Trivial Net - Computer and Tech Trivia for Geeks

Palm Reading

Question: The first PalmPilot was released ten years ago today, ushering in the PDA revolution. What company originally made PalmPilot? What other company sued, forcing the PalmPilot’s name change?


Answer: The PalmPilot was manufactured by Palm Computing, a division of U.S. Robotics. Pilot Pen Corporation brought a trademark infringement suit againt the company. Beginning in 1998, the devices were known officially as Palm Connected Organizers.

Add comment March 27th, 2006

Bury Me Face Down, 9-edge First

Question: The phrase “face down, 9-edge first” refers to…?

• Insertion of memory cards into a VAX 11/780
• Orientation of punch cards for insertion into a card reader
• A series of moves used to unscramble a Rubik’s Cube
• A standard graph theory representation for Token Ring networks

Answer: Orientation of punch cards for insertion into a card reader.

Hollerith (”IBM”) cards had two long edges, referred to as the “9 edge” and “12 edge”, after the punches nearest these edges. Standard card readers read the “9 edge” first, and needed the cards inserted face down for correct reading.

Add comment March 15th, 2006

Hop To It

Question: This is one of the most commonly used test models in computer graphics.

Here’s a simple, two-part question about this rabbit:

1. What’s it called?
2. How many triangles make up this model?

Answer: This model is known as the Stanford Bunny. It was developed in 1994 at Stanford University. It is made of 69,451 triangles, which were determined by range-scanning a ceramic bunny figurine.

Source: The Stanford Bunny page

Add comment March 11th, 2006

I Wonder if it’s on Channel 64?

Question: What television network occupies the building that used to be Commodore headquarters?

Answer: QVC.

(And while we’re on the subject, do you know what QVC stands for?)

Source: On the Edge: the Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore

Add comment March 9th, 2006

Phair Maiden

Question: In 1930, Venetia Burney (now Venetia Phair) named a particular object in space, and in fact is the only person who can rightly claim to have named one of these objects. What did she name?

Answer: Venetia Phair (born Venetia Burney), now 87 years old, named the planet Pluto after the Roman god of the Underworld. She suggested the name in 1930, which was officially adopted on May 1, 1930. (Read the article at BBC News.)

Add comment March 8th, 2006

Trivial Net Goes Bloggish

So my buddy Dave Taylor and I launched Trivial Net, an online game dedicated to computer & technology trivia, in 1997. 1997!, when most folks hadn’t heard of the world wide web yet, let alone blogs. Anyway, after so many years the multiple-choice online game was due for an update, and some of the answers just weren’t accurate anymore because the technology has changed. So I’ve pulled Trivial Net up by its roots, and we’re moving to this new, more interactive format.

Here’s how it works: every day so often, there will be a computer/technology question, then the answer, then you compare the answer to your guess and either get to feel smug about how much geeky stuff you know, or you feel ashamed at your lack or nerdiness. Alternatively, you can use the comments feature to correct me or complain or whatever.

And best of all, you can send in your own smart-alecky geek trivia questions (with the answers). I’ll post the good ones, credit you, and you’ll be nerd of the day.

Add comment March 7th, 2006