History/Development of Computers

Question 1

State the order of computer developement

Answer 1

Hands, Marks, Stones
Abacus
Pascaline
Adding machine
Calculating machines
Difference machine
Analytical Engine

Question 2

Who invented the Pascaline?

Answer 2

Blaise Pascal

Question 3

Who invented the adding machine?

Answer 3

Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz

Question 4

Who invented the Difference machine?

Answer 4

Sir Charles Babbage

Question 5

Who invented the Analytical Engine?

Answer 5

Sir Charles Babbage

Question 6

What was the first general-purpose computer?

Answer 6

The Analytical Engine

Question 7

Based on what parameters can computers be classified?

Answer 7

• Age of technology
• Type of data processing
• Purpose of creation

Question 8

What are the classes of computers based on the age of technology?

Answer 8

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th generations

Question 9

First Generation

Answer 9

• 1940 - 1956
• Used vacuum tubes
• Circuitary consisting of wires and thermionic valves
• Enormous in size, occupying large rooms
• Machine language
• UNIVAC and ENIAC
• Expensive to maintain
• Generated a lot of heat

Question 10

Second Generation

Answer 10

• 1956 - 1963
• Used transistors and printed circuits
• Smaller than 1st generation, cheaper, storage capacity, worked faster
• Assembly language
• Stored instructions set in memory

Question 11

Third Generation

Answer 11

• 1964 - 1971
• Used semi-conductors and integrated circuits
• Smaller and easier to maintain
• Stored program concept
• Introduction of OS
• Way faster

Question 12

Fourth Generation

Answer 12

• 1971 - PRESENT
• Microprocessors
• Ubiquitous
• Database management systems, Word Processing, etc
• Networking

Question 13

What are the classes of computer based on data type processed?

Answer 13

Analog, Digital, Hybrid

Question 14

Analog Computers

Answer 14

They operate on values presented in the form of continuous values

Question 15

Hybrid Computers

Answer 15

Merge analog and digital computer in one system, combining the high speed of analog and flexibility of analog, e.g. gas pump

Question 16

Digital Computers

Answer 16

Process data represented in the form of discrete values and operate on data in steps,

Question 17

What are digital computers grouped into?

Answer 17

Super
Mainframe
Mini
Micro

Question 18

Super computers

Answer 18

For scientific purposes, Processes big information in short time

Question 19

Mainframe computers

Answer 19

Expensive, Processes large amounts of data, Fixed at a site

Question 20

Mini computers

Answer 20

Physically smaller, Easy to install, Used for small scale general purpose work.

Question 21

Micro computers

Answer 21

Versatile, Ubiquitous, Can handle a number of productive functions and applications, Flexible

Question 22

What are the classes of computer based on purpose of creation?

Answer 22

• Special-purpose

- General-purpose

Question 23

Special-purpose computer

Answer 23

• For specific purpose

- Inbuilt programs stored in ROM

Question 24

General-purpose computer

Answer 24

• Not specifically designed for specific duties
• Main memory is RAM
• Found in business, commercial and scientific environments
• Can solve wide range of problems

Question 25

How old was Blaise Pascal when he invented the Pascal machine?

Answer 25

19

Question 26

When was the Pascaline invented?

Answer 26

1642

Question 27

Who invented calculating machines in England?

Answer 27

Samuel Morland

Question 28

When was Leibniz's calculator invented?

Answer 28

1671

Question 29

When was the first automatic calculator developed?

Answer 29

1823

Question 30

Where and when did the Abacus originate?

Answer 30

China, 7th century BC

Question 31

What was invented in Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1946?

Answer 31

Transistor

Question 32

In what generation of computers were printed circuits introduced?

Answer 32

2nd generation

Question 33

What was the main memory in the 2nd generation?

Answer 33

Magnetic core for main memory, Magnetic tape storage for storing data files

Question 34

In what generation of computers were high level languages introduced?

Answer 34

3rd generation

Question 35

Fifth generation

Answer 35

- Data driven, not control driven - Introduction of AI - Parallel processing

Question 36

What kind of data is processed by analog computers?

Answer 36

Continuous data

Question 37

What kind of data is processed by digital computers?

Answer 37

Discrete data

Question 38

What are continuous variables?

Answer 38

They change frequently within short time intervals

Question 39

What is the word length of a typical minicomputer?

Answer 39

12 - 18 bits but commonly 16 bits

Question 40

What kind of computer is a laptop?

Answer 40

Micro computer

Question 41

What is the main memory of a special-purpose computer?

Answer 41

ROM

Question 42

What is the main memory of a general-purpose computer?

Answer 42

RAM