Mechanical Monsters: Part 3

Question 1

Howard Aiken (1900-1973)

Answer 1

1. Had a military background
2. Envisioned a device that could do tedious calculations, since current devices were not up to par
3. Got an appointment with Watson at IBM

Question 2

Watson and Aiken’s meeting

Answer 2

Watson agreed to have IBM fund the project, but Watson’s goal for the project differed from Aiken’s

Question 3

Aiken’s design principles

Answer 3

Used mechanical components despite them being slower to avoid using unproven technologies

Question 4

Harvard Mark I uses

Answer 4

Used entirely for military purposes during the war. Used for research purposes after

Question 5

Harvard Mark I Impact

Answer 5

A design model for the future rather than the results it produced. Lasted until RAM was invented

Question 6

Grace Hopper (1906 - 1992)

Answer 6

1. Assistant to Commander Aiken
2. Found the world’s first bug in a computer program
3. Made contributions to the development of the first compilers and the standardization of COBOL

Question 7

Harvard Mark II

Answer 7

Based entirely on relay technology since Aiken had access to better resources. Could be split into two independent parts(Bell Model V)

Question 8

Advantage of Harvard Mark III and IV

Answer 8

Designed for accuracy and ease of use over speed increase

Question 9

Harvard Mark III

Answer 9

1.Used a mathematical button board for input
2. First of Aiken machines to have a stored program
3. Further move away from mechanical parts

Question 10

Harvard Mark III memory

Answer 10

Stored data on 8 magnetic drums. Instructions were stored on a separate drum. Separation of data and memory became known as the Harvard architecture

Question 11

Harvard Mark IV Magnetic core

Answer 11

Consisted of tiny rings with wires threaded through them. To store data, change the magnetic orientation of the rings.

Question 12

Punched Card Systems

Answer 12

Used to enter/encode data so it could be stored and tabulated;
Based on the same principles as Babbage’s Difference Engine

Question 13

Advantages of Punched Card Systems

Answer 13

Speed and Accuracy(reduced human intervention)

Question 14

IBM 601(1935)

Answer 14

A punch based system that used relays to complete multiplications

Question 15

IBM 601 evolutions

Answer 15

Relay based: 602, 602A, 603
Vacuum tube based with programmable plug boards: 604, 605

Question 16

IBM SPRC

Answer 16

relay-based computers controlled by plug boards and punch cards;
ALU: 4 standard operations and square roots

Question 17

SSEC

Answer 17

Used vacuum tubes where speed was essential, otherwise relays;
Used BCD for efficiency;
Fastest of the mechanical monsters