History of Information Technology Quiz

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a potential impact of improved global communication networks on employment?

It has no significant effect on global job distribution.

It increases job opportunities within the U.S.

It can lead to job relocation to countries with lower labor costs. (correct)

It creates new job roles exclusively within the U.S.

Which statement best describes the role of social media in contemporary society?

It is solely a platform for personal expression.

It can empower both democratic movements and oppressive regimes. (correct)

It is becoming obsolete due to increased regulation.

It only promotes democratic ideas and has no negative impacts.

What is the significance of the history of information technology according to the content?

It suggests that all advancements occur independently of historical context.

It highlights a long-standing, gradual development influenced by social conditions. (correct)

It shows a rapid evolution with little influence from societal needs.

It implies that technology changes quickly without consideration of future implications.

What responsibility do computing professionals have as stated in the content?

To be mindful of their role in shaping future technologies. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of disseminating the provided work without permission?

It undermines the integrity and intended pedagogical purpose of the work. Signup and view all the answers

Which company completed the development of UNIVAC in 1951?

Remington-Rand Signup and view all the answers

What technology did the Atanasoff-Berry Computer utilize?

Vacuum tubes Signup and view all the answers

How did ENIAC's instructions get programmed?

By connecting wires into plugboards Signup and view all the answers

What role did IBM play in Nazi Germany according to historical accounts?

Ignored anti-Semitic actions and aided the government Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary feature of the Small-Scale Experimental Machine?

CRT memory Signup and view all the answers

What prediction did the UNIVAC computer make during the 1952 presidential election?

Eisenhower would win in a landslide Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the market position of IBM by the mid-1960s?

Had a larger customer base and better marketing than competitors Signup and view all the answers

Which task was NOT performed by the tabulators in data-processing systems?

Generating random data Signup and view all the answers

What significant economic context during the Gilded Age contributed to the market for calculators?

Rapid industrialization and economic expansion Signup and view all the answers

What was one consequence of the widespread use of mechanical calculators in bookkeeping during the late 19th century?

Deskillment of bookkeeping tasks Signup and view all the answers

Which problem did department store owners aim to solve by introducing cash registers?

Preventing embezzlement and maintaining accurate sales records Signup and view all the answers

What function did early punched cards serve in data processing during the late 19th century?

Facilitating subtotals by grouping categories Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the printing calculator used by Scheutzes is accurate?

It revolutionized the recording of astronomical calculations. Signup and view all the answers

What effect did calculators have on the workforce in terms of gender dynamics?

Led to the feminization of bookkeeping positions Signup and view all the answers

How did the market for calculators react during the late 19th century?

It experienced fierce competition leading to rapid sales increases. Signup and view all the answers

What innovative feature did cash registers provide to store owners in the late 1800s?

Creation of printed, itemized receipts Signup and view all the answers

What significant development did the Greeks achieve around 750 BC?

Creation of the first true alphabet Signup and view all the answers

What was one advantage of the codex over papyrus scrolls?

Allowed quicker access to specific passages Signup and view all the answers

Which technology was a significant tool for mass communication during the Reformation?

Gutenberg’s printing press Signup and view all the answers

How did newspapers influence the American Revolution?

By unifying the colonies and swaying public opinion Signup and view all the answers

Who coined the term 'hypertext'?

Ted Nelson Signup and view all the answers

What concept did Vannevar Bush envision that relates to hypertext?

Memex Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the primary functions of NLS developed by Douglas Engelbart?

To demonstrate collaborative technologies like email and videoconferencing Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the rise of newspapers according to governments?

Censorship and licensing Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of FORTRAN as a programming language?

To facilitate scientific applications Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following advantages characterizes integrated circuits over traditional discrete components?

Reduced cost Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant feature of the IBM System/360 that differentiated it from IBM's previous models?

Compatibility of programs across different machines Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes BASIC?

A simple programming language designed for teaching Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant reason for the National Science Foundation's decision to shut down NSFNET?

