Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

comp sci > History of Computing > Flashcards

History of Computing Flashcards

1
Q

Name the 1st computer made and what it does?

A
  • Abacus
  • A finger-powered pocket calculator
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who came up with algorithms?

A

Muhammad ibn Musa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What can algorithms be used for?

A

Greatest common divisor of two numbers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

In the early calculating machines, what is an example of a manual or mechanical calculator?

A

slider ruler

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a punch card?

A

complex pattern in woven textiles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Who were the punch cards named after?

A

Jacquard loom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the logical foundation of digital circuitry?

A

Boolean Algebra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Who is Boolean Algebra named after?

A

George Boole, a mathematician

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

When were electrical computers born?

A

1930-1951

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who is the father of modern technology and the information age?

A

Claude Shannon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Claude Shannon used what kind of logic in creating digital computing machines?

A

Boolean logic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Who is Von Neumann?

A

Architect who created computers that can store programs, binary and internal coding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the fetch-decode-execute?

A

The idea of how a computer stores memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What did Alan Turing do?

A

He broke the encrypted messages from the Germans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What did Alan Turing devise?

A

turning test for AI

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does the Enigma machine do?

A

Decodes encrypted messages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

ENICA stands for what?

A

Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is ENICA?

A

The first electronic general-purpose computer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Who commissioned ENICA?

A

The United States Army for computing ballistic firing tables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are vacuum tubes?

A

used to control the flow of electrical signals when dealing with a massive scale

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is a consquence for ENICA?

A
  • Large
  • Generate lots of heat
  • Prone to failures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What year did computers get smaller?

A

1950s

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is Grace Hopper known for?

A

creating the first complier

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What were the positive effects of a compiler?

A

greatly improved programming speed and efficiency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is a compiler?
a software program that allows for a high-level language to be translated into a low-level language
26
True or False With the use of a compiler code would be like this: Source code-Complier-Executable code
True
27
What was the most important invention of the 20th century?
transistors
28
What replaced vacuum tubes?
transistors
29
What is an integrated circuit?
allowed for many transistors on a small surface
30
What were the advantages of integrated circuits overall?
- lowered the cost - decreased the space compared to using an individual transistor - allowed computers to be smaller and cheaper to build
31
Today, we exceed how many transistors are in a single package of 25 square centimetres?
10 billion
32
What was the first device built with transistors?
Hearing aid
33
True or False Hearing aids were the prehistoric iPod
True
34
What is the IBM System/360?
family computer with a compatible architecture, covering a wide price range
35
Punch cards were developed using what?
IBM 026 keypunch
36
Margaret Hamilton did what?
lead the team that coded the programming for the guidance computer - Apollo space programs depended on computers to calculate trajectories and control guidance
37
How were trajectories calculated?
IBM mainframes
38
What is a pro of the guidance computer?
autopilot capabilities
39
What is a con of the guidance computer?
less programming power than modern appliances
40
Gordon Dell is known for creating what?
minicomputer
41
What does DEC stand for?
Digital Equipment Corporation
42
True or False Gordon Dell created DEC, which created major competition for IBM, Univac
True
43
What did the DEC PDP series offer?
Mainframe performance at a fraction of the cost
44
What can specialized supercomputers do?
- weather forecasting - code breaking
45
What are examples of specialized supercomputers?
- IBM - NRCPC - NUDT - Dell - EMC - Cray - NEC
46
What is the 5 IBM Summit supercomputer used for?
- Hydrodynamic - Quantum chemistry - Molecular dynamics - Climate - Financial modelling
47
What is the age of personal computers?
1970's
48
What was the 1st microprocessor?
Intel 4004 microprocessor
49
What was the Intel 4004 microprocessor first used for?
In a programmable calculator
50
What made the personal computer possible?
Intel 4004 microprocessor
51
How many transistors are used in the a Intel 4004 microprocessor?
2300
52
Altair was the 1st what?
Microcomputer by MITS
53
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded what?
microsoft
54
Who did Microsoft pair up with for the use of a compiler for basic knowledge?
Ed Roberts of MITS
55
Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs made what?
1st apple computer
56
Radio Shack TRS-80 was the 1st what?
plug and play personal computer available at retail
57
True or False The Radio Shack personal computer was programmed in BASIC and was very affordable
True
58
Osborne is known for what?
creating the 1st portable computer
59
How much did the 1st portable computer weigh and cost?
- 20 kilos - $1795
60
True or False IBM came out with a personal computer, which was operated by Microsoft
True
61
What does Xeror PARC stand for?
Palo Alto Research Center
62
How did PARC contribute to computing?
- Ethernet networking technology - Laser printers/copiers - Object-Oriented Programming paradigm
63
Which 2 companies were the 1st to use a window-based Graphical User Interface
- Alto - Star
64
What does OOP stand for?
Object-Oriented Programming
65
Apple Macintosh created what with a GUI interface?
2nd personal computer
66
Apple Macintosh adapted the work done where?
Xerox
67
Who was the Apple Macintosh made for?
Real people
68
What does ARPANET stand for?
Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
69
What is ARPANET?
- Large computer networks - Allowed for universities to share data - Allowed for the basis of the internet
70
What is Moore's law in action?
- Every couple of years, computers will get twice as powerful and less expensive - Due to transistors getting smaller and allowing for more of them to be compacted together
71
What is memory measured in?
Gigabytes
72
What is the secondary storage measure in?
terabytes

comp sci (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions