Evolution of Computer and Internet - Lecture Notes Review (CSC098)

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering evolution of computers, GUI, Internet origins, networking protocols, and digital media concepts based on the lecture notes.

What is a key feature of the Altair 8800 (1975)?

Only 256 bytes of memory; no keyboard or monitor; data entered via front panel switches in machine code (1s and 0s); lights indicate results.

Who founded Apple Computer and when was the Apple I introduced?

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple; Apple I introduced in 1976.

What were the main features of the Commodore PET (1977)?

4 KB RAM; OS stored in ROM; optional floppy disk to load programs; featured color monitor, sound, and game paddles.

What are the key characteristics of the TRS-80 introduced by Radio Shack?

Monochrome display; 4 KB RAM; circuitry hidden under keyboard; wildly popular with consumers—sold 10,000 units in the first month.

Describe the Osborne portable computer (1981).

Weighed 24.5 pounds; 5-inch screen; 64 KB RAM; two floppy drives; preinstalled with spreadsheet and word processing software.

What was the IBM PC (5150) and its RAM range?

Marketed to businesses and consumers; RAM ranged from 64 KB to 256 KB; floppy drives optional; hard disks not supported in early models.

Which is considered the first personal computer and which early models followed?

The Altair 8800 is an early personal computer; Apple I (1976) followed by Apple II (1977) with enhanced features.

Which companies entered the computer market in the late 1970s and early 1980s?

Commodore, Radio Shack, Osborne, and IBM.

Name early programming languages and operating systems mentioned in the notes.

Programming languages: FORTRAN, ALGOL, COBOL; Operating systems: DOS, CP/M, MS-DOS.

What is the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and which early systems popularized it?

GUI includes features like WYSIWYG, mouse, and networking; Xerox Alto introduced GUI concepts; Apple Lisa (1983) and Macintosh (1984) popularized GUI with windows, icons, menus.

When did the web browser Mosaic debut and which browsers followed?

Mosaic debuted in 1993; Internet Explorer appeared in 1995; Netscape Navigator evolved from Mosaic in 1994.

Which company produced the early GUI-based Alto computer?

Xerox.

What is ARPANET and its purpose?

Advanced Research Projects Agency Network; created by ARPA for military communications and to connect computers, laying the groundwork for the Internet.

What is ASCII and why is it important?

ASCII code is the standard for representing characters to exchange data between computers from different manufacturers.

What milestone occurred in 1969 related to UCLA and Stanford?

Researchers at UCLA sent the first message over a networked computer system to researchers at Stanford University.

Who developed the TCP/IP protocol and why is it important?

Vincent Cerf and Robert Kahn developed TCP/IP in 1973; it allowed different types of computers to communicate over networks.

Who is Ray Tomlinson and what did he contribute?

Ray Tomlinson wrote a program to send email over ARPANET and developed the user@host convention.

By 1978, how many hosts were on ARPANET?

111 hosts.

What key developments did Tim Berners-Lee introduce in 1992?

Developed and publicized the HTTP protocol and the World Wide Web; WWW is a subset of the Internet connected via hypertext.

What is an Internet backbone?

Transmission lines with faster speeds that carry Internet traffic along core routes.

What is an IP address and its significance?

A unique address assigned to a computer on the Internet to identify hosts.

What is the client-server model in web communication?

Client requests data; Server provides data in response; computers can play either role in a client/server network.

What is digital convergence?

The use of a single device to handle media, Internet, entertainment, and telephony (e.g., smartphones performing many computer functions).

What is the difference between digital and analog in media?

Digital uses long strings of numbers; analog uses continuous waves; conversion between them is analog-to-digital conversion (ADC).

What is digital publishing and the role of e-readers?

Digital publishing involves distributing text digitally; e-readers display e-text using electronic ink (E Ink) and support digital books.

What factors determine image quality in digital photography?

Lens quality, image sensor size, resolution, and file formats (RAW vs JPEG); color management software also affects quality.

What is a codec?

Rules for compressing audio and video data.

Differentiate between mainframe, supercomputer, and embedded computer.

Mainframe supports many users and programs; Supercomputer performs extremely rapid complex calculations; Embedded computers are self-contained devices performing dedicated functions (e.g., mobile phones, GPS).