EECS 1520-Questions, Answers| Newest Update
2026/2027
abacus
first computing device for simple arithmetic originated in babylonia
antikythera mechanism
world's oldest known analog computer, designed to calculate astronomical positions
slide rule
used for advanced calculations before electronic calculators
jacquard loom
revolutionized manufacturing by using punch cards to define complex textile patterns
difference engine
mechanical calculator designed by Charles Babbage
punch cards
a piece of stiff paper with holes, where presence or absence of holes in pre-defined positins to
dictate the design of the cloth
(Later) digital data to be entered in computer was represented by the presence or absence of
holes in predefined positions (before the wide use of the keyboard)
Used to code computer programs
Algorithm
, a finite set of unambiguous instructions to solve a problem
Named after 9th century mathematician: Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī
algorithm examples
(300 BC) the Euclidean Algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers
(100 AD): the sieve of Erasothenes for finding prime numbers
george boole
developed Boolean algebra, the logical foundation for digital circuitry
Invariant theory → later used by Einstein in his theory of relativity
claude shannon
applied Boolean logic to digital machines (1937) and established principles for electronic
information encoding
Alan Turing (1912-1954)
proposed the Turing Machine (a model for computability) and broke the German Enigma code
during WWII .
ENIAC
first electronic general purpose computer
used vacuum tubes and decimal internal coding
Developed during WW2 to compute ballistic firing tables
Von Neumann Architecture
2026/2027
abacus
first computing device for simple arithmetic originated in babylonia
antikythera mechanism
world's oldest known analog computer, designed to calculate astronomical positions
slide rule
used for advanced calculations before electronic calculators
jacquard loom
revolutionized manufacturing by using punch cards to define complex textile patterns
difference engine
mechanical calculator designed by Charles Babbage
punch cards
a piece of stiff paper with holes, where presence or absence of holes in pre-defined positins to
dictate the design of the cloth
(Later) digital data to be entered in computer was represented by the presence or absence of
holes in predefined positions (before the wide use of the keyboard)
Used to code computer programs
Algorithm
, a finite set of unambiguous instructions to solve a problem
Named after 9th century mathematician: Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī
algorithm examples
(300 BC) the Euclidean Algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers
(100 AD): the sieve of Erasothenes for finding prime numbers
george boole
developed Boolean algebra, the logical foundation for digital circuitry
Invariant theory → later used by Einstein in his theory of relativity
claude shannon
applied Boolean logic to digital machines (1937) and established principles for electronic
information encoding
Alan Turing (1912-1954)
proposed the Turing Machine (a model for computability) and broke the German Enigma code
during WWII .
ENIAC
first electronic general purpose computer
used vacuum tubes and decimal internal coding
Developed during WW2 to compute ballistic firing tables
Von Neumann Architecture
