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Questions and Answers
Who adapted the use of punched cards for controlling looms in 1804?
Who adapted the use of punched cards for controlling looms in 1804?
What did Charles Babbage design in the early 19th Century?
What did Charles Babbage design in the early 19th Century?
Who is recognized as the first computer programmer?
Who is recognized as the first computer programmer?
What was the purpose of the Colossus computer developed by Tommy Flowers?
What was the purpose of the Colossus computer developed by Tommy Flowers?
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Which of the following was NOT one of Babbage's inventions?
Which of the following was NOT one of Babbage's inventions?
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What was the main contribution of Alan Turing in computing?
What was the main contribution of Alan Turing in computing?
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What was the focus of John Vincent Atanasoff's invention?
What was the focus of John Vincent Atanasoff's invention?
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What was one of the functions of Bletchley Park during World War 2?
What was one of the functions of Bletchley Park during World War 2?
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What was the primary purpose of the ASCC computer built by Howard Aiken?
What was the primary purpose of the ASCC computer built by Howard Aiken?
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What term did Dr. Grace Murray Hopper invent related to computer errors?
What term did Dr. Grace Murray Hopper invent related to computer errors?
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Which programming language did Dr. Grace Murray Hopper invent?
Which programming language did Dr. Grace Murray Hopper invent?
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What significant invention did Jack Kilby create in 1959?
What significant invention did Jack Kilby create in 1959?
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What was a major disadvantage of early computers that used valves?
What was a major disadvantage of early computers that used valves?
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What prediction did Howard Aiken make about the future of electronic digital computers?
What prediction did Howard Aiken make about the future of electronic digital computers?
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What was the original meaning of the term 'computer'?
What was the original meaning of the term 'computer'?
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At what age did Bill Gates become interested in programming?
At what age did Bill Gates become interested in programming?
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What was a key feature of the microelectronics revolution?
What was a key feature of the microelectronics revolution?
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Who developed the first programmable, electronic, digital computer?
Who developed the first programmable, electronic, digital computer?
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What was a key feature of the Colossus computer?
What was a key feature of the Colossus computer?
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What invention is John Napier known for?
What invention is John Napier known for?
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Which machine could perform multiplication and division in addition to addition and subtraction?
Which machine could perform multiplication and division in addition to addition and subtraction?
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What did the abacus help people do?
What did the abacus help people do?
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What was the primary purpose of Blaise Pascal's calculator?
What was the primary purpose of Blaise Pascal's calculator?
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Which of the following was a contribution of Joseph-Marie Jacquard?
Which of the following was a contribution of Joseph-Marie Jacquard?
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What was the main reason Bill Gates dropped out of university?
What was the main reason Bill Gates dropped out of university?
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What was the name of the programming language developed by Bill Gates?
What was the name of the programming language developed by Bill Gates?
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What significant contribution did Steve Jobs make to the personal computer market?
What significant contribution did Steve Jobs make to the personal computer market?
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What was the initial price of the 'Apple I' computer?
What was the initial price of the 'Apple I' computer?
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In what year was the iPod released?
In what year was the iPod released?
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Which company sued Microsoft in 1994?
Which company sued Microsoft in 1994?
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What was the outcome of the court case between Apple and Microsoft?
What was the outcome of the court case between Apple and Microsoft?
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As of 2011, which company was valued higher?
As of 2011, which company was valued higher?
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Who developed the Apple brand in the 1970s?
Who developed the Apple brand in the 1970s?
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Which computer was designed by Charles Babbage?
Which computer was designed by Charles Babbage?
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What significant concept did Alan Turing prove in the 1940s?
What significant concept did Alan Turing prove in the 1940s?
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What notable invention is Dr. Grace Murray Hopper known for?
What notable invention is Dr. Grace Murray Hopper known for?
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Which nationality was known for inventing the first calculator in 1645?
Which nationality was known for inventing the first calculator in 1645?
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What is often mistakenly considered the first electronic computer?
What is often mistakenly considered the first electronic computer?
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When was the Mechanical Turk introduced?
When was the Mechanical Turk introduced?
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What was one of the purposes of developing the first calculators?
What was one of the purposes of developing the first calculators?
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Study Notes
The Evolution of Computing
- The word "computer" initially referred to people who performed calculations manually.
- Early computers were primarily used for mathematical tables, bomb trajectories, and rocketry calculations.
- Colossus, the world's first programmable, electronic, digital computer, was developed by British codebreaker Tommy Flowers during World War II to decipher the Lorenz cipher.
- Colossus used vacuum tubes for logic and counting operations and was programmed using switches and plugs.
- John Napier invented logarithms, a method using lookup tables to simplify complex calculations.
- Blaise Pascal invented the first calculator in 1645, a mechanical device capable of addition and subtraction.
- Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibnitz invented the Stepped Reckoner in 1674, an improved calculator that could perform multiplication and division.
- Joseph-Marie Jacquard adapted punched cards from musical boxes to control looms in 1804, laying the groundwork for data input and output in computers.
- Charles Babbage designed the Difference Engine and Analytical Engine in the early 19th century, which served as blueprints for modern computers.
- Lady Ada Lovelace, a mathematician and daughter of Lord Byron, documented Babbage's work and wrote programs for his machines, becoming the first computer programmer.
- During World War II, codebreakers at Bletchley Park used computational models to decipher enemy messages.
- Tommy Flowers invented Colossus, the first electronic, digital, programmable computer, which was used at Bletchley Park.
- Alan Turing published a paper proving that a binary machine could solve any problem based on programmed instructions.
- John Vincent Atanasoff invented the ABC computer, which used binary digits (1s and 0s) for data processing.
- Howard Aiken, supported by IBM, built the ASCC computer in 1944, a mechanical relay-based machine that weighed 35 tons.
- Dr. Grace Murray Hopper worked with Aiken and contributed to the development of the COBOL programming language, the first to use English-like syntax.
- Hopper coined the term "debugging" after a moth flew into a computer and caused an error.
- Jack Kilby invented the first integrated circuit in 1959, leading to smaller and more reliable computers.
- The microelectronics revolution resulted in mass-produced integrated circuits, replacing complex hand-wired circuits.
- Bill Gates founded Microsoft and developed software for the emerging personal computer market.
- Steve Jobs co-founded Apple and introduced the Graphical User Interface (GUI), revolutionizing computer usability.
- The iPod launched in 2001, transforming the music player market with its digital portability.
- Microsoft and Apple engaged in legal battles over GUI technology and market dominance.
Bletchley Park
- Colossus, a secret computer developed at Bletchley Park, was crucial for breaking the Lorenz cipher during World War II.
Artificial Intelligence
- The Mechanical Turk, a chess-playing machine from 1770, is considered one of the earliest examples of artificial intelligence.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the foundational milestones in the history of computing. Explore the significant inventions and figures that shaped the development of computers from manual calculations to electronic devices. This quiz covers key innovations like the Colossus and early calculators.
