History of Computers Week 1 Definition of a Computer * A computer is defined in the following ways * By the work it does * By the kind of information it handles * By its size and price Categories of Computers * Mainframes and PCs that run application software * Embedded chips that control machines * Internet or Cyberspace * Particulars are Moving Targets * Technology advances at exponential rates * Computer memory capacity quadruples every 3 years * Computer processor speed doubles every 3 years * Computer networks - number of hosts doubles every year * Moore's Law * Chip's transistor densities double every 18 months at constant prices * What does this mean? Computer Networks * Network - two or more connected computers * Purpose - sharing or exchange of information and/or resources * Benefits * improved efficiency * reduces need for travel... Course Objectives * Gain increased awareness of impact of computer technology on society * Explore applications of computers in many areas Course Focus * Benefits offered by computer technology * Problems posed by computer technology * Hardware and software systems that make it possible * Future of computers in society Computers and Networks * Facilitate * Concentration of knowledge and control * Distribution of knowledge and control * Have the power to * Amass and interrogate enormous volumes of data * Process data at enormous rates for real systems and simulations Computers and Networks Challenge: * Constitutional definitions * Social structures * Lifestyle options What is a Society? * A voluntary association of individuals for common ends * An enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another * A companionship with one's fellows * A part of a community that is a unit distinguishable by particular aims or standards of living or conduct * The sum of human conditions and activity regarded as a whole functioning interdependently * The customs and organization of an ordered community * How have Computers Affected Society? What are the parts of a society? * What has been the affect of computers on these parts? * What are the benefits? * What are the problems? * What will happen next? What about the Internet? * In recent years this one area has affected society more than any other * How? * What are the issues here? The Parts of a Society * Education * Transportation * Private Sector * Business * Government * Entertainment * Housing * Currency (banking) * Jobs * Space * Medicine * Anything else? Technological Revolutions * Agricultural Revolution * Industrial Revolution * Computational Revolution Revolution Comparison * Workforce distribution * Productivity benefits * Breadth of impact Early Calculating Machines * Abacus * Slide rule * Mechanical calculator * Stepped reckoner * Textile industry - Jacquard Loom * Difference engine Early Calculating Machines through those of today * Analytical engine * The 1890 Census machine * ENIAC * The transistor * The Personal Computer (PC) * The Internet 5 Generations of Modern Computers 1st Generation 1945 - 1956 * Made to order operating instructions * Different binary coded programs told it how to operate * Difficult to program and limited versatility and speed * Vacuum tubes * Magnetic drum storage 2nd Generation 1955-1963 * Transistors * Memory - magnetic core * Assembly language * Printers and memory * Programming languages * Careers 3rd Generation 1964 - 1971 * Quartz clock * Integrated circuit * Operating systems 4th Generation 1971 - now * LSI - Large Scale Integration * VLSI- Very Large Scale Integration * Chip * General consumer usage * Networks 5th Generation * This is the future * What will it be like? * What changes will be big enough to create this new generation? Pioneers of Computing * Charles Babbage * Konrad Zuse * John von Neumann * Alan Turing Important Machines * IBM 700 Series * IBM 360/370 Series * CDC star * Cray 1 * DEC VAX * IBM PC * Apple McIntosh * Taxonomy of Computers * Mainframes * Supercomputers * Microprocessors * Chips Don't Forget the Chip * Computers are used in many different technologies * For example: bread machine, ATM, cars, TV, microwave, cash register, ..... * How has this utilization affected society? Wirth's Law * The software gets slower faster than the hardware gets faster * What does this mean? How Society Reacts to Revolutions * Incorporate benefits * Civilize change * Compensate injured * Regain balance ATM Example * Positive * CONVENIENCE * Negative * Unemployment * Alienation and customer service * Crime * Loss of privacy * Errors * Reconsider the Problems * Unemployment -> more computer jobs * Alienation -> go during business hours * Crime -> add lights, change angle,etc. Weigh the positive against the negative Computers used in Restaurants * How? * What are the Advantages? * What are the Disadvantages? * What are the Problems? Solutions to Problems * Technical * Managerial * Legal * Market mechanisms * Education Issues to be Studied Due to Computers in Society * Privacy of communications * Intellectual property * Constitutional issues * General social issues * Professional ethics