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HoS Ch 3 > HoS Ch3 > Flashcards

HoS Ch3 Flashcards

1
Q

what was the main motivation for businesses to adopt computer technology ?

A
  1. economic rationality (cost - it can make things cheaper)
  2. automation (faith in automated future)
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2
Q

what does RAMAC stand for

A

random access method of accounting and control

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3
Q

What are disk drivers?

A
  1. provided lower cost way of storing more data
  2. used spinning disk to store data
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4
Q

what are the features of the IBM Model 350 disk storage unit?

A
  1. many aluminum disk going really fast
  2. RAMAC : small drum computer the disks were attached to
    a. random access ~ data can be fetched rapidly from any part (random) of the disk
    b. inexpensive and fast
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5
Q

What did companies conduct before placing computer orders and why?

A

Feasibility studies to ensure that a purchase is financially feasible.

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6
Q

what were the feasibility studies in data processing based on?

A
  1. assumptions about the useful lifespan of
    computers
  2. the costs of programming
  3. the potential for clerical cost reduction that
    would soon seem ludicrously optimistic
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7
Q

Provide an example of a company that decided to join the computer age in 1957 and its subsequent actions.

A

Dow Chemical rented an IBM 709 computer on Bachman’s advice for administrative and technical tasks.
Due to financial issues, the order was canceled after planning had begun.
Bachman, passionate about computers, left and joined General Electric.

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8
Q

How did data processing work roles change through rebranding? example?

A

Punched card departments became data processing departments, punched card machines became data processing machines, and computers became data processing systems.

example: National Machine Accountants became Data Processing Management Association.

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9
Q

What were the different kinds of data processing work listed from high to low status/pay? mention if male dominated of female dominated (FD/MD).

A

1.Key punch work. FD
2.Machine operation. MD
3.Programming. MF
4.Systems analysis. MD
5.Management.

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10
Q

in data processing what is meant by programming?

A

take specifications written by analysis and convert them into computer instructions

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11
Q

in data processing what is meant by system analysis?

A
  1. job of looking at business procedures to redesign them around new technology
  2. have to write detailed computer process specifications for programmers
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12
Q

Were women really open to programming in the 1950s ?

A
  • openness to women in programming during 1950s often exaggerated
  • female programmers were numerous in some computer installations
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13
Q

What is the traditional process followed in data processing jobs?

A

Data processing jobs work through one or more input files, processing each record in turn. This tradition resembles punched card machine practice.

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14
Q

Example of a data processing task

A

Weekly payroll. women punch data from timesheets onto input cards. These cards are then sorted and combined with a deck of master cards, leading to the printing of paychecks and a ledger

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15
Q

How did the IBM 650 contribute to potentially simplifying and speeding up data processing tasks?

A

The IBM 650, when added to the process, had the potential to be simpler and faster. A single program could replace several runs through conventional machines, though its processing rate was limited by card-reading speed.

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16
Q

How did bigger computers, like the IBM 705, handle data processing with magnetic tape, and why was sorting crucial in this context? example ?

A

even with multiple tape drives, it was essential for files to be sorted correctly and important for the application of computers in business. This ensured efficient processing when dealing with large amounts of data.
example : Sorting a master employee file and timesheet data in order to correctly match employee records ↔️ timecard data

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17
Q

What was John von Neumann’s insight regarding sorting and its significance in the early days of computers?

A

In 1945, John von Neumann invented merge sort , still widely used, to address the need for efficient sorting in early computer applications.

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18
Q

How did programmers respond to the repetitive nature of coding for different applications, and what significant package was produced in this context?

A
  1. Programmers started producing generalized sort routines to avoid constantly rewriting code.
  2. computer manufacturers developed utilities for common tasks (such as sorting)

significant packages:
1. Betta Holberton : one of the original ENIAC operators that later produces a generalized sorting routine for use with Univac tape drives
2. BM 702 ~ Hanford Nuclear Reservation team : Produced a sorting package that combined generalized sorting ↔️report program generation module.
3. 9PAC ~ May 1959 : new package with General Electric sort and report generation routines as the basis, later adopted by IBM and integrated into the IBSYS operating system.

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19
Q

How did the study of sorting methods contribute to the development of computational complexity in theoretical computer science?

A

Studying how to sort data became the foundation for computational complexity. Computer scientists turned these insights into a science that looks at the best, worst, and average time performance of algorithms. This effort led to the creation of time complexity classes.

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20
Q

Who played a key role in creating COBOL? Who sponsored it? Why was it developed, and what did its standardization lead to? prehistory ?

