WGU D322 Introduction to Information Technology Section
3 Computer Hardware and History
Abacus - CORRECT ANSWER often recognized as the first computing device, it uses
beads on a string or rod to temporarily store and manipulate data. Developed in
China, then later used by early Greek and Roman civilizations.
The Leibniz Machine - CORRECT ANSWER Also known as the "Step Reckoner", it
was an early device that used gears to perform basic arithmetic functions, such as
adding and subtracting
The Analytical Engine - CORRECT ANSWER A purely mechanical machine
developed by Charles Babbage which read instructions from punched paper cards.
Often recognized as the world's first programmable computer
Ada Lovelace - CORRECT ANSWER Considered the world's first programmer;
published a paper demonstrating the programmability of the Analytical Engine
Where did the usage of punched paper cards originate? - CORRECT ANSWER In
1801 in the textile industry, originally used for programming looms
Herman Hollerith - CORRECT ANSWER Designed a tabulating machine which used
punched paper cards to help speed up the tabulating process of the 1890 US
Census
Up until how recently were punched paper cards used in computing? - CORRECT
ANSWER Until the 1970's
What type of switching component did the earliest computers use? - CORRECT
ANSWER Electro-mechanical relays, as seen in the Bell Laboratories MK I,
completed in 1944
What invention replaced electro-mechanical relays in early computing? -
CORRECT ANSWER Vacuum tubes, as seen in the Atanasoff-Berry Machine and
the Colossus
, How did vacuum tubes change early computing? - CORRECT ANSWER Gave way to
the first fully electronic computers. Tubes were smaller, faster, and more reliable
than relays.
Colossus - CORRECT ANSWER An early computing device used to decipher
German encrypted messages during WWII
ENIAC - CORRECT ANSWER Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer; the
world's first general-purpose computer
Moore's Law - CORRECT ANSWER The observation that computing power roughly
doubles every two years
How did the development of desktop computers change computing? - CORRECT
ANSWER Allowed for more wide-spread usage, popularizing computing among a
greater number of people
Who built the first viable home computer? - CORRECT ANSWER Steve Jobs and
Stephen Wozniak in 1976, establishing Apple Computer Inc.
PC (Personal Computer) - CORRECT ANSWER The world's first desktop computer,
introduced by IBM in 1981, whose underlying software was developed by newly-
formed Microsoft. The term is now used to refer to all machines that evolved
from this product
Who first conceptualized the internet? - CORRECT ANSWER Tim Bernes-Lee,
envisioning a system in which documents on different machines could all be
linked via the World Wide Web
First-Generation Computers - CORRECT ANSWER Computers developed between
1946 - 1959 which used vacuum tubes. Often used magnetic drums for memory,
punched cards and printers for input and output, and relied on machine language.
Examples include the ENIAC, EDVAC (Electronic Discreate Variable Automatic
Computer), UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer), IBM-701 and IBM-650
3 Computer Hardware and History
Abacus - CORRECT ANSWER often recognized as the first computing device, it uses
beads on a string or rod to temporarily store and manipulate data. Developed in
China, then later used by early Greek and Roman civilizations.
The Leibniz Machine - CORRECT ANSWER Also known as the "Step Reckoner", it
was an early device that used gears to perform basic arithmetic functions, such as
adding and subtracting
The Analytical Engine - CORRECT ANSWER A purely mechanical machine
developed by Charles Babbage which read instructions from punched paper cards.
Often recognized as the world's first programmable computer
Ada Lovelace - CORRECT ANSWER Considered the world's first programmer;
published a paper demonstrating the programmability of the Analytical Engine
Where did the usage of punched paper cards originate? - CORRECT ANSWER In
1801 in the textile industry, originally used for programming looms
Herman Hollerith - CORRECT ANSWER Designed a tabulating machine which used
punched paper cards to help speed up the tabulating process of the 1890 US
Census
Up until how recently were punched paper cards used in computing? - CORRECT
ANSWER Until the 1970's
What type of switching component did the earliest computers use? - CORRECT
ANSWER Electro-mechanical relays, as seen in the Bell Laboratories MK I,
completed in 1944
What invention replaced electro-mechanical relays in early computing? -
CORRECT ANSWER Vacuum tubes, as seen in the Atanasoff-Berry Machine and
the Colossus
, How did vacuum tubes change early computing? - CORRECT ANSWER Gave way to
the first fully electronic computers. Tubes were smaller, faster, and more reliable
than relays.
Colossus - CORRECT ANSWER An early computing device used to decipher
German encrypted messages during WWII
ENIAC - CORRECT ANSWER Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer; the
world's first general-purpose computer
Moore's Law - CORRECT ANSWER The observation that computing power roughly
doubles every two years
How did the development of desktop computers change computing? - CORRECT
ANSWER Allowed for more wide-spread usage, popularizing computing among a
greater number of people
Who built the first viable home computer? - CORRECT ANSWER Steve Jobs and
Stephen Wozniak in 1976, establishing Apple Computer Inc.
PC (Personal Computer) - CORRECT ANSWER The world's first desktop computer,
introduced by IBM in 1981, whose underlying software was developed by newly-
formed Microsoft. The term is now used to refer to all machines that evolved
from this product
Who first conceptualized the internet? - CORRECT ANSWER Tim Bernes-Lee,
envisioning a system in which documents on different machines could all be
linked via the World Wide Web
First-Generation Computers - CORRECT ANSWER Computers developed between
1946 - 1959 which used vacuum tubes. Often used magnetic drums for memory,
punched cards and printers for input and output, and relied on machine language.
Examples include the ENIAC, EDVAC (Electronic Discreate Variable Automatic
Computer), UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer), IBM-701 and IBM-650
