3.1 The History of the Computer Flashcards
Can you describe each generation of computing in 2-3 words or less?
First Gen - Vacuum Tubes (1946-1959)
Large Limited Unreliable
Second Gen - Transistors (1959-1965)
FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation)
COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language)
Third Gen - Integrated Circuits (1965-1971)
Silicon Chips
Fourth Gen - Microprocessors (1971-Present)
Single Silicon Chip
Fifth Gen - Artificial Intelligence
ULSI (Ultra-large-scale integration)
Parallel Processing (multiple programs running concurrently)
Which technology was created in each generation?
First Gen - Vacuum Tubes (1946-1959)
Second Gen - Transistors (1959-1965)
FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation)
COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language)
Third Gen - Integrated Circuits (1965-1971)
Silicon Chips
Fourth Gen - Microprocessors (1971-Present)
Single Silicon Chip
Fifth Gen - Artificial Intelligence
ULSI (Ultra-large-scale integration)
Parallel Processing (multiple programs running concurrently)
What were the major uses of such technology during the specific generation?
First Gen - Vacuum Tubes (1946-1959)
Second Gen - Transistors (1959-1965)
Third Gen - Integrated Circuits (1965-1971)
Fourth Gen - Microprocessors (1971-Present)
Fifth Gen - Artificial Intelligence
In which generation were silicon chips first used in computers?
Third generation
Which low-level language corresponds one-to-one with assembly?
Programming language
Two individuals that popularized home computers
Steve Jobs
Stephen Wozniak
Who introduced the first desktop computer called Personal Computer (PC)
IBM
What was the significant technology developed in the first generation and who were the major players during that time?
Vacuum tubes
Military
Vacuum Tubes
Stored information and occupied what is the size of a warehouse
How did the military use Vacuum Tubes?
Used computer for military application, such as predicting the trajectory of incoming missles
What was the significant technology develpeed in the second generation?
Transiistors
What is a Transistor and what are its benefits?
An upgrade to a vacuum tube, smaller yet still large. Consume less energy more effiecient computing.
What emerged during the second generation to assist with business applications that is still used today?
Programming language
What technology made its mark during the third generation?
Integrated Circuits (ICs)
What industry benefited from Integrated Circuits (ICs)?
A smaller more powerful transister; computation device
