Catalysts for Change

This flashcard set covers key concepts, technological advancements, and historical milestones related to the evolution of technology and the Information Age.

What are the two principal catalysts for the Information Age according to the notes?

Low-cost computers and high-speed communication networks.

What key technology allows individuals to communicate instantly via electronic mail?

Email.

What significant transformation occurred in relation to London's taxi drivers according to neuroscientists?

The brains of taxi drivers have larger-than-average hippocampi.

How did the adoption of mechanical calculators affect the workforce in offices?

It led to the 'de-skilling' and 'feminization' of bookkeeping.

What does the Amish community consider when evaluating new technologies?

They assess whether a technology brings people together or draws them apart.

What was the first commercially successful mechanical calculator and who created it?

The Arithmometer, created by Charles Thomas de Colmar.

What was the significance of the UNIVAC computer in the context of the 1952 presidential election?

It was the first computer to predict the outcome of a presidential election.

What early computing device was used for solving systems of linear equations during World War II?

The Atanasoff-Berry Computer.

What led to the development of the microprocessor?

The need for a general-purpose chip that could be programmed for various tasks.

What programming language was developed in 1957 for scientific applications?

FORTRAN.

What is the significance of Moore's Law?

It refers to the observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years.

What technological advancement did the development of the transistors lead to during the Cold War?

The creation of integrated circuits.

What invention transformed the way humans could communicate over long distances in the 19th century?

The telegraph.

Who is credited with the invention of the World Wide Web?

Tim Berners-Lee.

What is the purpose of a search engine?

To accept keywords from a user and return documents closely matching those keywords.

What day is considered the birth date of the Internet?

January 1, 1983.

What is the primary function of broadband connections?

To enable the transfer of large files, such as images, music, and video.

What shift in IT industry locations is outlined in the notes?

The industry has become more decentralized, with innovation hotspots in various cities around the world.