This document provides an overview of the history of computers and their impact on society. It discusses how computer technology has advanced at an exponential rate, with memory and processor speeds doubling every few years. It also examines how computer networks have connected an increasing number of systems. The document then explores how computers and networks have affected various parts of society, such as education, business, government and more. It analyzes how technological revolutions like the computer revolution have impacted workforces and productivity. The text traces the development of early calculating machines to modern computers and pioneers in the field. It also considers some problems that have arisen from increased computer usage and potential solutions.

1. History of Computers
Week 1

2. 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

3. 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

4. Computer Networks
Network - two or more
connected computers
Purpose - sharing or exchange
of information and/or
resources
Benefits
 improved efficiency
 reduces need for travel…

5. 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

6. Computers and Networks
Challenge:
Constitutional definitions
Social structures
Lifestyle options

7. 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

8. What is a Society?
 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

9. 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?

10. What about the Internet?
In recent years this one
area has affected society
more than any other
How?
What are the issues here?

11. The Parts of a Society
Education
Transportation
Private Sector
Business
Government
Entertainment
Housing

12. The Parts of a Society
Currency (banking)
Jobs
Space
Medicine
Anything else?

13. Technological Revolutions
Agricultural Revolution
Industrial Revolution
Computational Revolution

14. Revolution Comparison
Workforce distribution
Productivity benefits
Breadth of impact

15. How Society Reacts to
Revolutions
Incorporate benefits
Civilize change
Compensate injured
Regain balance

16. Early Calculating
Machines
Abacus
Slide rule
Mechanical calculator
Stepped reckoner
Textile industry - Jacquard
Loom
Difference engine

17. Early Calculating
Machines through those
of today
Analytical engine
The 1890 Census machine
ENIAC
The transistor
The Personal Computer
(PC)
The Internet

18. 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

19. 2nd Generation 1955-
1963
Transistors
Memory - magnetic core
Assembly language
Printers and memory
Programming languages
Careers

20. 3rd Generation 1964 -
1971
Quartz clock
Integrated circuit
Operating systems

21. 4th Generation 1971 -
now
LSI - Large Scale
Integration
VLSI- Very Large Scale
Integration (ULSI)
Chip
General consumer usage
Networks

22. 5th Generation
This is the future
What will it be like?
What changes will be big
enough to create this new
generation?

23. Pioneers of Computing
Charles
Babbage
Konrad Zuse
John von
Neumann
Alan Turing
Steve Jobs

24. Important Machines
 IBM 700 Series
 IBM 360/370
Series
 CDC star
 Cray 1
 DEC VAX
 IBM PC
 Apple McIntosh

25. Taxonomy of Computers
Mainframes
Minis
Micros
Supercomputers
Embedded

26. 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?

27. ATM Example
 Positive
 CONVENIENCE
 Negative
 Unemployment
 Alienation and customer service
 Crime
 Loss of privacy
 Errors

28. Reconsider the Problems
 Unemployment -> more computer
jobs
 Alienation -> go during business
hours
 Crime -> add lights, change
angle,etc.
Weigh the positive against the
negative

29. Solutions to Problems
Technical
Managerial
Legal
Market mechanisms
Education

30. Issues to be Studied Due
to Computers in Society
Privacy of communications
Intellectual property
Constitutional issues
General social issues
Professional ethics