool to compute any computable function
- The paper "On Computable Numbers" was written in 1936
The Von Neumann Model
- In 1944, Von Neumann wrote "First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC," completed in 1949
- The report introduced the modern architecture for the "stored program" computer
- It established a clear distinction between hardware and software
- EDVAC stands for Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
- Was based on binary numbers
- It was used for ballistics
- It was in use till 1961
The Von Neumann Architecture
- Processor which included a Control Unit and an Arithmetic/Logic Unit
- Memory
- Input
- Output
Milestones - 1945
- Vannevar Bush described the idea for the Memex
- It will store an individual’s books, records, and communications
- It would be mechanized for speed and flexibility
- It will be a supplement to memory
ENIAC, 1946
- ENIAC stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator
- It started in 1943 and finished in 1946
- From 1943 to 1946, John W Mauchly and J Presper Eckert designed the ENIAC at the University of Pennsylvania
- ENIAC, a huge computing machine, was designed to produce artillery tables
- ENIAC was not a computer, as changing computations required reconfiguring electrical circuits
More Milestones
- In 1947, a moth inside the Mark II computer caused the first "computer bug"
- The moth burned by the hot tubes and stopped the computer
- "Bug" now refers to any computer malfunction, typically in software, even when the source is in the hardware
Computation's Greatest Hits: Transistors
- Transistors are an alternative to vacuum tubes
- Transistors use low power and emits less heat
- Transistors are very reliable
- Transistors are small
- Transistors had the problem of lots of assembly being required
More Milestones
- 1947: W. Shockley, J. Bardeen, and W. Brattain of Bell Labs invented the transistor
- 1950: Engineering Research Associates of Minneapolis sells ERA 1101, the first mass-produced computer
- 1952: Grace Hopper (1906-1992) created "A-0," the first compiler for a programming language
RAMAC
- 1955: IBM released RAMAC, the first computer with a hard disk
- RAMAC’s storage was 5MB
- RAMAC cost $180,000
- 1000 pieces were sold
Computation's Greatest Hits: Integrated Circuits
- Integrated Circuits integrates transistors and connective parts with a multi-step process
- Photolithography makes the integration possible by "printing" wires onto the circuits
More Milestones
- 1956: The first operating system “GM-NAA I/O System" was released for IBM 704.
- 1958: Jack St.Clair Kilby of Texas Instruments created the first integrated circuit, also known as a chip
Computation's Greatest Hits: Personal Computers
- 1973: Xerox’s Alto was the first personal machine
- 1973: There was no reason to have a computer in their home
- Today a typical individual would have several computers
Other Milestones
- 1960: AT&T sold Dataphone, the first modem for transmitting data over a phone line
- 1962: LINC (Laboratory Instrumentation Computer) sold its first system to use for data processing in a scientific lab
- 1965: Ted Nelson wrote "Computers, Creativity, and the Nature of the Written Word," introducing "hypertext" with its current meaning
More Milestones
- 1970: Arpanet connected the first 4 computers
- 1971: Ray Tomlinson of BBN sent the first e-mail using Arpanet
- 1971: Intel released the first microprocessor, a complete computer on a single chip
- 1974: Xerox released "Alto", which was the first workstation with mouse and graphic interface
- 1975: Altair 8800, sold by "Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems," became the first PC, priced at $397
More Milestones
- 1979: Daniel Bricklin & Robert Frankston developed VisiCalc
- VisiCalc was the first spreadsheet program and ancestor of Microsoft Excel
- 1982: A software malfunction in THERAC 25 linear accelerator led to 6 deaths at a French company
- 1984: Apple, founded in 1975 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, introduced Macintosh
- Macintosh was the first consumer PC with a mouse and graphic interface
- 1989: Tim Berners-Lee of CERN outlined the architecture of the web as a collection of hypertexts in "Information Management: A Proposal"
Computation's Greatest Hits: The Internet
- The Internet is a network of networks
- ARPANet sent its first message in 1969 and was used for email and file transfer
- HTTP and the World Wide Web brought the Internet to the general public
- HTTP enables any file to be transferred to any computer
- Mosaic was the first widely used Web browser
Computation's Greatest Hits: Layered Software Development
- Before 1980, programs lacked structure, making them hard to write and maintain
- Layered software applies code from lower levels and provides advanced facilities at higher levels
Software Stack
- Software Stack is a concept to structure and organize software in computer systems
- It is a series of program layers that implement user applications
- Each software layer has operations which are used to build layers above it
Using a Software Stack
- When checking a video on YouTube using a smartphone, the browser application accesses YouTube
- The browser uses the window manager and other frameworks The window manager uses media manager and libraries
- The media manager then uses the display drivers, and other kernel operations
Terms in Information Technology
- Learning computing terms allows one to benefit from the technology
- It helps with tech support because everyone needs and uses it
- Terminology helps to learn a new subject
Tech Support
- Use the Help feature, or contact tech support for a computing issue
- Using the correct term is necessary for searching for the appropriate search algorithm
Finding the Computer
- The Processor is located inside the box
- It connects to input and output devices
- Variations between a processor will come from different devices connected or the software being used
Software
- Software is a collective word for programs
- Programs contain instructions that form applications
- The processor uses programs to carry out an application
Algorithms
- Algorithms are methods to produce specified results
- Programs express algorithms
- An example of an algorithm is long division
Idea Words: 'Abstract'
- 'Abstract' has several meanings
- In natural language, to remove can mean to steal
- In computing to abstract is to remove an idea, process, and information
Abstractions
- The key points are details of the story are irrelevant to the concept and the abstraction has meaning beyond the story
- Separating irrelevant data is essential in computer use
The Words For Ideas: "Generalize"
- Generalizing is to recognize the common idea in two or more situations
- generalization expresses an idea, concept, or process in many situations
- A generalization is a statement that sums up an idea
- To generalize an idea is to determine if true most of the time
Summary
- The importance of major computing inventions from the last hundred years
- Knowing how to use the right word
- Common computer terms
- "Idea" words, such as abstract and generalize
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