Expansion of regional commercial networks Signup and view all the answers

Which country reported the highest typical broadband speed according to the provided data?

South Korea Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of time-sharing systems?

They allow multiple users to simultaneously access one computer. Signup and view all the answers

Which technology is most commonly associated with public access wireless local area networks?

Wi-Fi Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinguishing characteristic of assembly language?

It represents machine instructions symbolically. Signup and view all the answers

What was a major impact of the invention of the transistor?

More reliability compared to vacuum tubes Signup and view all the answers

What does virtualization in cloud computing allow?

Emulation of multiple virtual computing devices on one physical computer Signup and view all the answers

What was a defining aspect of COBOL as a programming language?

Adoption by the U.S. Department of Defense Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of infrastructure as a service?

Amazon Web Services Signup and view all the answers

What was a key advantage of using massive data centers in cloud computing?

Economy of scale benefits Signup and view all the answers

Which year saw the proposal for public access wireless local area networks?

1993 Signup and view all the answers

What development contributed particularly to the growth of file-swapping technologies?

Widespread availability of broadband Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Book Title and Edition

Ethics for the Information Age, Eighth Edition

Chapter 1 Title

Catalysts for Change

Learning Objectives

Introduction
Milestones in computing
Milestones in networking
Milestones in information storage and retrieval
Information technology issues

Information Age

Unprecedented access to information in the modern era.
Catalysts include low-cost computers and high-speed communication networks.
New technologies continue to emerge, like smartphones, video streaming services, voice-activated digital assistants, low-cost drones, and self-driving cars.

Figure 1-1: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

Low-cost computers and high-speed communication networks contribute to information age products.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is an example, functioning as a phone, text messenger, email client, web browser, camera, video recorder, digital compass, and more.

Impact of Modern Computing and Communications Systems

In 1950, there were only a handful of electronic digital computers and no internet.
Today, numerous networked devices with embedded microprocessors surround us, and we interact with them for many hours daily.

Our Relationship with Technology (1 of 2)

The relationship between people and technology is dynamic.
People create and adopt technology, and once adopted, technology changes society.
Using technology can change people, as experiences can cause physical changes in brains, like in London taxi drivers.
Information seeking releases dopamine, and technology experiences can impact mental states, like dependencies.

Our Relationship with Technology (2 of 2)

Technologies solve problems but can also create new problems.
Examples include automobiles providing greater mobility but leading to traffic jams.
Similar issues arise with the web, which allows for valuable information retrieval but also exposes children to inappropriate content and facilitates cheap, global communication, but also outsources jobs.

Amish Selectively Adopt New Technologies

The Amish community selectively adopts new technologies.

Social conditions influence the creation and adoption of new information technologies.
The adoption of new information technologies can, in turn, change social conditions.

1.2 Milestones in Computing

This section details the history of computing aids.

Aids to Manual Calculating (1 of 2)

Tablets were used to record numbers, including clay and wax tablets (ancient times), slates (late Middle Ages), and paper tablets (19th century onward).

Aids to Manual Calculating (2 of 2)

Mathematical tables, like logarithm tables (17th century) and income tax tables (modern times), were used for calculations.

Early Mechanical Calculators (1 of 2)

Calculators of Pascal and Leibniz (17th century) processed whole numbers but had unreliability issues.
The Arithmometer of de Colmar (19th century) was more reliable, being influenced by machine tool technology and adopted by insurance companies.

Early Mechanical Calculators (2 of 2)

The printing calculator of Scheutz (19th century), using Babbage's method of differences, was adopted by the Dudley Observatory for astronomical calculations.

The Gilded Age (late 19th century America) saw rapid industrialization and economic expansion, with growing corporate power.
New, larger corporations, with multiple layers of management and locations needed up-to-date, reliable, and affordable information.

There was a fierce market for calculators, with continuous improvements in size, speed, and ease of use.
Rapidly increasing sales led to "deskilling" and feminization of bookkeeping.
People with average abilities became quite productive due to calculators, with increasing productivity despite wage drops and women replacing men in these roles.

