History and Architecture of Computers

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Questions and Answers

What was the first programmable digital computer?

Colossus

Who is considered the 'father of the computer'?

Charles Babbage

What is the name of the first commercially available computer?

UNIVAC I

What was the name of the hypothetical machine developed by Vannevar Bush in 1945?

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

When was the Apple Macintosh introduced?

<p>1984</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who created the Linux operating system?

<p>Linus Torvalds</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Hedy Lamarr pioneer in 1941?

<p>Frequency hopping</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is Ada Lovelace known as the first computer programmer?

<p>She wrote the first algorithm intended for a machine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of computer was the IBM 701?

<p>IBM's first commercial scientific computer</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are key features of the Von Neumann architecture? (Select all that apply)

<p>Input/Output (I/O) devices (B), Memory (D), Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU) (F), Central Processing Unit (CPU) (H)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the machine created by Alan Turing in 1936?

<p>The Turing Machine</p> Signup and view all the answers

The first Apple computer was released in 1976.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Jacquard Loom used punched cards to store instructions.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the company founded by Herman Hollerith that would later become IBM?

<p>The Tabulating Machine Company</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Antikythera mechanism used a series of gears to perform calculations.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Abacus

A simple counting tool consisting of beads strung on wires within a frame, used for arithmetic calculations in ancient times.

Antikythera Mechanism

An ancient Greek analogue computer designed to calculate astronomical positions and predict eclipses.

Pascaline

A mechanical device invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642 for adding and subtracting numbers.

Step Reckoner

A mechanical calculator invented by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in 1672, capable of performing multiplication, division, and square roots.

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Jacquard Loom

A loom that uses punched cards to control the weaving process, creating patterns automatically.

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Hollerith Punch Card System

A system using punched cards to process and tabulate data, initially developed for the US Census in 1890. The company later became IBM.

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Charles Babbage

An English mathematician and inventor who designed the Difference Engine and conceptualized the Analytical Engine, considered the 'father of the computer.'

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Ada Lovelace

An English mathematician and writer who collaborated with Charles Babbage and wrote the first algorithm designed for a machine, considered the first computer programmer.

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Hedy Lamarr

An Austrian-American actress and inventor who pioneered frequency hopping technology in 1941, initially for use with torpedoes. This technology is now used in GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

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Turing Machine

A theoretical model of computation proposed by Alan Turing in 1936. It lays the foundation for understanding what can be computed and how computers work.

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Alan Turing

A British mathematician and computer scientist who played a key role in breaking the Enigma code during World War II, considered a pioneer in theoretical computer science.

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Colossus

The first programmable electronic digital computer, developed in 1943 and used to break the Lorenz cipher during World War II.

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Vannevar Bush

An American engineer and scientist who headed the Office of US Scientific Research and Development during World War II and developed the hypothetical Memex system.

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ENIAC

An early electronic digital computer, short for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, completed in 1945. It was used for mathematical calculations by the US Army.

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Von Neumann Architecture

A computer architecture proposed by John von Neumann in 1945 that forms the basis for most modern computers. It features a stored-program concept and consists of a CPU, memory, and I/O devices.

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UNIVAC

The first commercial computer, short for Universal Automatic Computer, delivered to the US Census Bureau in 1951. It could handle both numerical and textual data.

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IBM 701

IBM's first commercial scientific computer, introduced in 1952. It was known as the Defence Calculator and helped establish IBM as a major player in computing.

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Mainframes

A term used to describe large, powerful computers designed for high-volume data processing and complex calculations, which became widespread in the 1960s.

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Minicomputers

Smaller, more affordable computers designed for specialized tasks, developed in the 1960s. They allowed more widespread access to computing power.

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Time-sharing Systems

A system that allows multiple users to share a single computer system by dividing processing time and resources. This innovation became common in the 1960s.

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Software Industry

The industry that develops and distributes software for computers. It grew rapidly in the 1960s with the increasing use of computers.

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Microprocessor

A compact integrated circuit containing all the necessary components for a central processing unit (CPU). It revolutionized computing in the early 1970s.

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Intel 4004

The first microprocessor, created by Intel in 1971. It led to the development of personal computers and ushered in the microcomputer revolution.

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Operating System

Software designed to manage the hardware and software resources of a computer system, allowing other software to run smoothly. It was initially developed for mainframes and later adapted for personal computers.

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UNIX

A powerful operating system developed in 1969, known for its portability and its influence on modern operating systems.

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CP/M

An operating system designed for microcomputers, introduced in 1974. It became the standard for early personal computers before the rise of MS-DOS.

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MS-DOS

An operating system developed for personal computers, introduced in 1981. It became the standard for IBM PCs and helped popularize home computing.

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Windows

A graphical user interface (GUI) operating system developed by Microsoft, initially released in 1985. It provided a more user-friendly experience compared to earlier command-line interfaces.

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macOS

A line of operating systems developed by Apple for their Macintosh computers, known for its user-friendly interface and its emphasis on design.

