History of Computing (Crash Course Computer Science Episode 1&2)

The abacus was invented in Mesopotamia around 2500 BCE. I was used for ___________________.

• adding and subtracting many numbers

• multiplication

• division

• counting

The astrolabe was another mechanical calculating device used enabled sailors to calculate _____________.

• their latitude at sea

• their speed

• their direction

• the date

The slide rule assisted with _____________.

• algrebra

• multiplication and division

• measuring things

• square roots

The earliest use of the word "computer" was in 1613 in a book referring to a _______________.

• job title

• early calculating machines

• mechanical device

• adding machine

The Step Reckoner was know for it's ability to ______________.

• add

• subtract

• multiply

• divide

• all of the above

Before the 20th century most people experienced computing through ____________.

• pre-computed tables

• mechanical devices

• computers

• school

Charles Babbage created designs for a general purpse computer called the Analytical Engine. Although never built, it ___________.

• was ahead of it's time

• foreshadowed computer programs

• inspired the first generation of computer scientist

• all of the above

US Gov needed help with the 1819 census, so they hired Herman Hollerith who created the a electro-mechanical tabulation device. His company later turned into ___________.

• IBM

• DELL

• Apple

• Microsoft

The Harvard Mark I was used in World War II as part of the Manhattan Project. It used ______________ to help it compute.

• mechanical relays

• vacuum tubes

• transistors

Mechanical relays were a good step forward but they had problems like __________________. (check all that apply)

• slow

• wore out

• literally got bugs in them

• expensive

• big