Figure 1-4: Feminization of Bookkeeping

Mechanical calculators led to the de-skilling and feminization of bookkeeping.

Cash Register (1 of 2)

In the late 1800s, smaller stores evolved into department stores.
Department stores faced two challenges: accurately recording sales and preventing clerk embezzlement.
Cash registers addressed these issues by providing itemized receipts and transaction logs, with audible warning signals.

Cash Register (2 of 2)

An example of an NCR cash register, used in a shoe shine parlor in Dayton, Ohio (1904), is provided.

Punched Card Tabulation

Punched cards (late 19th century) enabled single-record storage and card sorting for subtotals by category.
Early adopters included the U.S. Bureau of the Census, railroads, retail organizations, and heavy industries.

Tabulators → Data-Processing Systems

Data-processing systems receive input data, perform calculations, and produce output.
Punched cards store input data and intermediate results, and outputs, plus, on more advanced systems, programs.

IBM and the Holocaust

Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933.
IBM's CEO, Watson, ignored anti-Semitic violence and the creation of concentration camps.
IBM expanded its German subsidiary and sought contracts with the German government.
Nazi Germany used IBM machines for censuses and generating lists of Jews, which facilitated asset seizures and deportations to concentration camps.

Precursors of Commercial Computers

Key figures include the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, ENIAC, EDVAC, and the Small-Scale Experimental Machine.

Programming the ENIAC

The ENIAC's first six programmers were women, manually programming it with wires.

First Commercial Computers

Remington-Rand completed the UNIVAC in 1951, delivering it to the U.S. Bureau of the Census and predicting the 1952 presidential election winner.
IBM had a broader customer base, superior sales, and large investments in research and development, dominating the mainframe market.

CBS News Coverage of 1952 Presidential Election Featured UNIVAC Computer

The UNIVAC computer made predictions in the 1952 election, which caused some concern.

Programming Languages

Assembly language uses symbolic representations of machine instructions.
FORTRAN is a first higher-level language for scientific applications.
COBOL (U.S. Department of Defense standard) is used for business applications.

Time-sharing systems divide computer time among multiple users connected via terminals.
Costs are shared, granting more people access to computing resources.
BASIC, a simple, easy-to-learn programming language, developed at Dartmouth College, is used for teaching purposes.

Transistor

A replacement for vacuum tubes, the transistor was invented at Bell Labs in 1948 and is semiconductor-based.
Transistors are faster, cheaper, more reliable, and more energy efficient.

Integrated Circuit

A semiconductor containing transistors, capacitors, and resistors, the integrated circuit was invented at Fairchild Semiconductor and Texas Instruments.
These circuits offer advantages including smaller size, speed, reliability, and reduced cost compared to their predecessors.

Fairchild Semiconductor Founders

The eight co-founders of Fairchild Semiconductor and the dates of their invention are noted.

IBM System/360 (1 of 2)

IBM dominated the mainframe market in the 1960s.
IBM computers of this era were incompatible, so switching meant reprogramming.

IBM System/360 (2 of 2)

This section provides an image of the IBM System/360.

Microprocessor

A computer inside a semiconductor chip, originally intended in 1970 at Intel, made personal computers more practical.

Antecedents to the Personal Computer (1 of 2)

The Whole Earth Catalog, similar to Google in paperback form, saw technology as a tool for individual and collective transformation.
The People's Computer Company educated people about computers and gathered around time-share computers, promoting free software exchange.

Antecedents to the Personal Computer (2 of 2)

The Homebrew Computer Club was a meeting place for hobbyists.
Steve Wozniak developed the system that became the Apple I.

Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs With Apple 1 Personal Computer

This image depicts Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak with the Apple I computer.

Personal Computer (1 of 2)

Gates and Allen developed a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800; the program was pirated at a Homebrew Computer Club meeting.
Personal computers gained appeal, with the Apple II and TRS 80 as prominent examples.

Personal Computer (2 of 2)

Businesses were attracted to personal computers, driven by advancements like the VisiCalc spreadsheet program and the IBM PC launch.

