Week 2 Lecture Notes Flashcards
How long ago was the abacus used and by whom?
The abacus was used over 5000 years ago in Babylon and later by the Greeks for calculations.
What was the purpose of the abacus?
The abacus uses beads on rods to perform addition and subtraction and is still used today in some countries.
Who invented logarithms and Napier’s Bones?
John Napier invented logarithms and Napier’s Bones for easier and more accurate mathematical calculations.
What was Blaise Pascal’s invention in 1645?
Blaise Pascal invented the first calculator, the Pascaline, to assist with collecting taxes.
What could Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibnitz’s ‘Stepped Reckoner’ do?
It could add, subtract, multiply, and divide.
What was Joseph-Marie Jacquard’s contribution to computing?
He adapted punched cards to control looms, providing a model for data input and output in computing.
What were Charles Babbage’s most famous inventions?
The Difference Engine and Analytical Engine, which served as blueprints for modern computers.
Did Charles Babbage ever complete the Difference Engine?
No, the Difference Engine was never fully built, though replicas were later created.
What role did Lady Augusta Ada play in computing?
Ada, daughter of Lord Byron, helped Charles Babbage and is recognized as the first computer programmer.
Who founded IBM and what did he invent?
Herman Hollerith founded the Tabulating Machine Company (which later became IBM) and created the census machine.
What was Bletchley Park known for during WWII?
It was the site where codebreakers decoded enemy messages, including the Enigma code.
Who were the key engineers at Bletchley Park?
Tommy Flowers, inventor of Colossus, and Alan Turing, known for his work on the Turing Machine and breaking the Enigma code.
What was the significance of John Vincent Atanasoff’s ABC?
The ABC was the first digital computer using binary (1s and 0s) to represent data.
What did Howard Aiken and Atanasoff & Berry develop in 1940?
They developed the Mark I, an electronic computer with mechanical relays.
What did Dr. Grace Murray Hopper contribute to programming?
She helped develop COBOL and coined the term ‘debugging’ when a moth caused a computer error.
What was the ENIAC?
The ENIAC was the first fully operational electronic computer, developed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert in 1945.
What did the ENIAC weigh and how many vacuum tubes did it use?
The ENIAC weighed 30 tons and used 19,000 vacuum tubes.
What revolutionized computer technology after the vacuum tubes?
The development of transistors and later the microelectronics revolution.
Who invented the first integrated circuit and when?
Jack Kilby invented the first integrated circuit in 1959.
What was the significance of the Intel 4004 microprocessor (1971)?
It was the first microprocessor with 2,300 transistors and had the same processing power as the ENIAC.
Who demonstrated the first mouse and when?
Douglas Engelbart demonstrated the first mouse in 1964.
What was the first personal computer?
In the 1970s, the development of the microchip and microprocessor led to the creation of the personal computer.
What was the first personal computer marketed to individuals?
The Scelbi Mark-8, Altair, and Apple I were some of the first personal computers marketed in 1974/1975.
What was the first generation of computers (1940s-1950s) known for?
Vacuum tubes, bulky design, unreliable performance, and high energy consumption.
What was the second generation of computers (1950s-1960s) known for?
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes, making computers smaller, faster, and more reliable.
What made the third generation of computers (1960s-1970s) different?
The introduction of Integrated Circuits (ICs) made computers more compact, reliable, and cost-effective.
What was the fourth generation of computers (1970s-1990s) known for?
The advent of microprocessors (e.g., Intel 4004) allowed for affordable personal computers.
What is the fifth generation of computers (1990s-present) focused on?
The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and quantum computing.
Who were the founders of Microsoft and Apple?
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, and Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple.
What was the legal battle between Microsoft and Apple about in the 1990s?
They were involved in a legal battle over GUI patents.
What was the major milestone for Apple and Microsoft by 2024?
Both companies are valued at nearly $3 trillion by 2024.
What was the role of Larry Page and Sergey Brin?
They developed Google, a search engine now valued at $1.795 trillion (as of January 2024).
What was the significance of Transistors (1947) in computing?
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes, making computers smaller, more reliable, and energy-efficient.
What was the breakthrough with Integrated Circuits (1958)?
Integrated Circuits allowed multiple components to fit on a single chip, revolutionizing computer miniaturization.
How did the Microprocessor (1971) contribute to personal computing?
The microprocessor combined the CPU on a single chip, enabling the development of personal computers and modern devices.
What was the Internet originally used for?
The Internet originated as ARPANET for military research and later grew into the global network we know today.
