Early Computing

In 1924, several machine companies merged to become IBM, The ___ Corporation

•  Industrial Business Machines
• International Business Machines
• Industrial Babbage Machines
• International Babbage Machines

What was the earliest recognized device for computing?

• papyrus tables
• the abacus
• the astrolabe
• the slide rule

Where and when was the abacus invented?

• in Egypt around 5000 BCE
• in Europe around 250 BCE
• in Mesopotamia around 2500 BCE
• in Africa around 500 BCE

On this abacus, with rows representing powers of ten, what number is shown?

• 2,512

• 1,521

• 1,251

• 5,121

The Analytical Engine would inspire, arguably, the first generation of ___

• computer scientists
• computer hobbyists
• census analysts
• video game programmers

Which device enabled sailors to calculate their latitude at sea?

• an astrolabe
• a slide rule
• an abacus
• a difference engine

The earliest documented use of the word “computer” is from a book written in the year ___

• 1183
• 1392
• 1613
• 1984

Hollerith’s machine was much faster than manual tabulations, and the Census was completed in just ___

• two and a half months
• seven years
• two and a half years
• seven years

Unlike all other computational devices before it, the Analytical Engine was a ___

• “multi-user computer”
• “electro-mechanical computer”
• “general purpose computer”
• “networked computer”

Herman Hollerith's “electro-mechanical” tabulating machine was used during the census of ___

• 1860
• 1890
• 1960
• 1990