1.3 Milestones in Networking

This section provides information on the history of networking.

Early Networking: Semaphore Telegraph Tower

This image depicts a semaphore telegraph tower.

Electricity and Electromagnetism

Major figures in electricity and electromagnetism advancements are noted, including Volta, Oersted, Sturgeon, and Henry.

Telegraph (1 of 2)

The U.S. government funded the first telegraph line between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore in 1843–1844 (40 miles long).
Private telegraph networks expanded to 12,000 miles in 1850, with a transcontinental line in 1861, ending the Pony Express.
Further expansion to 200,000 miles by 1877.

Telegraph (2 of 2)

Telegraph technology was versatile, with applications for fire alarm boxes and police call boxes.

Impact of Telegraph

The image illustrates the effect of the telegraph line's completion on Pony Express operations.

Telephone

Alexander Graham Bell developed the harmonic telegraph, transitioning this concept to the first telephone.

Typewriter and Teletype

Typewriters enabled individual document production, widely used in offices by the 1890s.
Teletype connected typewriters to telegraph lines, for use in transmitting news stories and stock transaction records.

Radio

Pioneers like Hertz and Marconi are noted for developing electromagnetic waves and radio technology, respectively.
Business applications emerged, like wireless telegraph, transmitting voices, and entertainment, with Sarnoff suggesting radio's importance in the 1930s.

Television

Television gained popularity in the 1950s due to falling prices and increased station numbers.
It affected society by creating global audiences, driving news competition, and highlighting the impact of incorrect information, such as the 2000 presidential election.

Hundreds of Millions Watch Moon Landing in 1969

This image relates to the broadcast of the moon landing in 1969.

Remote Computing

Stibitz and Williams developed the Complex Number Calculator at Bell Labs (part of AT&T).
Teletypes were employed for input/output, allowing operators to remotely control the machine.
Long-distance demonstration was conducted between New Hampshire and New York City.

ARPANET

The Department of Defense (DoD) established ARPA in the late 1950s.
Licklider conceptualized the "Galactic Network," a decentralized design for increased survivability, and packet switching replaced circuit switching.

Circuit-Switched vs Packet-Switched Networks

Diagrams illustrating circuit-switching and packet-switching networks are provided.

Email

Ray Tomlinson, at BBN, created software for sending and receiving email.
Email remains a major communication technology, with billions of messages exchanged daily.

Internet

Kahn conceptualized open architecture networking.
Cerf and Kahn developed the TCP/IP protocol.
The internet is a network of interconnected networks communicating using TCP/IP.

NSFNET

The National Science Foundation created NSFNET.
It provided universities with access, encouraged regional networks, and banned commercial traffic on its backbone before private network establishment terminated it.

Broadband

Broadband provides high-speed internet connections, making large file transfers (e.g., videos) feasible, reflecting the concurrent rise of file-swapping.
Broadband speeds vary; those of South Korea, Norway, Sweden, and the United States are reported.

Wireless Networks

Cell phones appeared in 1973, weighed 2 1/2 pounds, and now weigh a few ounces and support texting and broadband internet access.
Public access wireless local area networks were proposed in 1993, with hotspots as wireless access points, and WiFi becoming the prevalent technology.

Cloud Computing (1 of 2)

Cloud computing utilizes remote computing resources over the internet.
Enablers include high-speed networks and high-performance, low-cost microprocessors; virtualization software allows many virtual devices to simulate one physical computer.

Cloud Computing (2 of 2)

Cloud computing features software as a service, offering remote computing resources for application delivery, as seen in Microsoft Office 365.
It also includes infrastructure as a service, with storage and computational resources available on a pay-as-you-go basis; examples include Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and IBM Cloud.

1.4 Milestones in Information Storage and Retrieval

This section details information storage and retrieval developments.

Greek Alphabet

The Greek alphabet used letters for consonants and vowels, marking a development from earlier systems, and was introduced about 750 BC.
This provided a simple and efficient way to transform spoken words into written form, transitioning oral culture to written culture.

