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Intro to Comp Architecture 1 > Evolution of Computing > Flashcards

Evolution of Computing Flashcards

1
Q

When did modern computing begin?

A

1801

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2
Q

Who were the pioneers of computing?

A

Joseph Marie Jacquard, Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace.

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3
Q

What were the forces driving the development of the computing?

A

Mathematical tables for naval navigation

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3
Q

Is there a generic computer architecture?

A

No.

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4
Q

What was the first programmed machine? Who invented it?

A

Automated weaving machine. Joseph Marie Jacquard.

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4
Q

What was used to program the machine?

A

A punched card.

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4
Q

Role of Charles Babbage.

A

First to conceptualize and design a fully programmable mechanical computer. Invented analytical engine and difference engine.

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5
Q

Why was the analytical engine unfeasible?

A

Built in brass powered by steam. Too heavy, large and expensive.

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6
Q

When did the first programmer appear? Who was it? What did she write code for?

A
  1. Ada Lovelace. The analytical engine.
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7
Q

What is Ada Lovelace’s Algorithm Structure? Draw Diagram.

A

Each line is an Instruction.
One instruction is executed at a time.
Instructions are basic mathematical operations: Add, subtract
For each instruction: Input variables, Working variable(intermediate), Output variable

See slides for diagram.

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8
Q

What did George Boole do? When?

A

Founded the concept of Boolean Algebra - the mathematics used in the design of computers. 1854

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9
Q

Explain the true false nature of binary.

A

1 = True
0 = False

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10
Q

What technology limitations impacted the range of applications and users in the 19th century?

A

Transistors hadn’t been invented yet so machines were too expensive, too large and requiring two much maintenance to be owned by ordinary people.

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11
Q

What foundations of computer science and computer architecture were established in the 19th century?

A

Information represented in certain format. Faster than humans, more accurate. Mechanical systems.

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12
Q

What three basic components do all the computing systems have in the 19th century?

A

Program on a card. Variables that are used in the program. Input computing and output.

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13
Q

What technological advances or principles which were introduced in the period 1939-1945 in computers design are still evident in computers today ?

A

Electrical systems to increase speed of execution.
Instructions and data binary based.
Programming on electrical/magnetic storage.

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14
Q

What were the applications and users of computers in this period ?

A

Used for large amounts of basic calculations often applied to wartime problems and driven by wartime spending.

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15
Q

Where and when was the transistor invented?

A

The transistor was invented at Bell (AT &T) Laboratories in 1947 by scientists Bardeen, Brattain and Shockley.

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16
Q

What are logic gates?

A

Logic gates are the most basic building “Blocks” in all digital computers, they implement the Boolean Logic functions, and, or, not.

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17
Q

Who produced the first commercially successful transistor?

A

Texas Instruments in 1954.

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18
Q

Who invented the first Integrated Circuit?

A

Produced in 1958 by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments.

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19
Q

Who produced the first commercial microprocessor? What was it called?

A

Intel in 1971. 4004.

20
Q

What were the issues with the main frame?

A

Large room & Air-conditioning needed.

Professional management team needed.

Large power requirement in kW.

Basic input/Output: Cards, Teletype, Paper.

Vendor sells Hardware & Software: Limited choice, uncompetitive.

21
Q

What was the User Interface between humans and computers in the 1960-70s machines?

A

Text only screens with typewriters putting letters onto the command line.

22
Q

What were the applications for these machines?

A

Office computers for large corporations. Could compute much faster and more accurately than humans. E.g. Airlines

23
Q

What limited their application to solving problems?

A

Large physical size.
Expensive.
Need for constant maintenance.
Limited software market.

24
Q

Compare and contrast the differences between main-frames and today’s computing environment.

A

Today’s computing environment is much smaller than mainframes, computes faster, is easier to use and requires much less upkeep.

25
Q

What are the advantages of the PC?

A

Ordinary office space is adequate.

No management team.

A lot cheaper than mainframes and mini computers.

3rd party software vendor: Greater choice, more competitive pricing.

I/O: K/board, Mouse, Printers, Floppy disks.

Processing Speed & Performance follows advances in IC technology (see Moore’s Law).

