History of Computing Quiz

In 1642 Pascal created a mechanical device with gears and levers. This device was capable of what kind of calculation?

• Addition

• Addition and subtraction

• Addition, subtraction, and multiplication

• Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

Leibniz built on Pascal's work by creating the Leibniz Wheel. This device was capable of what kind of calculations in addition to the ones Pascal's could do?

• Subtraction

• Addition and multiplication

• Subtraction and multiplication

• Multiplication and division

The Jacquard loom is important in the history of computing for what innovation?

• It worked like a player piano.

• Reusable cards with holes held information.

• It used gears and wheels for calculation.

• Paper rolls with holes held information.

IBM has some of its origins in what 1890 event?

• The U.S. census

• The first Jacquard loom in the United States

• Ada Lovelace's first program loop

• The introduction of electricity to the United States

Name the four important elements of Babbage's Engine that are components of today's computer.

• The stored program technique, an input device, an output device, and memory

• Mechanical calculation equipment, human-powered mechanisms, punched cards, and an output device

• An input device, memory, a central processing unit, an output device

• An input device, the stored program technique, a central processing unit, and an output device

What logical elements did Charles Sanders Peirce realize electrical switches could emulate in 1880?

• Epistemological calculus

• Ontological algebra

• Boolean algebra

• Metaphysical algebra

The U.S. military used the ENIAC computer for its intended purpose during World War II.

• True

• False

What important concept is attributed to John Von Neumann?

• The large memory concept

• The stored program concept

• The discrete variable automation concept

• The virtual memory concept

What company controlled 70% or more of the computer marketplace in the '60s and '70s?

• Sperry-Univac

• International Business Machines

• Hollerith Machines

• Microsoft

What features of transistors made them superior for computers, compared with vacuum tubes?

• They were more expensive than tubes but lasted longer and were cooler in temperature.

• They didn't last as long as tubes but were less expensive.

• They were cheaper and smaller than tubes.

• They were cheaper, smaller, and cooler than tubes and lasted longer.