Questions and Answers
What is considered the earliest computing device designed for numeric computation?
The term 'algorithm' is derived from the name of which mathematician?
Which of the following algorithms is one of the earliest documented methods in history?
What innovation did the Jacquard loom introduce for defining patterns?
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What was the primary function of the slide rule in the 1600s?
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Which of the following statements best describes a punch card?
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In what context were early mechanical calculators used?
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What replaced the slide rule in the 1900s?
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What served as the basis for the Internet in the early 1980s?
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How are today's communication speeds typically measured?
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What is the significance of Moore's Law in relation to technology advancements?
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What was the typical performance measurement for operations per second around today?
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Which of the following describes modern memory storage capabilities?
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What was the primary advantage of the integrated circuit compared to individual transistors?
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What year was the IBM System/360 introduced?
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Which device was the first to be built using transistors?
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Who was a pioneer in software engineering for the Apollo space program?
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What was a significant drawback of the mainframes produced by IBM and Univac compared to mini computers developed by DEC?
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Which of the following statements is true regarding the Apollo space program's computing capabilities?
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Which series of mini computers offered mainframe performance at a significantly lower cost?
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What are punch cards primarily associated with?
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In what way did the advent of the transistor impact electronics?
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What was the presumed impact of mini computers developed by Digital Equipment Corporation on the computing industry?
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Which of the following was first developed in the late 1970s?
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What was the primary function of the IBM Summit supercomputer?
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Which microprocessor is recognized as the first commercially available microprocessor?
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What was one of the first uses of the Intel 4004 microprocessor?
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Which of the following describes the Altair 8800?
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Who approached Ed Roberts to deliver a compiler for BASIC language in 1975?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of personal computers developed after 1970?
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What was a significant challenge faced by developers of supercomputers in the late 1970s?
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What concept did Claude Shannon introduce that was crucial for digital computing machines?
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Which of the following best characterizes the ENIAC computer?
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What fundamental architecture is characterized by a stored program and the fetch-decode-execute instruction cycle?
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Which task was the first general-purpose electronic computer ENIAC primarily commissioned for?
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What was one significant limitation of early computers using vacuum tubes?
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Grace Murray Hopper is credited with creating the first what?
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Who is considered the father of the modern information age?
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What major contribution did Alan Turing make during World War II?
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What does the term 'fetch-decode-execute' refer to in computing?
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Which of the following properties was not associated with early computers like the ENIAC?
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Study Notes
Origins of Computing
- The abacus, a manual computing device, was developed in Babylonia over 5000 years ago and is still used in some regions today.
- An algorithm is defined as a finite set of unambiguous instructions for problem-solving, originating from the 9th-century mathematician Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī.
- Early algorithms include the Euclidean algorithm (300 BC) for finding greatest common divisors and the sieve of Eratosthenes (60-120 AD) for identifying prime numbers.
Early Calculating Machines
- Mechanical calculating devices emerged in the 1600s, with the slide rule being widely used until the 1900s.
- The Jacquard Loom (1801) utilized punch cards for defining patterns, laying groundwork for later computer programming methods.
Advanced Concepts in Computing
- George Boole developed Boolean algebra, providing a significant foundation for digital computing circuitry.
Birth of the Electronic Computer (1930-1951)
- Claude Shannon introduced Boolean logic applications in digital machines and established information encoding principles in 1948.
- The Von Neumann Architecture features a stored-program concept, binary coding, and a fetch-decode-execute cycle essential for modern computers.
- Alan Turing's work during WWII involved breaking the Enigma machine code and proposing the Turing Machine for defining computability.
The ENIAC Era
- ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) became the first general-purpose electronic digital computer, commissioned by the U.S. Army for ballistic calculations and operational in 1946.
- It used vacuum tubes, had a complex manual programming process, and did not adhere to the Von Neumann architecture.
Advancements and Challenges
- Early programming methods were slow and labor-intensive, often involving manual board configurations and switch adjustments.
- Computers improved in size and efficiency across four generations of vacuum tube circuits in the 1950s.
Transformations in Computing (1951-1970)
- The transistor, seen as a crucial 20th-century innovation, replaced vacuum tubes, significantly reducing space and cost for electronic devices.
- The IBM System/360, introduced in 1964, established mainframe computing standards with a compatible architecture across a range of models.
- The Apollo program relied on computers for trajectory calculations, with critical contributions from Margaret Hamilton in software engineering.
Rise of Minicomputers
- Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) pioneered the minicomputer era, making computing accessible to smaller businesses and competing with larger mainframes.
- The PDP series by DEC provided significant performance at lower costs compared to traditional mainframes.
Supercomputers and Their Impact
- Specialized supercomputers were developed in the late 1970s for scientific applications like weather forecasting and code breaking.
- Today's supercomputers, such as IBM Summit, are used for complex fields like climate modeling and molecular dynamics.
Personal Computer Revolution (Post-1970)
- Intel released the 4004 microprocessor in 1972, enabling the personal computer boom and found in programmable calculators.
- The Altair 8800, released in 1975, became the first kit microcomputer.
Software and Communication Advances
- The foundation of Microsoft was laid in 1975 when Bill Gates and Paul Allen partnered with MITS to develop a BASIC compiler.
- Early 1980s communication protocols for ARPANET set the stage for the modern Internet.
Moore's Law and Technological Advancements
- Advancements in price-to-performance ratios for computing capabilities are continuously improving, with modern devices performing billions of operations at low costs.
- Memory storage has expanded significantly, from megabytes to terabytes, and communication speeds have also increased dramatically.
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Description
Explore the fascinating history of computing, from the abacus in ancient Babylonia to the development of early mechanical machines and algorithms. Learn about the contributions of key figures like al-Khwārizmī and George Boole, and see how these innovations set the foundation for modern computing. This quiz covers significant milestones in the evolution of technology.
