Early Milestones in Computational Technology

Describe a microchip

• A large component used in computers for data storage.

• A tiny piece of silicon that contains electronic circuits and uses electrical signals to store and process digital data.

• A type of software that manages hardware resources.

• A device that converts analog signals to digital signals.

What is the best example of a computing device using abstraction to connect images with social systems?

• Social media platforms tagging individuals in photos.

• A digital camera capturing high-resolution images.

• A photo editing software enhancing image quality.

• An online storage service for saving images.

Definition of a microchip

• A semiconductor that contains electronic circuits and uses electrical signals to store and process digital data.

• A type of software that manages computer hardware resources.

• A physical component that connects different parts of a computer.

• A type of memory used for temporary data storage.

Law observing that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years.

• Moore's Law

• Einstein's Theory

• Newton's Law of Motion

• Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle

Abstraction in computer science is...

• The process of simplifying complex systems by focusing on the main features.

• The process of removing elements of a code or program that aren't relevant or that distract from more important elements.

• The method of organizing data in a database for efficient retrieval.

• The technique of writing code that is easy to read and understand.

Why were relay systems replaced by vacuum tubes?

• Vacuum tubes had no moving parts, used less electricity, and were smaller.

• Relay systems were too large and inefficient.

• Vacuum tubes were more expensive to produce than relays.

• Relay systems required more maintenance than vacuum tubes.

What is Moore's Law?

• The theory that computer processing power will increase exponentially over time.

• The observation that the number of transistors able to fit on a microchip doubles every two years.

• The principle that energy consumption in computing will decrease over time.

• The prediction that the size of microchips will shrink indefinitely.

Name some objects used in your daily tasks made simpler by abstraction.

• Microwave

• Bicycle

• Television

• Refrigerator

Objects that use abstraction to simplify actions

• Door lock

• Television remote

• Smartphone

• Coffee maker

During the evolution from ENIAC to smartphones, what had to happen to the electrical switches?

• Electrical switches had to become faster and much smaller.

• Electrical switches had to become larger and slower.

• Electrical switches had to be replaced by mechanical switches.

• Electrical switches had to become more complex and less efficient.