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.
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
_____________________________________________________________________
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
_____________________________________________________________________
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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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.
_____________________________________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________________________________________
1970
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The floppy disc is introduced for storing data
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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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_____________________________________________________________________
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.