Evolution of Computing
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Questions and Answers

What was the primary purpose of the ENIAC computer?

  • To handle all four arithmetic operations (correct)
  • For advanced commercial data processing
  • To develop programming languages
  • To perform logical operations

    • Which of the following is a characteristic of the second generation of computers?

  • Use of punched cards
  • Use of vacuum tubes
  • Use of transistors (correct)
  • Use of magnetic drums for memory

    • What was the significance of the Harvard Mark I computer?

  • It designed the FORTRAN programming language
  • It was the first computer to use transistors
  • It was the first commercially available computer
  • It could handle all four arithmetic operations (correct)

    • Who were the developers of the UNIVAC I?

    <p>John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, Jr.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What year was the FORTRAN programming language designed?

    <p>1957</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which operation did the Turing machine perform?

    <p>Logical operations and arithmetic calculations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which facility was the transistor invented?

    <p>Bell Labs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common characteristic of early computers like ENIAC regarding their physical needs?

    <p>They occupied significant physical space and required cooling</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of Napier's bones?

    <p>To calculate products and quotients of numbers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which invention is Charles P. Babbage credited with?

    <p>The difference engine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Ada Lovelace propose to use for data storage?

    <p>Binary system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major contribution did George Boole provide to computing?

    <p>The concept of Boolean logic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What technology characterized the first generation of computers?

    <p>Vacuum tubes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of Hollerith’s Tabulator?

    <p>To process punched-card data for the 1890 U.S. census</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one disadvantage of the first generation of computers?

    <p>They were very large in size</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly describes the Pascaline?

    <p>A mechanical calculator for direct addition and subtraction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one advantage of third-generation computers over first-generation computers?

    <p>They produced less heat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a disadvantage associated with integrated circuits?

    <p>They require sophisticated technology to produce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the energy consumption of third-generation computers compare to previous generations?

    <p>It consumed less energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant advancement did integrated circuits enable in third-generation computers?

    <p>Increased storage capacity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a common cooling mechanism used in third-generation computers?

    <p>Fans for heat discharge.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one reason why third-generation computers are considered more versatile?

    <p>They can execute a wide range of applications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What problem is still associated with integrated circuits despite their advantages?

    <p>They degrade performance with large applications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the maintenance of integrated circuits?

    <p>They are not easy to maintain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which programming language was developed by Dr.Hopper?

    <p>COBOL</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who designed the first minicomputer, the PDP-I?

    <p>Ken Olsen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant development occurred in 1975?

    <p>The first microcomputer was designed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was unique about the IBM PC introduced in 1981?

    <p>It featured a 16-bit microprocessor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who were the founders of Apple Computer, Inc.?

    <p>Steven Jobs and Stephen Wozniak</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which microprocessor became the world's first million-transistor chip in 1989?

    <p>Intel 486</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the contribution of the Energy Star program introduced in the 1990s?

    <p>Encourage sustainable computer production.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What operating system technology was announced by IBM in 1987?

    <p>OS/2</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary advantage of fourth generation computers compared to earlier generations?

    <p>They are smaller and more reliable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a feature of fifth generation computers?

    <p>Development of true artificial intelligence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a disadvantage associated with fifth generation computers?

    <p>They tend to be sophisticated and complex tools.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of fourth generation computers aids in their ease of use?

    <p>They allow the use of higher programming languages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What technology must be advanced for the development of microprocessors in fourth generation computers?

    <p>Latest technology for making microprocessors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are fourth generation computers considered less prone to heating issues?

    <p>They have negligible heating issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What differentiates fifth generation computers from earlier generations in terms of performance?

    <p>They have advancements in parallel processing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a disadvantage of using fourth generation computers?

    <p>They require advanced technology for microprocessor creation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Evolution of Computing

    • Abacus: The first counting device, originating from Asia. It worked on a place-value system where the position of a bead or rock determined its value.
    • Napier's Bones (1600s): A manual calculating device invented by John Napier for multiplication and division.
    • Pascaline (1642): Invented by Blaise Pascal, this mechanical calculator could add and subtract directly and perform multiplication and division through repetition.
    • Difference Engine (1812): Designed by Charles Babbage, this steam-powered, fully automatic machine was intended to be controlled by a fixed instruction program.
    • Ada Lovelace (1840s): Recognized as the first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace developed the first algorithm for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. She proposed the use of a binary system for data storage instead of decimal.
    • Boolean Logic (1850s): Developed by George Boole, this logic system became foundational in computer circuitry design.
    • Hollerith's Tabulator (1890s): This electromechanical, punched-card data-processing machine was introduced by Herman Hollerith for the 1890 U.S. census. Its success led to the creation of Hollerith's company, which eventually became IBM.
    • Vacuum Tubes (1906): The first generation of computers utilized vacuum tubes, invented by John Ambrose Fleming. These tubes controlled the flow of electric current in a vacuum and were used in various technologies like CRT TVs and radios.

