Early Information Processing

What was the Difference Engine named after?

• The inventor's name

• The method of differences used by the machine

• The difference in technology compared to other machines of the time

• The different types of calculations it could perform

Why did Charles Babbage write a proposal to the British government?

• To request funding for his Difference Engine

• To sell his Difference Engine

• To demonstrate the Difference Engine to the public

• To patent the Difference Engine

What was the main reason the British government agreed to fund Babbage's Difference Engine project?

• To maintain Great Britain's navigational superiority

• Because it was fully functional and ready to use

• To support Babbage's political career

• To outcompete other countries in technology

What was a significant issue with the Difference Engine that Babbage did not anticipate?

• The complexity of the design

• The lack of interest from the public

• The machine's inability to perform calculations

• The government's withdrawal of support

What was the outcome of Babbage's request for additional funds in 1833?

• He received the funds and completed the Difference Engine

• He did not receive the funds and the Difference Engine remained incomplete

• He redirected the funds to another project

• He used the funds to start developing the Analytical Engine

What was the Analytical Engine envisioned to be?

• A machine for printing and typesetting

• A specialized device for just one kind of calculation

• A general-purpose calculation machine that could be programmed

• A political tool for Babbage's career

What mistake did Babbage make when proposing the Analytical Engine to the prime minister?

• He underestimated the cost of the project

• He overestimated the support from the government

• He hinted that the government should have funded his Analytical Engine instead of the Difference Engine

• He failed to provide a working prototype

What was the result of Babbage's over-budget and behind-schedule project proposal for the Analytical Engine?

• He received more funding from the government

• He was asked to work on a different project

• His proposal was accepted despite the issues

• He did not get more funding for the Analytical Engine

What was the main purpose of the electric cables laid along the railroad tracks by railway companies in the 1860s?

• To provide electricity to the trains

• To send and receive telegrams

• To signal the arrival and departure of trains

• To power the railway stations

Who is considered by many to be the world's first computer programmer?

• Charles Babbage

• Lord Byron

• Ada Lovelace

• Alan Turing