Objective:
1. Students will be given a chronological survey of how computer technology developed and evolved.
2. Students will define terms associated with computer technology
Materials:
The Age of Spiritual Machines, p. 261- 280
Timeline handout
Glossary:
1. bit = An abbreviation of binary digit, one of the two numbers -0 and 1 - used to encode computer data. A bit is expressed by a high or low electrical voltage.
2. byte = A group of eight bits used to encode a single letter, number or symbol.
3. chip = A small piece of silicon that is a complete semiconductor device or integrated circuit.
4. microprocessor = An integrated circuit that provides in one chip functions equivalent to those contained in the central processing unit of a computer. A microprocessor interprets and executes instructions and usually incorporates arithmetic capabilities and some memory.
5. semiconductor = An element whose electrical conductivity is less than that of a conductor, such as copper and greater than that of an insulator, such as glass.
6. Transistor = A semiconductor device that acts primarily either as an amplifier or as a current switch.
7. Wafer = A thin disk of semiconductor material on which many chips are fabricated at one time. The chips are subsequently separated and packaged individually.
Strategies:
The teacher will conduct a mini-lecture explaining each event posted on the timeline and explaining the significance of each glossary word.
This time line is adapted from The Age of Spiritual Machines by Ray Kurzweil.
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1940
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ABC, the first electronic computer is built ________________________________________________________________
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1944
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Howard Aiken completes Mark I. Using
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punched paper for programming and vacuum
tubes to calculate, it is the first computer built
by an American
_____________________________________________________________________
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1946
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The world's first fully electronic, general
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purpose digital computer is developed it's
almost one thousand times faster than Mark I
_____________________________________________________________________
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1947
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Transistor is invented. This device functions
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like a vacuum tube but is able to switch currents
on and off at highers speeds. The transistor
revolutionizes microelectronics, contributing to
lower costs of computers and leading to the
____
____
____
development of mainframe and minicomputers.
________________________________________________________________________
1955
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____
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The space program and the military recognize
the importance of having computers with
enough power to launch rockets and missiles.
Both organizations supply major funding for
research.
_____________________________________________________________________
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1964
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Gordon Moore predicts that integrated circuits
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will double in complexity each year. This will
become known as Moore's Law and prove true
for decades.
_____________________________________________________________________
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1970
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The floppy disc is introduced for storing data
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_____________________________________________________________________
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1971
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The Intel 4004, the first microprocessor, is
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introduced by Intel.
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_____________________________________________________________________
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1975
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The first personal computer, the Altair 8800, is
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introduced. It has 256 bytes of memory.
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Closure:
Examine your table closely, based on what we reviewed today what do you think were some significant inventions/discoveries that enabled the development of computer technology? Explain your thinking.
