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EECS 1520 > History of Computing > Flashcards

History of Computing Flashcards

1
Q

What is the abacus? When was it developed? What is its purpose?

A

Frame with rows and beads which are slid

Developed in Babylonia, 5000 years ago

Used for calculations (finger powered calculator)

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2
Q

What is an algorithm?

A

A finite set of unambiguous instructions to solve a problem

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3
Q

Where was the term algorithm raised from?

A

9th century mathematician called Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi (his name is latinized algorithmi)

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4
Q

What are some examples of algorithms?

A

Euclidean algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers

The sieve of Eratosthenes for finding prime numbers

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5
Q

What were the early calculating machines like? Examples?

A

Manual or mechanic

Slide rule used in science in engineering until replaced by pocket calculators

Mechanical calculators

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6
Q

What is the Jacquard loom?

A

Used for weaving patterns and making textiles

Used punch cards to define complex patterns worn into textiles

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7
Q

What are punch cards? Uses?

A

A stiff piece of paper with holes, the presence or absence of holes in pre defined positions to dictate the design of the cloth also eventually used to code computer programs

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8
Q

What did George Boole create? What is it? What did it do?

A

Boolean algebra

Math where all the terms are either true or false

Laid logical foundations of digital computer circuitry

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9
Q

what time was labeled ancient history?

A

Before 1930

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10
Q

What time was labeled the birth of the electronic computer?

A

1930-1951

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11
Q

What did Claude Shannon do?

A

In 1937 he introduced the application of Boolean logic in creating digital computing machines

In 1948 he published “a mathematical theory of communication” which established the principles for encoding information so it might be reliably transmitted electronically

Considered father of modern information age

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12
Q

Who proposed the idea of Von Neumann architecture? What is it? What is it the basis for?

A

John Von Neumann

Stored program so that one computer could do many programs because they are stored as binary data in memory

Uses a fetch decode execute instruction cycle

Modern computers

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13
Q

What did Alan Turing do?

A

Led WWII research group that broke the code for the enigma machine

Proposed abstract universal machine model for defining computability called the Turing Machine

Devised the Turing test for AI

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14
Q

What is the use for Turing machine and Turing test?

A

Any algorithm that can be run on a normal computer can be run on a Turing machine, if it can’t be done on a Turing machine it can’t be done on a computer

A way to test an AI ability to successfully mimic a human being (involves two people and a AI, one person listens to their answers and tries to guess which one is the AI)

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15
Q

What is the Enigma machine?

A

Most sophisticated code system of its day, made by Germany in WWII, breaking the code was a propriety for the Allie’s and the Germans thought it was unbreakable

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16
Q

What computers contributed to decrypting German coded messages?

A

Bombe and Colossus

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17
Q

What was the first electronic general purpose computer? Why was it made? I hat was it known for?

A

ENIAC

US army for computing ballistic firing tables

Massive scale and redundant design, used vacuum tubes to control electrical signals, decimal internal coding

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18
Q

What does ENIAC stand for? Did it use Von Neumann Architecture?

A

Electronic numerical integrator and computer

No had to be required to change tasks

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19
Q

What do vacuum tubes do? What does decimal internal coding mean?

A

Transfer electricity

Used decimals and not binary numbers

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20
Q

What does a function table do?

A

Stores variables and constants

21
Q

What time was labeled the age of the mainframes?

A

1951-1970

22
Q

What were mainframes used for?

A

Large computers used for buildings and research

23
Q

What did Grace Murray Hopper create? Why? What does it do?

A

Compiler

Tired of writing machine code by hand

Program that converts code in one language to another and improved programming speed and efficiency

24
Q

What is the transistor? What is an integrated circuit?

A

Replacement for vacuum tubes

Allowed many transistors to be placed on a small circuit

25
Q

What was made possible using transistors? (First device built with transistors)

A

Hearing aids

26
Q

What is the IBM system/360?

A

Introduced in 1954, it was not the first series of mainframes but it was really popular, family of computers with compatible architecture covering a wide price range and established the standard for mainframes

27
Q

How were trajectories calculated when trying to land on the moon?

A

using IBM mainframes

28
Q

How was control guidance controlled?

A

the onboard guidance computer had less processing power than modern appliances, but had autopilot capabilities

29
Q

What did Margaret Hamilton do?

A

led the team that coded programming for the guidance computer on Apollo space program, coined the term software engineering and considered a pioneer in software engineering

30
Q

What did Gordon Bell and DEC do? What does DEC stand for?

A

developed the first “mini”-computers (1960-1983)

brought computing to small buisinesses

created major competition for IBM and Univac which only created mainframes

31
Q

What did the DEC PDP series do? How much was PDP-8 introduced?

A

offered the performance of mainframes for much cheaper

introduced at 20000, normal mainframes were 1million

32
Q

What are supercomputers? What companies created these?

A

developed in late 1970s, high performance systems used for scientific purposes (weather forecasting, codebreaking etc), advanced special purpose design

IBM, NRCPC, NUDT Dell EMC, Cray,
NEC, and others

33
Q

What is the main difference between mainframes and supercomputers?

A

supercomputers are more specialized and can do one task extremaly quickly

mainframes are for more general purposes

34
Q

What is an example of a modern day supercomputer? What are the uses?

A

IBM Summit supercomputer

hydrodynamics, quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics, climate modelling and financial modelling

35
Q

When was the age of personal computers?

A

1970s onward

36
Q

What is the Intel 4004 microprocessor? What did it do?

A

first commercially available microprocessor, contained 2300
transistors and ran at100 kHz

first used in programmable calculator, made the personal computer possible

(created in 1972)

37
Q

What are desktops/personal computer?

A

use microprocessors, aimed at a mass audience, work station, performance/price tradeoffs (1975 and later)

38
Q

WHat is Altair 8080?

A

first kit microcomputer

created in 1975 by MITS

39
Q

How did microsoft begin?

A

in 1975 Bill Gates and Paul Allen approached Ed Roberts of MITS and promised to deliver a compiler for
BASIC language

40
Q

What was the radio shack TRS-80?

A

built in 1978, first plug and play
personal computer available at retail

programmed in BASIC, was succesful and afforable

limited commercial software, created a cottage industry

41
Q

What was the Osborne I?

A

built in 1981, first “portable” personal
computer, came with lots of bundled
software, only weighed around 20
kilos and sold for $1795, very small screen 5inch

41
Q

What was the Osborne I?

A

built in 1981, first “portable” personal
computer, came with lots of bundled
software, only weighed around 20
kilos and sold for $1795, very small screen 5inch

42
Q

What was IBM PC?

A

made in 1982, IBM first personal computer, open architecture, established a new standard – legitimized the personal computer, operating system was supplied by microsoft

43
Q

What are the contributions of Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)?

A

ethernet networking technology, laser printers/copiers, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) programing paradigm, workstations Alto and Star were the first to use a window-based
Graphical User Interface (GUI)

44
Q

WHat was the Apple MacIntosh?

A

second to use a GUI, adapted from work done at Xerox, designed to be a computer for “real people”, introduced at 1984 superbowl

45
Q

What was Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET)?

A

large computer network (1969), allowed universities to share data, communication protocols developed for ARPANET in early 1980s served as the basis for the Internet

46
Q

What is Moore’s Law?

A

number of transistors on circuit will doulbe every year (so far true)

47
Q

How has price/performance changed over the years?

A

price decreased and performance increased

EECS 1520 (11 decks)

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