A

Jean Sammet

US Department of Defense (DoD) in 1959

Developed as a shared data processing language; standardization allowed it to run on all machines.

COBOL inherited famous attributes from the compiler of Grace Hopper

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21
Q

what is System/360? when was it released? by who?

A

in 1965 IBM releases family of mainframe computers called System/360

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22
Q

What was the significance of IBM’s System/360?

A

BM’s System/360, marked a new era, ensuring the company’s dominance in the mainframe industry for the next fifty years.

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23
Q

Why was the System/360 named as such, and what promise did IBM make regarding its models?

A

The System/360 was named because it targeted a full circle of customers, from business to science. IBM promised that programs written for one model would work on others, preserving customers’ programming investment as their needs grew.

24
Q

What motivated the SPREAD Committee to recommend a single unified product line for science and business, leading to the development of the System/360?

A

IBM had a confusing array of incompatible machines for business and science. The SPREAD Committee recommended a unified product line to replace the incompatible ones, emphasizing the need for compatibility across different applications.

25
Q

How did the concept of microprogramming contribute to the success of the System/360, and what advantage did it offer in terms of compatibility?

A

Microprogramming provided compatibility across a range of machines. It allowed small System 360 computers to simulate capabilities of larger models, achieving a balance of speed vs cost. Additionally, it enabled the emulation of older machines, ensuring compatibility with earlier IBM computers.

26
Q

What advantage did the 360 Model 65 have, and how did low-end models like 30 and 40 emulate earlier machines like the 1401? disadvantage?

A

+ The 360 Model 65 sold well due to its ability to emulate the large business 7070 computer. Low-end models like 30 and 40 effectively emulated the 1401, running old programs up to ten times faster than a real 1401. This emulation capability contributed to the widespread adoption of the System/360

  • added layers of code ⇒ slowdown
27
Q

What encoding standard did IBM use for characters in the System/360?

A

EBCDIC (extended binary coded decimal interchange code) to represent characters, deviating from the ASCII standard. This difference arose due to concerns about weakening punched paper tape by punching eight holes.

28
Q

What language did IBM promote for the System/360, and why did they introduce it?

A

PL/I

  • Programming language created by SHARE to handle both scientific and business computing (data processing)
  • Drew from COBOL, Algol and Fortran
  • Was never very popular due to high complexity whereas COBOL and Fortran remained dominant
  • Introduced pointers
29
Q

How did System/360 financially succeeded?

A
  • 1100 computers received in first month
  • after 5 months System/360 ⇒ one 5th of computers in US
  • served as anchor for IBM mainframe product line into the 1990s
30
Q

How did IBM address challenges in software production for the System/360, and what were the outcomes for operating systems?

A

IBM abandoned its plan for a single operating system (OS/360) and introduced four different operating systems. The DOS (disk operating system) became widely used for efficient batch processing on smaller System/360 machines. OS/360 goals were eventually realized with MVT (multiprogramming with a variable number of tasks) for larger computers.

31
Q

What challenges did System/360 face in the scientific domain, and how did it impact IBM’s position in the supercomputer market?

A

due to its use of hexadecimal for floating-point operations, creating rounding errors. IBM’s attempts to compete in the supercomputer market faced delays, allowing CDC and Cray Research to dominate. However, System/360 remained successful in data processing.

32
Q

What futuristic vision for business management was presented in a 1959 Harvard Business Review article?

A

“Information Technology” : combination of operations research methods, computer technology and simulation
It foresaw the replacement of middle managers with programmed decision rules, recentralization of corporate control, and collaboration between top managers and “information engineers.”

33
Q

How were computers initially sold to American businesses, and what was the reality of their implementation?

A

Initially sold as the basis for a managerial revolution, computers in reality were often utilized to accelerate tasks already performed with punched card machines

34
Q

What was the vision behind the Totally Integrated Management Information System (MIS), and how was it expected to transform company operations?

A
  1. automating every aspect of a company’s operations, connecting programs to facilitate the flow of information between business processes.
  2. managers get exact reports and statistics needed
  3. data harvesting through automation of routine transactions for forecasting systems and strategic decision making
35
Q

Who lead the “Total systems” project, what was the idea behind it, and what was its goal?

A

led by Charles Bachman
idea: study operations of a typical plant produce integrated manufacturing control system
goal: handle different types of aspects of a factory and boost internal efficiency and sell computers

36
Q

How did Charles Bachman’s Integrated Data Store (IDS) address challenges in handling data on disk, and what role did it play in administrative computing?

A

It addressed challenges in handling data on disk by taking over the entire computer. IDS handled requests, scheduled tasks, and relieved application programmers from writing code to access shared disk files.

