Connecting with Computer Science, 2e Chapter 1 History and Social Implications of ComputingConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 2 Objectives • In this chapter you will: – Learn why today almost everyone is a computer operator – Learn about the predecessors of modern computer hardware and software – Learn that sometimes good ideas flop and bad ones survive – Meet some interesting figures—some famous, some infamous, some wealthy, and some obscure – See the historical and social implications of computingConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 3 Why You Need to Know About…the History of Computing • Fields altered by computer communication devices – Tool for artists, architects, and designers – Information archive – Entertainment device – Trains, planes, and automobiles • Ubiquitous computer presence – Examine student’s relationship to the machine – Examine historical and biographical studies • Look at the futureConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 4 Ancient History • Origins of computer in ancient Assyria – Tablets with arithmetic/trigonometric solutions – Math solves societal and personal problems • Drivers of mathematical development – Property ownership and the need to measure – Vertical construction and the pyramids – Navigation and the need to control time • Computers do mathConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 5 Pascal and Leibniz Start the Wheel Rolling • Paper, wood, stone, papyrus tables, and abacuses as “computers” – 1622: invention of slide rule – 1642: invention of mechanical calculator by Pascal – 1694: Leibniz Wheel expands arithmetic operationsConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 6 Joseph Jacquard • Invents programmable loom in 1801 – Jacquard loom weaved patterns in fabric – Allowed input and storage of parameters – Selection pins oriented with punch cards – Similarities with player piano • Concept of the stored programConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 7 Figure 1-1, The Jacquard loom, using a string of punched cards that feed into the machine Joseph Jacquard (cont’d.)Connecting with Computer Science, 2e 8 Charles Babbage • Invents Difference Engine in 1823 – Adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides • Designs Analytical Engine – Components of modern computer • Input and output devices • Memory and CPU – Not built due to lack of funds • Collaborates with Ada Lovelace Byron – Attribution of program loop concept – Ada programming language namesakeConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 9 Herman Hollerith • Invents electromechanical counter in 1880s – Serves tabulation role in 1890 U.S. census – Machine uses punch cards as input – Single-purpose machine • Company created around technology becomes IBM – IBM rolls out multipurpose Mark I in 1944 – Mark I rapidly made obsolete by vacuum tubesConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 10 Figure 1-2, The Hollerith census counting machine Herman Hollerith (cont’d.)Connecting with Computer Science, 2e 11 Progression of Computer Electronics • Charles Sanders Peirce extends work of Boole – Electric switches emulate true/false conditions of Boolean algebra – Benjamin Burack implements concepts in 1936 logic machine • John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry build a computer using vacuum tubes • World War II – Developmental turning pointConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 12 Wartime Research Drives Technological Innovation • Military need for trajectory tables – Weapons testing • U.S. Navy Board of Ordnance helps fund Mark I • U.S. Army funds ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) • ENIAC runs 1000 times faster than Mark I – Both were too late for the war effortConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 13 ENIAC and EDVAC • ENIAC’s overhead – Loud and large: 30 tons • 18,000 vacuum tubes needed constant attention • 6000 switches needed for arithmetic operations • ENIAC’s strengths – Performs arithmetic and logic operations – Made multipurpose with symbolic variables • ENIAC’S weaknesses – Could not modify program contents – Had to be programmed externallyConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 14 Figure 1-3, The ENIAC and some of its programmers ENIAC and EDVAC (cont’d.)Connecting with Computer Science, 2e 15 ENIAC and EDVAC (cont’d.) • EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) created in 1944 – Recognized as the Von Neumann machine – Superior model for descendant computers – Operation governed by program in memory – Programs could be modified – Stored program concept made programs reusable • British response: Colossus – Helps crack German U-boat Enigma code – All machines destroyed by 1960sConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 16 Figure 1-4, The Enigma machine was used to encode German military intelligence in World War II ENIAC and EDVAC (cont’d.)Connecting with Computer Science, 2e 17 The Computer Era Begins: The First Generation • 1950s: First Generation for hardware and software – Vacuum tubes worked as memory for the machine – Data written to magnetic drums and magnetic tapes – Paper tape and data cards handled input – The line printer made its appearance • Software separates from hardware and evolves – Instructions written in binary or machine code – Assembly language: first layer of abstraction – Programmers split into system and application engineersConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 18 Figure 1-5, Grace Murray Hopper and the UNIVAC UNIVACConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 19 UNIVAC (cont’d.) • UNIVAC – First commercially viable computer – U.S. Census Bureau is the first customer – Faces skepticism from Howard Aiken (Mark I builder) • UNIVAC and the 1952 presidential election – Successfully predicts outcome during CBS broadcast – Quickly adopted by all major news networkConnecting with Computer Science, 2e 20 IBM (Big Blue) • IBM dominates mainframe market by the 1960s – Strong sales culture – Controlled 70% of the market • IBM vision – Sharp focus on a few products – Leverage existing business relationships –
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