1. History of Computers
Week 1

2. 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

3. 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

4. Computer Networks Network - two or more connected computers
Purpose - sharing or exchange of information and/or resources
Benefits
improved efficiency
reduces need for travel…

5. 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

6. Computers and Networks Challenge:
Constitutional definitions
Social structures
Lifestyle options

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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?

10. What about the Internet?
In recent years this one area has affected society more than any other
How?
What are the issues here?

11. The Parts of a Society Education Transportation Private Sector
Business
Government
Entertainment
Housing

12. The Parts of a Society Currency (banking) Jobs Space Medicine
Anything else?

13. Technological Revolutions
Agricultural Revolution
Industrial Revolution
Computational Revolution

14. Revolution Comparison
Workforce distribution
Productivity benefits
Breadth of impact

15. Early Calculating Machines
Abacus
Slide rule
Mechanical calculator
Stepped reckoner
Textile industry - Jacquard Loom
Difference engine

16. Early Calculating Machines through those of today
Analytical engine
The 1890 Census machine
ENIAC
The transistor
The Personal Computer (PC)
The Internet

17. 5 Generations of Modern Computers
1st Generation
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

18. 2nd Generation 1955-1963 Transistors Memory - magnetic core
Assembly language
Printers and memory
Programming languages
Careers

19. 3rd Generation 1964 - 1971 Quartz clock Integrated circuit
Operating systems

20. 4th Generation 1971 - now LSI - Large Scale Integration
VLSI- Very Large Scale Integration (ULSI)
Chip
General consumer usage
Networks

21. 5th Generation This is the future What will it be like?
What changes will be big enough to create this new generation?

22. Pioneers of Computing Charles Babbage Konrad Zuse John von Neumann
Alan Turing
Steve Jobs

23. Important Machines IBM 700 Series IBM 360/370 Series CDC star Cray 1
DEC VAX
IBM PC
Apple McIntosh

24. Taxonomy of Computers
Mainframes
Minis
Micros
Supercomputers
Embedded

25. 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?

26. Wirth’s Law
The software gets slower faster than the hardware gets faster
What does this mean?

27. How Society Reacts to Revolutions
Incorporate benefits
Civilize change
Compensate injured
Regain balance

28. ATM Example Positive CONVENIENCE Negative Unemployment
Alienation and customer service
Crime
Loss of privacy
Errors

29. Reconsider the Problems
Unemployment -> more computer jobs
Alienation -> go during business hours
Crime -> add lights, change angle,etc.
Weigh the positive against the negative

30. Solutions to Problems Technical Managerial Legal Market mechanisms
Education

31. Issues to be Studied Due to Computers in Society
Privacy of communications
Intellectual property
Constitutional issues
General social issues
Professional ethics