IDS played a crucial role in administrative computing: 1. providing a level of protection
2. maintaining a “data dictionary” -> making it easier for organizations to write data sharing applications
3. offering a standardized approach to working with multiple applications.

37
Q

What challenges and changes did the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) face in adopting computerized processing, and what impact did privacy concerns have on their plans for the Tax Administration System?

A

The IRS faced challenges in adopting computerized processing, initially processing returns through keypunching and batch updates. The IRS attempted to implement the Tax Administration System, aiming to eliminate data entry work and create an integrated, on-line system. Privacy concerns, highlighted during the Watergate hearings, led to the abandonment of the Tax Administration System. The IRS later faced difficulties, and its systems collapsed in 1985 due to outdated technology.

38
Q

How did the software industry start to develop, and what were some of the early successful software products?

A

The software industry began to develop as companies providing programming services realized they could produce generalized programs for multiple companies.

Early successful software products, mostly utilities, included Applied Data Research’s Autoflow ( to do software contract work) , Pansophic’s Easytrieve, and Informatics Inc.’s Mark IV.

39
Q

Why did IBM decide to unbundle its software packages from its hardware in 1969, and how did this impact the emerging software industry?

A

In 1969, IBM announced its intention to unbundle its software packages and customer education from its hardware, charging for them separately. This decision was influenced by rising development costs and antitrust concerns. It had a significant impact on the emerging software industry, as companies could no longer rely on free IBM software.

40
Q

who were the most keen on building the first administrative computers ? what year?

A

American Businesses in 1954
they were aggressive in adopting computer technology

41
Q

How did Larry Welke contribute to the growth of the software industry, and what awards program did he initiate in 1970?

A

by launching an awards program in 1970 for firms achieving more than a million dollars in cumulative sales. As software companies prospered, he expanded the awards to include $10 million and later $100 million in sales.

42
Q

What role did SAP play in the development of data processing applications, and how did it become a dominant player in the enterprise resources planning (ERP) market by the early 2000s?

A

SAP, founded in 1972, worked with customers to develop application programs for their needs. By 1975, it had developed modules for purchasing, inventory management, and financial accounting. SAP standardized its core code as a product, replacing custom application programs. By the early 2000s, SAP dominated the ERP market, with most large companies rebuilding core administrative processes around its software.

43
Q

What was the main application of computers in business during the period of 1950 to 1980? give a historical example.

A

Business Data Processing
example: General Electric Payroll Job (GE was the first company to order a UNIVAC #8 for admin use in 1954)

44
Q

what was the actual effect of administrative computers?

A
  1. minimal effect on office work noted in LEO report
  2. companies slow to adapt potential of new technology
  3. clerical automation => overtook scientific calculation as biggest market for computer technology
45
Q

effects of data processing

A
  1. adoption of disk drives
  2. development of dominant IBM System/360 mainframe architecture
  3. emergence of software as an industry
46
Q

in what year did Lyons establish LEO Computers, a computer manufacturer? and why?

A

1954 - exploits strength of system analysis team to help costumers apply products effectively

47
Q

Why and when did LEO merged with English Electric ?

A

in 1963 - company lacked capital and international reach to compete with IBM

48
Q

what are the IBM big computers

A

IBM 702 , IBM 705 , IBM 709

49
Q

What were some features of IBM 702 in a business context?

A
  1. accounting work : used decimal arithmetic to avoid rounding errors
  2. space saving : variable word length to save space
50
Q

What were some features of IBM 705 in a business context?

A
  1. running tapes faster : faster input and output speeds
  2. left out floating-point arithmetic → less useful in a business context probably
51
Q

What were some features of IBM 709 (both for business and scientific use) ?

A
  1. Floating-point arithmetic
  2. Transistors : based on transistors instead of vacuum tubes
52
Q

what were the IBM small computers ? and year ?

A

IBM 650 (1954)
IBM 1401 (1959)

53
Q

What were some features of IBM 650?

A

Punched cards, drum memory, easier to program, outsold competition.

54
Q

What was the impact of IBM 650 on education?

A

Universities received a 60% discount if they taught business data processing or scientific computing.

55
Q

What were some features of IBM 1401?

A

transistorised machine, core memory, compactness (mainly due to the use of transistors over vacuum tubes), fast IBM 1403 printer.

56
Q

How much faster was IBM 1401 compared to IBM 650?

A

~7x faster.

57
Q

What was the impact of IBM 1401?

A
  1. use of magnetic tape offered a high throughput
  2. often found in university and scientific computer centers as supplement to larger computer

HoS Ch 3 (1 decks)

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