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Linux

An open-source operating system created by Linus Torvalds in 1991. It is known for its flexibility, stability, and its wide use in servers and supercomputers.

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Apple I

The first computer released by Apple, announced in 1976. It was a barebones computer that required users to build their own system.

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Apple II

A personal computer released by Apple in 1977. It featured color graphics, a basic programming language, and helped to popularize home computing.

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IBM PC

A personal computer released by IBM in 1981. It became the standard for business computing and its open architecture encouraged third-party development, leading to widespread PC adoption.

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Study Notes

The History and Architecture of Computers

  • A potted history, from early beginnings to modern PC architecture is presented.

Early Beginnings

  • Abacus (c. 500 BCE)
  • Antikythera mechanism (c. 100 BCE) [video briefing available]
  • Mechanical calculators (1600s):
    • Blaise Pascal's Pascaline (1642)
    • Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz's Step Reckoner (1672)

1800s

  • Jacquard Loom: used punched paper for "programs" [image available]
  • Hollerith punch card system: used for the census, leading to IBM.

Charles Babbage

  • Designed the Difference Engine (1822)
  • Conceptualized the Analytical Engine (1837).
  • Considered the "father of the computer".

Ada Lovelace

  • Collaborated with Babbage on the Analytical Engine
  • Wrote the first algorithm intended for a machine.
  • Regarded as the first computer programmer.

Hedy Lamarr

  • Pioneered frequency hopping (1941), initially for torpedoes.
  • Frequency hopping now used in GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth technologies.
  • Contributions weren't recognized at the time.

Alan Turing

  • Developed the concept of the Turing Machine (1936)
  • Key figure in breaking the Enigma code during WWII.
  • Pioneer in theoretical computer science.

Colossus

  • Commonly considered the first programmable digital computer.
  • Demonstrated functional in 1943.
  • Built during WWII and used in Bletchley Park, designed to break the Lorenz cipher used by German High Command.

Vannevar Bush

  • Headed the Office of US Scientific Research and Development during WWII.
  • In charge of around 6,000 staff
  • Developed the (hypothetical) Memex (Memory Expansion) in 1945
  • Memex concept influenced the development of Hypertext and the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee's team.

ENIAC

  • Stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer
  • First general-purpose electronic digital computer, completed in 1945.
  • Used for calculations in the US Army

Von Neumann Architecture

  • Proposed by John von Neumann (1945)
  • Basis of most modern computers
  • Features a stored-program concept, consisting of a CPU, memory, and I/O devices.

UNIVAC

  • Stands for Universal Automatic Computer
  • First commercial computer (1951) and delivered to the US Census Bureau.
  • Could handle both numerical and textual data.

IBM 701

  • IBM's first commercial scientific computer (introduced in 1952).
  • Known as the Defence Calculator.
  • Helped establish IBM as a major computing player.

The 1960s

  • Mainframes became widespread
  • Minicomputers were developed
  • Time-sharing systems were introduced.
  • Software industry rose.
  • Intel (1968) and AMD (1969) were founded

The 1970s

  • Microprocessor was introduced.
  • Intel 4004 (1971) - first microprocessor.
  • Early personal computers were developed.
  • Computer networking was introduced.

Development of Operating Systems

  • System software manages hardware & software interactions.
  • Early operating systems were for mainframes
  • UNIX introduction (1969)
  • CP/M development for microcomputers (1974)
  • MS-DOS emergence (1981)

Windows Operating System

  • Introduction of Windows 1.0 (1985)
  • Windows 95: GUI and Start Menu (1995)
  • Windows XP: Stability and user-friendly (2001)
  • Windows 10: Unified platform (2015)

macOS

  • Apple introduced Macintosh (1984)
  • System 1 to Mac OS 9
  • macOS X: UNIX-based architecture (2001)
  • macOS Big Sur: Modern Features (2020)

Linux

  • Created by Linus Torvalds (1991)
  • Open source and community-driven
  • Widely used in servers and supercomputers
  • Popular distributions: Ubuntu, Red Hat, Debian

Apple I & II

  • Apple I introduced in 1976, by Steve Wozniak
  • Apple II released in 1977
  • Featured colour graphics and basic programming language.
  • Significant impact on the personal computer market.

IBM PC

  • Released in 1981.
  • Became the standard for business computing.
  • Open architecture encouraged third-party development.
  • Paved the way for widespread PC adoption.

The 1980s

  • Rise of graphical user interfaces (GUI)
  • Introduction of the Apple Macintosh (1984)
  • Expansion of computer networking
  • Development of desktop publishing
  • ARM/Qualcomm

The 1990s

  • Proliferation of the Internet
  • Introduction of the World Wide Web (1991)
  • Rise of laptops and portable computing
  • Growth of multimedia applications.

The 2000s

  • Mobile computing emergence
  • Cloud computing industry growth
  • Wireless technologies expansion
  • Social media platform development
  • Artificial Intelligence rise.

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