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What is a primary function of a supercomputer?
Which statement best describes the relationship between hardware and software?
What is the characteristic of multiprocessor and multi-core personal computers?
What term is used for software that is stored in hardware that cannot be modified easily?
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Why are supercomputers often designed with unique architectures?
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What does a circuit represent when it is in the 'on' state?
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Which component manages the computer's various parts and interprets program instructions?
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What is the role of the program counter in a CPU?
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Which of these is not an example of an output device?
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What type of logical arrangement do circuits form to control each other?
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Which of the following is an example of an input device?
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What is the first step in the control unit's function?
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What is the primary purpose of input devices in a computer system?
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What primary function did the differential analyser serve?
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Who is considered the 'father of the computer'?
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Which invention did Charles Babbage announce in 1822?
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What significant advancement made the differential analyser functional?
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What type of output did a differential analyser generate?
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In what year did Leonardo Torres Quevedo publish his work on advanced analog machines?
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How was input provided to Babbage's analytical engine?
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Which device was used to assist in navigational calculations according to Babbage's designs?
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What historical event was linked to a flaw in microprocessor design?
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In the mid 17th century, the term 'computer' referred to what?
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When were calculi in use for primitive accounting systems in Iraq?
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Which counting system was in use in Iraq between 2350–2000 BCE?
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What was the purpose of the Antikythera Mechanism?
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In what publication was the term 'computer' defined in the context provided?
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Which approach to accounting was acknowledged as being in use by 3000–2350 BCE?
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What kind of representation systems were used for commodity-specific counting in ancient Iraq?
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Which mathematician's work was foundational to the concept of computable numbers?
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In which publication did Turing discuss computable numbers?
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What is referred to by Enticknap in connection with computing?
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What was the Ferranti Mark I known for?
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Which of these figures did not contribute to early computing concepts?
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Who emphasized that Turing's conception of computation was pivotal?
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Which university played a significant role in the development of early computers?
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What was the focus of the work referenced from 'Computing's Golden Jubilee'?
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Study Notes
Mechanical Analogue Computers
- The differential analyser was a mechanical analog computer used for solving differential equations.
- It used wheel-and-disc mechanisms to perform integration.
- Sir William Thomson discussed the possibility of such devices but was limited by insufficient torque in ball-and-disk integrators.
- Torque amplifiers allowed these machines to function.
- Vannevar Bush and others developed mechanical differential analysers in the 1920s.
- Spanish engineer Leonardo Torres Quevedo developed analog machines to solve polynomial equations in the 1890s, published in 1901 by the Paris Academy of Sciences.
Charles Babbage
- Considered the "father of the computer", Charles Babbage is credited with originating the concept of the programmable computer.
- In the early 19th century, he conceptualised and designed the first mechanical computer.
- Babbage's Difference Engine was designed to calculate mathematical tables and aid in navigational calculations.
- In 1833 he proposed the Analytical Engine, a more general design that allowed for programmable sequences of calculations.
- The Analytical Engine was to use punched cards, similar to those used in Jacquard Looms to control designs, as input.
- Output was designed to be produced through printers, curve plotters, and a bell.
- The Analytical Engine was also intended to be able to punch numbers onto cards for later use.
Computer Architecture
- A computer consists of interconnected parts, often connected through buses made up of groups of wires.
- These parts contain thousands to trillions of electrical circuits.
- Each circuit represents a bit of information (a binary digit), representing a "1" when on, and a "0" when off.
- Circuits are arranged in logic gates allowing control of other circuits.
Input Devices
- Input devices send unprocessed data to the computer, where it is processed and sent to output devices.
- They can be either hand-operated or automated.
- Input device examples:
- Computer keyboard
- Digital camera
- Graphics tablet
- Image scanner
- Joystick
- Microphone
- Mouse
- Overlay keyboard
- Real-time clock
- Trackball
- Touchscreen
- Light pen
Output Devices
- Output devices are the means by which a computer provides results.
- Output device examples:
- Computer monitor
- Printer
- PC speaker
- Projector
- Sound card
- Video card
Control Unit
- The control unit (also called a control system or central controller) manages the components of a computer.
- It decodes program instructions, translating them into control signals that activate other parts of the computer.
- Control units in advanced computers can rearrange the order of instructions to improve performance.
- The program counter, a register in the CPU, keeps track of the location of the next instruction to be read from memory.
- The control unit performs the following functions:
- Reads code from the memory location indicated by the program counter.
- Decodes the instruction.
- Increments the program counter to the next instruction.
Multiprocessing
- Some computers distribute work across multiple CPUs in a multiprocessing configuration.
- Multiprocessing was once common only in powerful computers such as supercomputers, mainframes, and servers.
- Now, multiprocessor and multi-core (multiple CPUs on a single integrated circuit) computers are common in personal computers and even lower-end markets.
Supercomputers
- Often have unique architectures that differ from general-purpose computers.
- Feature thousands of CPUs and specialized hardware.
- Designed for specialized tasks, like large-scale simulations, graphics rendering, and cryptography.
Software
- Software refers to the non-physical parts of a computer, such as programs, data, protocols, etc.
- It consists of encoded information or computer instructions, in contrast to the hardware.
- Includes computer programs, libraries, and data (e.g., documentation, digital media).
- Typically divided into system software and application software.
- Hardware and software are interdependent.
- When software is stored in unmodifiable hardware (e.g. BIOS ROM), it is sometimes called "firmware".
The word "computer"
- The word "computer" originated in the mid 17th century, referring to a person who performs calculations.
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Description
Explore the fascinating history of mechanical analogue computers, including the differential analyser and the innovative designs of Charles Babbage. This quiz delves into significant contributions from figures such as Vannevar Bush and Leonardo Torres Quevedo, highlighting their impact on computing technology in the 19th and 20th centuries.
