Computing History Quiz: Second Generation

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Questions and Answers

What was a significant change in the storage methods during the era of mainframe computers?

Shift from magnetic tape to disk drives (correct)

Transition from cloud storage to local storage

Change from optical discs to flash drives

Movement from hard drives to floppy disks

What are integrated circuits (ICs) primarily made of?

Iron

Silicon (correct)

Copper wiring

Aluminum

Which characteristic describes the computers of the second generation?

Increased reliability and ease of programming (correct)

Limitations to research institutions

Use of vacuum tubes for processing

Dependence on magnetic core memories

What impact did the introduction of ICs have on the manufacturing of computers?

Decreased production costs and size Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the IBM 7094 mainframe computer?

A large system built around a solid metal framework Signup and view all the answers

What was the typical cost associated with mainframe computers during the second generation?

Approximately $100,000 or more Signup and view all the answers

What was a function of the integrated circuits in computers?

Handling both computation and storage Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the evolution of computers into the third generation?

Use of smaller and more efficient chips Signup and view all the answers

What significant automotive milestone occurred in 1885?

Automobile invented Signup and view all the answers

Which computing milestone is related to the year 1946?

First digital, electronic, general purpose computer (ENIAC) Signup and view all the answers

In which year was the first mechanical calculator designed?

1642 Signup and view all the answers

What milestone in the evolution of automobiles was reached around 1966?

First antilock brakes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following events was NOT associated with the 1990s in computing?

First digital, electronic, general purpose computer (ENIAC) Signup and view all the answers

What was a key feature of fourth-generation computers introduced in 1974?

Microprocessors and personal computers Signup and view all the answers

Which year marks the development of about 250 highways available in the United States?

1925 Signup and view all the answers

What was introduced by Stallman in 1973?

Stallman introduces GNUs Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'debugging' refer to in contemporary usage?

Any form of troubleshooting Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the main purpose of a language translator program?

To convert programs into machine language Signup and view all the answers

What was the first type of language translator known as?

Assembler Signup and view all the answers

FORTRAN is primarily intended for which type of computing?

Mathematical/scientific computing Signup and view all the answers

Which programming language was designed as a business-oriented language in the same timeframe as FORTRAN?

COBOL Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant limitation of early computers regarding input and output?

Dependency on punch cards and magnetic tape Signup and view all the answers

How did high-level programming languages improve upon assembly language?

They allowed for more complex and powerful constructs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the full form of FORTRAN?

Formula Translator Signup and view all the answers

What primary function did the resident monitor serve in early computing?

It monitored user requests and managed input/output operations. Signup and view all the answers

What advancement in operating systems occurred by the mid-1960s?

Development of multitasking capabilities. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes structured programming that emerged in the 1970s?

It emphasized the use of control structures instead of GOTOs. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main characteristics of operating systems in the 1960s and 1970s?

They required users to understand complex commands. Signup and view all the answers

What role did the operating system play in program execution?

It started, monitored, and terminated programs. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of MS-DOS in the evolution of operating systems?

It simplified disk and storage operations for users. Signup and view all the answers

What was a common method of program execution in early operating systems?

Multiprogramming and later time sharing. Signup and view all the answers

Which feature was NOT characteristic of operating systems in the 1960s and 1970s?

Simplified commands for beginner users. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the rate of improvement in transistor count on a chip over the years?

Exponential increase Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Moore's law in relation to transistor counts?

Transistor counts double approximately every 18 to 24 months. Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, which performance increase is characteristic of linear improvements?

Increasing by 20% per time period Signup and view all the answers

Which individual first articulated the trend of increasing transistor counts, as observed in 1965?

Gordon Moore Signup and view all the answers

What does an exponential growth in transistor counts indicate in comparison to linear growth?

Orders-of-magnitude improvement over short periods Signup and view all the answers

What was the number of transistors on a chip after 7 time periods if starting from 1000 transistors?

128000 Signup and view all the answers

What have engineers speculated about the continuation of Moore's Law past 2000?

The trend would slow down. Signup and view all the answers

What does the table presented in the content illustrate?

The difference between linear and exponential increases Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Evolution of Computers

More computers entered commercial markets, moving beyond government and university labs.
Mainframe computers emerged, characterized by metal frameworks and improved operational capabilities.
Second-generation computers were cheaper, faster, easier to program, and more reliable but had a short lifespan.

Introduction of Silicon Chips

The silicon chip was developed in the 1950s and utilized in computers by 1964, marking the advent of the third generation.
Integrated circuits (ICs) replaced bulkier transistors and magnetic core memories, leading to smaller and faster computers.
ICs made mass production feasible, reducing computer manufacturing costs and allowing smaller organizations to buy computers.

Moore's Law

Transistor count on chips has increased exponentially since 1965, doubling approximately every 18-24 months, as noted by Gordon Moore.
This trend demonstrates significant performance improvements in computers over relatively short periods.
Even after prediction of a slow down in the 2000s, miniaturization trends have continued.

Comparing Improvements

Exponential growth in technology surpasses linear improvements, leading to dramatic increases in transistor counts in computers over time.
Understanding the difference between linear vs. exponential increase is crucial for grasping the rapid advancements in computing power.

Software Development

Early computers operated on machine language, utilizing a long list of binary codes (1s and 0s).
Programming advancements introduced language translators: assemblers for assembly language and compilers for high-level languages like FORTRAN.
FORTRAN was designed for scientific computations, simplifying mathematical representations for programmers.

Operating Systems Emergence

Early computing lacked operating systems as computers handled one program at a time, requiring all code for I/O operations to be part of the program.
As computer use expanded, the need for sophisticated management of resources led to the development of operating systems by the mid-1960s.
Operating systems enabled program scheduling, execution, multitasking, user interface management, and security between different users.

Structured Programming Revolution

Programming paradigms evolved throughout the 1960s, leading to the introduction of structured programming in the 1970s to improve code organization and readability by minimizing GOTOs.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the second generation of computers, a period marked by significant advances in technology and manufacturing. Learn about the shift from magnetic tape to disk drives and the rise of mainframe computers. Explore how these developments changed the landscape of computing.