Mod 1-a Introduction -- How we got here

This module represents potentially important background material. The student is advised to get as much as possible out of a quick read then move on to other modules. History Major technology required Recent developments The future 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

BACKGROUND & DISCUSSION

INSTRUCTIONS:

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Learning Objectives ---- What do we hope to accomplish here?

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Background & Discussion ------ Some help in getting started. Why is this important?

Major technology required

Recent developments

The future   Read through this part to see what you are expected to know.

Although interesting, it isn't essential to understand the step-by-step development of the computer. Whether Zusa developed the first computer or Atanosof really doesn't help to understand the Local Bus. However, Modern computers are so tied up in speed-enhancing features that the basic principles are well hidden and hard to learn. Earlier computers, being much simpler, make it easier to learn those important basic principles.

On the other hand, you are not here to learn to design or to program computers so why even worry about the internal workings of the computer? By analogy, you don't really have to understand an engine to drive a car but it is certainly helpful to have some idea of what those red lights mean. For example, you are out on a lonely stretch of highway or in a not so nice part of a big city. A red dash light comes on. Should you stop immediately or plunge on to a more safe area? Depends on which red light and what else the car is doing, doesn't it? So we'll go under the assumption that some knowledge of what's inside is important.

The punched card industry had developed printers, sorters, data entry, and other devices over sixty years. That they were so mature and available made computers easier to talk to. Similarly, the teleprinter or teletype machines were also available with their very mature data interface that was expanded into the ubiquitous RS-232 protocol.

The telephone industry had developed relays and other magnetic logic devices.

But most of all, the radio industry had developed the vacuum tube to a high state of maturity. Tubes provided the fast logic that made early computers work.

Shortly after the computer was invented, the transistor replaced tubes. Lower power, smaller, much more reliable than tubes, the transistor made the computer an economic success. The integrated circuit (IC) expanded the capability even more. The invention of the BUS, which made ICs more useful, also allowed the computer to be made expandable.

Data base management systems were developed to make the organization and management of large amounts of data easy enough for ordinary people. By setting standards and by developing ever more complex DBMS systems, the computer became more useful. Data base management and access may well become the most important technology for the future of computing.  You should know data base processing.

In the beginning, every program had to be designed completely from scratch. But by standardizing and organizing the kinds of tasks done by all programs they created the Operating System. We see the Operating System as our interface with the computer. But it does much more, making the development of new computer programs much easier. You should note that Operating Systems are not as efficient as designing from scratch so they couldn't be developed until computers were very fast with lots of memory.

Graphic based operating systems, developed by Xerox PARC were first brought to the public by Macintosh. UNIX X-Windows followed suit, and now,  years later, Microsoft Windows is catching up. It's important to note that until the 386 processor, the PC didn't have the compute power for Mac-level graphic operating systems. Graphics takes lots of memory and very fast processing to be effective.

The convergence of all kinds of technology were required to develop the computer to its current state. 

Then the mini grew. Soon it was so big and expensive that it was no longer available to the ordinary engineer. So along came the microprocessor which essentially repeated the mini experience. But the micro went the mini one better. It was so cheap that now ordinary people could afford a computer. In 1980 when Radio Shack began to sell more computers than IBM, IBM decided to go into the microcomputer business. It called them Personal Computers to avoid the 'toy' reputation of micros.

In 1984 Apple brought out the Macintosh to replace its long line of Apple II hobby/education computers. Apple took two giant leaps with the Mac. First, they used the first effective graphics operating systems. Second, they really didn't even call it a computer. It was an 'office automation tool'. They foresaw what is happening today. Most computers aren't used for 'computing' anything. They are running word processors software, Data Base software, Hospital management software, .... Finally, the computer isn't just for calculating numbers, it is a tool, a commodity, not a technology per se.

So if the computer is now just a tool, not a computer, the users are no longer programmers or engineers. Not being 'techies', they won't put up with hard-to-use software. They won't put up with systems crashes or improperly installed software. They want it easy to use and when something goes wrong they want a computer support person to set it right immediately.
 

That's where we come in.

What is, or will be, the outcome of the major battle between Microsoft and Netscape?  Will AOL's purchase of Netscape change the mix?  Will Windows light make any inroads?

Windows 2000 is on the horizon.  What will be its improvements, drawbacks, and impact?
You should at least become conversant with computer history, modern computers, and the software that runs them. You should prepare yourself to use the terminology of computing until it becomes your second language.  

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Exercise Description -------- Procedures for completing this exercise

Be prepared to answer pertinent questions on the history of computing as it applies to the current marketplace.

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Evaluation Criteria

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