26
Q

What was the disadvantages of PC’s orignally?

A

They were slower and had less memory than mainframes.

27
Q

How did the PC’s improve the human GUI?

A

QWERTY keyboard, CPU, display card, memory and ports. Monochrome monitor.

28
Q

How and why did the range of applications expand? What factors were involved?

A

Computers much cheaper and smaller. Could be used in offices while also draining much less power than mainframes.

29
Q

How did software development change with the PC? How did this affect sales?

A

More companies like Microsoft offering software for all computer architectures. More competitive market with much more solutions to problems, increased PC sales.

30
Q

What is memory? Differentiate between RAM and Disk?

A

Memory is the area in a computer system where data and programs are stored.

RAM-Primary Memory (Fast)
Disk-Storage Memory (More capacity but slower)

31
Q

Name the top 4 microprocessor design companies in the world?

A

AMD
Broadcom
ARM
Intel

32
Q

What computer/internet companies today owe their existence to the abundance of cheap, fast processors and huge, inexpensive memory resources ?

A

Netflix, Google, Zoom

33
Q

How does the availability of enormous, cheap memory change the user interface and the type of information that computers can use ?

A

Computers can use videos and photos which require massive amounts of energy to store.

34
Q

ARM is a chip company but it doesn’t make chips. What does it sell ?

A

The design of chips?

35
Q

How did ARM start?

A

Advanced RISC Machines Ltd as a joint venture between Acorn Computers, Apple, and VLSI Technology

36
Q

Recently it was bought. For how much and by who ?

A

Sold to American graphics chip specialist Nvidia for $40 billion.

37
Q

What computer applications require low power?

A

Handheld devices such as mobile phones and smart watches that are charged and not constantly connected to a power source.

38
Q

What is the internet of things?

A

The worldwide population of computing devices connected on the internet.

39
Q

What are the social and economic advantages and disadvantages of wearable devices and IoT ?

A

IoT improves day to day life allowing improvement in all aspects such as fitness and well-being. Disadvantage is an increased lack of privacy being monitored at all times by internet connected devices.

40
Q

What are the social and environmental impacts and concerns with storing vast quantities of data?

A

Data centres cause massive amounts of greenhouse gas emmissions leading to climate change.
Data centres create jobs and are more efficient than storing the information on individual computers.

41
Q

What modern day company used computers during the 1890 census? How did these machines receive inputs? What was a disadvantage of this system?

A

IBM. Punched Cards. Could only record very basic information.

42
Q

What was the drive behind the development of the ENIAC computer in 1943? How expensive was it and how long did it take to build?

A

The Manhattan Project. Half a million dollars and 18 months to build.

43
Q

What happened at Bletchley Park in 1941?

A

Turing invented the Bombe Machine to crack the German Enigma Code which represented a massive leap forward in computing as it could solve calculations efficiently aswell as in large quantities.

44
Q

What is a server?

A

A high performance computer consisting of between 4 and 128 processors with memory.

45
Q

What is a data centre?

A

Data centres make up the cloud and consists of 100-100’s K of servers in air-conditioned warehouse size buildings.

46
Q

How are data centres connected? and connected to users?

A

Data centres are connected by fiber optics cables which run underwater and underground connecting data centres all over the world. Individual users on E.g. laptops can than access the cloud using the Internet.

47
Q

What is the biggest disadvantage of data centres?

A

Data centres consume a massive amount of energy. Require constant maintenance and must be kept in air-conditioned rooms. The machines themselves consume 10 mW/s.

48
Q

Why are data centres located in cooler climates?

A

More economical as their is a natural cooling effect.

49
Q

What were the three major areas of technological development that have made data centres technologically and economically viable?

A

-physical size of processors
-fast, cheap and reliable memory
-Increased connectivity from communications network (Internet).

50
Q

How has the Cloud changed the business model for companies wanting computing resources? (4)

A

-software for free
-outsource large computing to large data centres.
-rent the massive computing power and memory of the cloud for a fraction of the cost
-no maintenance and storage costs.

51
Q
A

Intro to Comp Architecture 1 (3 decks)

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