Codex and Paper

Codex, rectangular pages sewn together on one side, replaced papyrus scrolls, making it quicker to access information by allowing quicker access to specific passages.
Paper, from China and introduced into Europe in the late Middle Ages, led to less costly codices.

Gutenberg's Printing Press

Gutenberg's printing press used movable metal type.
Early publishers focused on the church, but printing mass communication tools became influential during the Reformation.
Luther's publications multiplied due to the printing press, highlighting the Protestant movement's increased publication dominance versus Catholicism in the mid-16th century.

Newspapers

Newspapers promoted free expression and resulted in government response with licensing and censorship.
Newspapers played a role in unifying the American colonies and swaying public opinion towards independence.

Hypertext

Vannevar Bush envisioned Memex, while Ted Nelson coined the term "hypertext" and proposed Xanadu, and Douglas Engelbart directed the creation of NLS (oNLine System), showcasing early demonstrations of windows, email, mouse, and videoconferencing.

Douglas Engelbart Rehearses for "the Mother of All Demos”

A picture of Engelbart is provided.

Graphical User Interface (1 of 2)

Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) developed the Alto personal computer (early 1970s) with bit-mapped display, keyboard, and mouse.
Steve Jobs visited Xerox PARC, leading to the Macintosh (1984).
Both used a bit-mapped display, keyboard, and mouse.

Graphical User Interface (2 of 2)

Microsoft Windows' release and adoption as a dominant graphic user interface is covered.

Single-Computer Hypertext Systems

Peter Brown's Guide, released for Macintosh and IBM PC, along with Apple's HyperCard (1987), became important hypertext systems.

Networked Hypertext: World Wide Web

The WWW and its evolution from Berners-Lee's protocols and the development of Mosaic are discussed.
Well-known browser examples include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, UC, and Internet Explorer.

Search Engines (1 of 2)

Search Engines accept user keywords, search databases, and return matching documents.

Search Engines (2 of 2)

Google's search engine indexes billions of web pages, and its Book Search covers full texts of millions of books.
PageRank assesses web page quality based on links.

Cloud Storage

Cloud storage stores data remotely on Internet-accessible servers; examples include Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, iCloud, Amazon Drive, Mega, and pCloud.
It improves file sharing and accessing from multiple devices and provides massive data storage at a low price, along with automatic backups.

1.5 Information Technology Issues

This section focuses on information technology issues.

Information Technology

Information technology facilitates creation, storage, manipulation, exchange, and dissemination of data (text, sound, images).
Examples include tablets, smartphones, laptops, and people increasingly using these technologies despite decreasing costs and increasing functionality.

IT Issues (1 of 4)

Copyright infringement, especially due to digitization and internet distribution ease, creates issues.
Illegal downloading of media, as with a Game of Thrones episode, and software piracy are examples.

IT Issues (2 of 4)

Issues with cloud storage services' data safety and security, credit card convenience and risks, and ownership of transaction information are discussed.

IT Issues (3 of 4)

Loan applications involving credit history instead of personal interviews yield lower interest rates but less flexibility.
Embedded devices' computer systems create liability situations when they fail.

IT Issues (4 of 4)

Improved global communication networks enable businesses to sell globally, shift jobs, and explore the ethical considerations of IT.
Social media is explored for democratization versus use by totalitarian governments.

Summary (1 of 2)

Information technology has a long history with today's devices reflecting incremental progress.
Social conditions impact the creation and adoption of technologies that can change society.

Summary (2 of 2)

A summary cartoon is presented here.

Copyright Information

The work is protected by United States copyright laws and is intended solely for instructor use in courses and student assessment purposes; distribution or sale is prohibited, and its usage should honor these intended purposes.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge on the history and impact of information technology in contemporary society. This quiz covers significant developments, key figures, and the ethical responsibilities of computing professionals. Prepare to explore the intricate relationship between technology and employment, as well as the influence of social media.