History of Computers Week 1. Definition of a Computer uA computer is defined in the following ways u By the work it does u By the kind of information.

History of Computers

Week 1

Definition of a Computer

A computer is defined in the following ways By the work it does By the kind of

information it handles By its size and price

Particulars are Moving Targets

Technology advances at exponential rates Computer memory capacity

quadruples every 3 years? Computer processor speed

doubles every 3 years? Computer networks - number of

hosts doubles every year

Moore’s Law

Chip’s transistor densities double every 18 months at constant prices?

What does this mean?

Computer Networks

Network - two or more connected computers

Purpose - sharing or exchange of information and/or resources

Benefits improved efficiency reduces need for travel…

Computers and Networks

Facilitate Concentration of knowledge and

control Distribution of knowledge and control

Have the power to Amass and interrogate enormous

volumes of data Process data at enormous rates for

real systems and simulations

Computers and Networks Challenge:

Constitutional definitions Social structures Lifestyle options

What is a Society?

A voluntary association of individuals for common ends

An enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another

A companionship with one’s fellows

What is a Society?

A part of a community that is a unit distinguishable by particular aims or standards of living or conduct

The sum of human conditions and activity regarded as a whole functioning interdependently

The customs and organization of an ordered community

How have Computers Affected Society?

What are the parts of a society?

What has been the affect of computers on these parts? What are the benefits? What are the problems? What will happen next?

What about the Internet?

In recent years this one area has affected society more than any other

How? What are the issues here?

The Parts of a Society

Education Transportation Private Sector Business Government Entertainment Housing

The Parts of a Society

Currency (banking) Jobs Space Medicine Anything else?

Technological Revolutions

Agricultural Revolution Industrial Revolution Computational Revolution

Revolution Comparison

Workforce distribution Productivity benefits Breadth of impact

Early Calculating Machines

Abacus Slide rule Mechanical calculator Stepped reckoner Textile industry - Jacquard

Loom Difference engine

Early Calculating Machines through those of today

Analytical engine The 1890 Census machine ENIAC The transistor The Personal Computer (PC) The Internet

5 Generations of Modern Computers

1st Generation 1945 - 1956 Made to order operating

instructions Different binary coded programs

told it how to operate Difficult to program and limited

versatility and speed Vacuum tubes Magnetic drum storage

2nd Generation 1955-1963

Transistors Memory - magnetic core Assembly language Printers and memory Programming languages Careers

3rd Generation 1964 - 1971

Quartz clock Integrated circuit Operating systems

4th Generation 1971 - now

LSI - Large Scale Integration VLSI- Very Large Scale

Integration

Chip General consumer usage Networks

5th Generation

This is the future What will it be like? What changes will be big

enough to create this new generation?

Pioneers of Computing

Charles Babbage

Konrad Zuse John von

Neumann Alan Turing Steve Jobs

Important Machines

IBM 700 Series IBM 360/370

Series CDC star Cray 1 DEC VAX IBM PC Apple McIntosh

Taxonomy of Computers

Mainframes Minis Micros Supercomputers Embedded

Don’t Forget the Chip

Computers are used in many different technologies For example: bread

machine, ATM, cars, TV, microwave, cash register, …..

How has this utilization affected society?

Wirth’s Law

The software gets slower faster than the hardware gets faster

What does this mean?

How Society Reacts to Revolutions

Incorporate benefits Civilize change Compensate injured Regain balance

ATM Example

Positive CONVENIENCE

Negative Unemployment Alienation and customer service Crime Loss of privacy Errors

Reconsider the Problems

Unemployment -> more computer jobs

Alienation -> go during business hours

Crime -> add lights, change angle,etc.

Weigh the positive against the negative

Solutions to Problems

Technical Managerial Legal Market mechanisms Education

Issues to be Studied Due to Computers in Society

Privacy of communications Intellectual property Constitutional issues General social issues Professional ethics