Computer History Timeline
Pages 52-65
When studying these pages pay specific attention to the theory, concept, significance, or device and the
person who is responsible for it. It is not necessary to memorize specific dates involved.
Answer the following questions on a scantron to be turned in for a grade.
True or False.
__ 1. The design of the ABC computer by Dr. John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry in the late 1930's
provided the foundation for the development of electronic digital computers.
__ 2. The ENIAC was the first large-scale electronic digital computer.
__ 3. Charles Babbage is credited with developing the stored program concept.
__ 4. The first commercially available electronic digital computer was the IBM PC.
__ 5. It was the UNIVAC I that was responsible for the public becoming increasingly aware of the
development of electronic digital computers, when it predicted the outcome of the 1952 presidential
election.
__ 6. By 1960, there were only two programming languages that had been created, COBOL and
FORTRAN.
__ 7. Dr. Grace Hopper was an early leader in the development of programming.
__ 8. FORTRAN was a programming language developed in 1957.
__ 9. COBOL is a widely used business programming language.
__10. Second generation computers were characterized by the use of vacuum tubes.
__11. The first personal computer was introduced in 1965 by Digital Equipment Corporation.
__12. Dr. Ted Hoff developed the microprocessor, a programmable computer chip.
__13. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak designed the IBM personal computer.
__14. Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston designed the first word processing program.
__15. Many people believe VisiCalc is the single most important reason that microcomputers gained
acceptance in the business world.
Multiple Choice.
__16. What object-oriented programming language was introduced that is used on the Internet?
A. COBOL
C. JAVA
B. VisiCalc
D. FORTRAN
__17. During World War II, which scientist designed a computer called Colossus?
A. Ted Hoff
C. Alan Turing
B. Blaise Pascal
D. Jack Kilby
__18. An Internet-based hypermedia enterprise invented by Tim Berners-Lee for information sharing
is:
A. Netscape
C. World Wide Web
B. Internet Explorer
D. Outlook Express
_19. The leading United States’ manufacturer of personal computers is:
A. Apple
C. Dell
B. Compaq
D. IBM
__20. This term describes the ability to work at home on a computer connected to a remote office:
A. Telecommuting
C. Teleconferencing
B. Telecomputing
D. None of the above
21. A third generation computer is the:
A. ENIAC
C. Pet
B. Apple II
D. IBM System/360
__22. The basic programming language was developed by:
A. Dr. Grace Hopper
C. Dr. Ted Hoff
B. Dr. John Von Neumann
D. Dr. John Kemeny
__23. Fourth generation computers are characterized by:
A. Transistors
C. Solid Logic Technology
B. Batch processing
D. Large Scale Integration
__24. In 2004, ______ became a cost-effective way to transport data and information.
A. USB Flash Drives
C. MP3 Players.
B. Floppy Disks
D. Removable Hard Drives
__25. The predecessor of the Internet was the
A. World Wide Web
C. ARPANET
B. Ethernet
D. None of the above