    First Generation (1940-1956)

    • Advantages: Simple architecture, fast calculation in milliseconds, suitable for scientific and commercial purposes.
    • Disadvantages: Costly, large in size, consumed significant electricity, slow speed, generated a lot of heat requiring constant cooling.

    Turing Machine (1943):

    • Developed by Alan Turing, this theoretical device was designed to perform logical operations, reading, and writing.

    Harvard Mark I:

    • Constructed by Howard Aiken and IBM engineers, this large automatic digital computer handled arithmetic operations and had built-in programs for logarithms and trigonometric functions.

    ENIAC (1946):

    • The "Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator" was built by John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert Jr. at the University of Pennsylvania. ENIAC used 18,000 vacuum tubes, punch-card input, weighed 30 tons, and occupied a large space.

    UNIVAC I (1951):

    • The first commercially designed and sold computer specifically for business data processing, built by Mauchly and Eckert.

    Second Generation (1956-1963)

    • Transistors: Developed in 1947 by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley at Bell Labs, transistors replaced vacuum tubes in computers.
    • Advantages: Smaller size compared to first-generation computers, lower electricity consumption, less heat generation, faster speeds, punch card input.
    • Disadvantages: Still costly, less versatile, ongoing need for cooling.

    Third Generation (1964-1971)

    • Integrated Circuit (IC): The first IC (or chip), a collection of transistors, was produced by Jack St. Clair Kilby and Robert Noyce of Texas Instruments.
    • Advantages: Smaller size, lower energy consumption, increased reliability, more versatile, less heat generation, higher storage capacity.
    • Disadvantages: Need for cooling systems, still costly, sophisticated technology required for manufacturing, difficult to maintain IC chips, performance degradation with large applications.

    Fourth Generation (1971-Present):

    • Microprocessor: Intel released the first microprocessor, a specialized IC that processed four bits of data at a time, in 1971.
    • Advantages: Even smaller size, highly reliable, less heat generation, no need for air conditioning, use of high-level languages, more affordable, suitable for general purposes.
    • Disadvantages: Requires fans for operation, advanced technology needed for microprocessors and software development, sophisticated design.

    Fifth Generation (Present-Beyond)

    • Artificial Intelligence (AI): Focus on developing computers based on AI, with applications like voice recognition currently being used.
    • Advantages: Very small size, compatibility, affordability, general purpose, advanced technology, development of true AI, advancements in parallel processing and superconductor technology.
    • Disadvantages: Sophisticated and complex tools, limitations in transistor density.

    Key People and Innovations:

    • John Napier: Invented Napier's Bones for manual calculation.
    • Blaise Pascal: Invented the mechanical calculator Pascaline.
    • Charles Babbage: Known as the "father of the computer" for designing the Difference Engine.
    • Ada Lovelace: Developed the first computer algorithm, proposed binary system for storage.
    • George Boole: Developed Boolean logic used in computer circuit design.
    • Herman Hollerith: Invented the electromechanical tabulator and founded IBM.
    • John Ambrose Fleming: Invented the vacuum tube.
    • John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley: Invented the transistor.
    • Jack St. Clair Kilby and Robert Noyce: Created the first integrated circuit (IC) or chip.
    • Ted Hoff: Developed the Intel 4004 microprocessor.
    • Ed Roberts: Designed the first microcomputer, the Altair 8800.
    • Bill Gates and Paul Allen: Founded Microsoft and developed the MS-DOS operating system.
    • Steven Jobs and Stephen Wozniak: Founded Apple Computer and designed the Apple II microcomputer.
    • Gene Amdahl: Designed the IBM System/360 mainframe computers.
    • Grace Murray Hopper: Developed the UNIVAC I compiler and the COBOL programming language.
    • Ken Olsen: Founded DEC and produced the PDP-I minicomputer.
    • Thomas Kurtz and John Kemeny: Developed the BASIC programming language.
    • Niklaus Wirth: Developed the PASCAL programming language.
    • Alan Turing: Developed the Turing machine, a theoretical model for computation.
    • Howard Aiken: Collaborated with IBM to build the Harvard Mark I computer.
    • John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert Jr.: Built the ENIAC and UNIVAC I computers.

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    Generation of Computers .pdf

    Description

    Explore the fascinating history of computing devices, from the early abacus to the groundbreaking inventions of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage. This quiz covers key milestones in computing technology, emphasizing the development of algorithms and logic systems that laid the foundation for modern computing.

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