Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is considered to be Charles Babbage's most important invention?
What is considered to be Charles Babbage's most important invention?
- The Analytical Engine
- The Voltaic Battery
- The Telegraph
- The Difference Engine (correct)
Which technology replaced vacuum tubes in second generation computers?
Which technology replaced vacuum tubes in second generation computers?
- Microprocessors
- Integrated Circuits
- Transistors (correct)
- Optical Fibers
Which programming languages were introduced during the second generation of computers?
Which programming languages were introduced during the second generation of computers?
- COBOL and FORTRAN (correct)
- Python and Java
- Pascal and C++
- Basic and Assembly
What development led to more complex electronic designs in computing?
What development led to more complex electronic designs in computing?
Which device is credited as the first telecommunications tool developed in the early 1800s?
Which device is credited as the first telecommunications tool developed in the early 1800s?
During which computer generation did personal computers begin to emerge?
During which computer generation did personal computers begin to emerge?
What was a significant feature of first generation computers?
What was a significant feature of first generation computers?
What was the primary advancement in technology introduced in second generation computers?
What was the primary advancement in technology introduced in second generation computers?
What does ICT stand for?
What does ICT stand for?
Which period follows the Mechanical Age in the timeline of ICT evolution?
Which period follows the Mechanical Age in the timeline of ICT evolution?
Which event marks the beginning of the Electronic Age in the history of computing?
Which event marks the beginning of the Electronic Age in the history of computing?
What characterized the Pre-mechanical Age?
What characterized the Pre-mechanical Age?
During which time period did people start being referred to as 'computers'?
During which time period did people start being referred to as 'computers'?
Which technological advancement occurred in the 2000s?
Which technological advancement occurred in the 2000s?
Which of the following features belongs to the 1980s in the history of computing?
Which of the following features belongs to the 1980s in the history of computing?
What role did the Phoenicians play in the development of writing?
What role did the Phoenicians play in the development of writing?
What significant advancement did the Chinese make around 100 A.D. regarding paper?
What significant advancement did the Chinese make around 100 A.D. regarding paper?
Which civilization is noted for using papyrus for writing?
Which civilization is noted for using papyrus for writing?
What numbering system was developed by the Egyptians?
What numbering system was developed by the Egyptians?
What innovation did Johann Gutenberg introduce in 1450?
What innovation did Johann Gutenberg introduce in 1450?
How did the printing revolution impact society?
How did the printing revolution impact society?
What was one of the earliest forms of information processing mentioned?
What was one of the earliest forms of information processing mentioned?
Which method did the Greeks use around 600 B.C. for creating books?
Which method did the Greeks use around 600 B.C. for creating books?
What was the concept of zero developed roughly around 875 A.D. associated with?
What was the concept of zero developed roughly around 875 A.D. associated with?
What technological advancement characterized the 4th generation computers?
What technological advancement characterized the 4th generation computers?
Which of the following was a key application for the IBM 370 mainframe?
Which of the following was a key application for the IBM 370 mainframe?
What was a significant outcome of the introduction of personal computers in the 1980s?
What was a significant outcome of the introduction of personal computers in the 1980s?
What does VLSI stand for?
What does VLSI stand for?
Which typical application area benefited from the use of mainframe computers in the 1970s?
Which typical application area benefited from the use of mainframe computers in the 1970s?
What technological device became prominent for office work in the 1980s?
What technological device became prominent for office work in the 1980s?
What was a primary feature of computers in the 3rd generation during the 1970s?
What was a primary feature of computers in the 3rd generation during the 1970s?
What was a notable risk associated with single-user machines in the 1980s?
What was a notable risk associated with single-user machines in the 1980s?
What is a characteristic of desktop computers?
What is a characteristic of desktop computers?
Which type of computer is designed to perform complex calculations rapidly?
Which type of computer is designed to perform complex calculations rapidly?
What is the primary function of a mainframe computer?
What is the primary function of a mainframe computer?
In what situation would you typically use a supercomputer?
In what situation would you typically use a supercomputer?
What distinguishes supercomputers from mainframes?
What distinguishes supercomputers from mainframes?
Where would you likely find an embedded computer?
Where would you likely find an embedded computer?
What defines a peripheral device?
What defines a peripheral device?
Which type of computer would generally support many users at once?
Which type of computer would generally support many users at once?
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Study Notes
History of Computing and ICT
- ICT stands for Information and Communications Technology
- ICT timeline divided into four basic periods:
- The Pre-mechanical Age (3000 B.C.-1450 A.D.)
- The Mechanical Age (1450 -1840)
- The Electromechanical Age (1840-1940)
- The Electronic Age (1940 –Present)
Pre-mechanical Age
- 3000 B.C., the Sumerians devised their writing system - cuneiform
- 2000 B.C., Phoenicians created symbols
- Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet and added vowels
- Romans gave letters Latin names to create the alphabet used today
- 2600 B.C., Egyptians write on the papyrus plant
- 100 A.D., The Chinese make paper from rags, on which modern papermaking is based
- Mesopotamian religious leaders kept the earliest “books"
- Egyptians kept scrolls
- 600 B.C., Greeks folded papyrus sheets vertically into leaves and bind them together
- The Abacus is one of the very first information processors
Mechanical Age
- 1450, Johann Gutenberg invented the movable metal-type printing process
- Charles Babbage invented the first mechanical computer, the Difference Engine
- Babbage's Analytical Engine contained essential ideas of modern computers
Electromechanical Age
- Voltaic Battery (late 18th century)
- Telegraph (early 1800s)
- Morse Code (developed in 1835 by Samuel Morse using dots and dashes)
- Telephone (Alexander Graham Bell, 1876)
Computer Generations
- First Generation Computers, 1951–1958: Used vacuum tubes for controlling functions; Used magnetic drums for primary storage.
- Second Generation Computers, 1959–1964: Transistor replaced the vacuum tube; Magnetic tape replaced punched cards; COBOL and FORTRAN programming languages were introduced.
- Third Generation Computers, 1965–1971: Hard disk drives (Winchester disk), increased memory 64 KB to 16 MB, LSI circuits.
- Fourth Generation Computers, 1971–1990: VLSI circuits placed a complete CPU on one semiconductor chip; microprocessors were created; Increased computer performance with a phenomenal lowering of the cost of computers.
Age of the PC
- The PC profoundly modified the entire computing industry.
- The processing power of mainframe computers in the 1960s costing millions of dollars was now available for use in personal computers (PCs) for less than $1000.
Types of Computers
- Desktop computer consists of a separate case or tower that houses the main components of the computer.
- Mainframe a large, expensive computer supporting many users simultaneously.
- Supercomputer A specially designed computer performing complex calculations extremely rapidly.
- Embedded computer is a specially designed computer chip that resides in another device.
Mainframes vs Supercomputers
- Supercomputers are designed to execute a few programs as quickly as possible, whereas mainframes are designed to handle many programs running at the same time but at a slower pace.
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