5 Questions
Who is credited with doing early foundational work on analog computation in the 19th century?
James Thomson
What is the origin of the term 'computer'?
Referring to someone who manually carried out calculations
Who worked with James Thomson to create a device that integrates a product of two functions?
Lord Kelvin
What type of machine did Lord Kelvin detail for integrating linear differential equations of any sequence?
General-purpose analog machine
What type of machine did James Thomson build and was used at the Port of Liverpool until the 1960s?
Tide-predicting analog computer
Study Notes
Early Founders of Analog Computation
- Lord Kelvin and James Thomson are credited with doing early foundational work on analog computation in the 19th century.
Origin of the Term 'Computer'
- The term 'computer' originated from human computers, who performed calculations.
Thomson's Work
- James Thomson worked with his brother, Lord Kelvin, to create a device that integrates a product of two functions.
Machine Development
- Lord Kelvin detailed a machine for integrating linear differential equations of any sequence.
- James Thomson built a machine that was used at the Port of Liverpool until the 1960s.
Test your knowledge on the evolution of computers in this quiz! From analog computers to modern-day devices, uncover the fascinating history behind these programmable devices that have transformed the world.
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