info society - tech, econ, occup

Question 1

Define digital Millwork

Answer 1

Refers to the complex network of computing systems and operations within modern businesses, characterized by inefficiencies and waste.

Question 2

What was the punch-card Tabulator.

Answer 2

An early form of machine for processing information, invented by Herman Hollerith in the 1880s, initially used for automating the US census.

Question 3

Define General Purpose Technology (GPT)

Answer 3

A versatile technology with broad applicability across various industries, driving productivity enhancements and innovation.

Question 4

UNIVAC

Answer 4

The first true commercial computer, built in the 1940s, which demonstrated the potential of electronic computers for various business tasks beyond simple accounting.

Question 5

Client-server Computing

Answer 5

A computing model where individual computers (clients) interact with a central server to access shared resources and data, defining corporate computing in the PC age.

Question 6

Moore’s Law

Answer 6

The observation made by Gordon Moore in 1965 that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years, leading to exponential growth in computing power.

Question 7

Grove’s Law

Answer 7

Coined by Andy Grove in the 1990s, stating that telecommunications bandwidth doubles only approximately every century, highlighting the disparity between computing power and network capacity.

Question 8

Utility Age

Answer 8

The emerging era in computing where abundant internet bandwidth enables centralized computing plants to serve large numbers of users simultaneously, leading to a shift away from complex and inefficient digital systems within businesses.

Question 9

When was the punch-card tabulator, invented by Herman Hollerith, initially used for automating the US census?

Answer 9

Early 1880s

Question 10

In what decade was the first true commercial computer, UNIVAC, built?

Answer 10

1940s

Question 11

According to Gordon Moore in 1965, how often does the number of transistors on a microchip double?

Answer 11

Every two years

Question 12

Coined in the 1990s by Andy Grove, approximately how often does telecommunications bandwidth double?

Answer 12

Every century

Question 13

In what year was the Tabulating Machine Company established by Herman Hollerith to sell punch-card tabulator machines to businesses?

Answer 13

1896

Question 14

In what year did the Tabulating Machine Company merge with the Computer-Tabulating-Recording Company to form IBM?

Answer 14

1911

Question 15

In what year was Microsoft founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen?

Answer 15

1975

Question 16

In what year was the microprocessor, a silicon chip containing the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer, invented by Intel engineers?

Answer 16

1971

Question 17

What technology, revolutionizing communication and enabling efficient data transmission, began to gain prominence in the early 21st century?

Answer 17

Fibre-optic Internet

Question 18

What term refers to the capacity of a telecommunications network to transmit data, often measured in bits per second?

Answer 18

Network Bandwidth

Question 19

20th Century Dawn

Answer 19

Refers to the early 1900s, marked by the emergence of significant technological advancements and industrial growth.

Question 20

Tabulating Machine Company

Answer 20

The company established by Herman Hollerith to sell punch-card tabulator machines to businesses, which later merged with Computer-Tabulating-Recording Company in 1911.

Question 21

IBM (International Business Machines Corporation

Answer 21

The company formed in 1924 through the merger of Tabulating Machine Company and Computer-Tabulating-Recording Company, led by Thomas J. Watson.

Question 22

Mainframe Era

Answer 22

Refers to the period from the mid-20th century to the emergence of personal computing, characterized by the dominance of large, centralized mainframe computers in corporate computing.

Question 23

Microprocessor

Answer 23

A silicon chip containing the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer, invented by Intel engineers in 1971, leading to the development of microcomputers.

Question 24

Minicomputers

Answer 24

Smaller and less powerful computers than mainframes, which emerged in the late 20th century, offering more accessibility and flexibility for businesses

Question 25

Personal Computer (PC)

Answer 25

A computer designed for individual use, typically smaller and less powerful than mainframes or minicomputers, which became widely available in the late 20th century.

Question 26

Microsoft

Answer 26

The software company founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, which played a pivotal role in developing software for personal computers, including operating systems like MS-DOS and Windows.

Question 27

Fibre-optic Internet

Answer 27

A high-speed internet connection technology that uses optical fibers to transmit data, revolutionizing communication and enabling the efficient transfer of large amounts of data.

Question 28

What type of economic activity creates an information society?

Answer 28

When information businesses make up the proportion of the gross national product in the economy.

Question 29

When is an economy declared an information society - economic

Answer 29

When greater part of economic activity is accounted for by information activity

Question 30

What did Frits Malchup identify as information industries?

Answer 30

1. Education.
2. Law.
3. Publishing.
4. Media.
5. Computer manufacture

Question 31

How did Marc Porat refine Malchup’s theory?

Answer 31

Distinguished that there is a difference between primary and secondary occupations.

Question 32

Explain what primary sectors in an economy is.

Answer 32

Industries that are directly involved in creating, managing, and disseminating information.

This sector drives innovation and provides the foundation for the digital economy.

Question 33

Provide examples of occupations in the primary sector?

Answer 33

• Software development
• Telecommunications
• Digital media
• Information services

Question 34

Explain what secondary sectors in an economy is.

Answer 34

The secondary information sector utilizes information technologies to optimize operations across traditional industries, contributing to overall economic growth.

Question 35

Provide examples of occupations in the primary sector.

Answer 35

• Manufacturing
• Healthcare,
• Finance
• Transportation

Question 36

What are the main critiques of the economic theory?

Answer 36

• Not always obvious what to include or exclude from the info sector, as interpretations or
  categorizations may differ.
• Aggregated data homogenizes disparate economic activity. How do we determine/learn
  what valuable dimensions of the info are?

Question 37

Who was daniel bell?

Answer 37

He was a theorist of the post-industrial revolution where he examined the occupational structure over time as well as observing patterns of change.

Question 38

What is the occupational info society?

Answer 38

We achieved an info society where the majority of occupations are found in information work (white collar).

Question 39

What is the difference between tech and occupational change?

Answer 39

Stresses the transformative power of info drawn up in occupations.

Question 40

Who was Charles Leadbeater?

Answer 40

He wrote a book: Living in Thin Air - “Thinking smart, being inventive, having the capacity to develop and exploit networks, which is the key to a weightless society”.

Question 41

Who are todays movers and shakers in an occupational info society?

Answer 41

Those whose works involves creating and using information.

Question 42

What are the critiques for an occupational info society?

Answer 42

• How do we categorise occupations dividing them into distinct manual or non-manual groupings?
• Which occupations count as informational labour and can we find objective way to determine this?