Encom 511
Question: The Encom 511 was the computer in what movie?
- Hackers
- Lawnmower Man II
- The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
- Tron
Answer: Tron
November 30th, 2008
Posts filed under 'Trivia'
XP
Question: Windows XP has a default background screen that looks more like the set of what kid's TV show than anything else?
- Leave it to Beaver
- Mr. Rogers Neighborhood
- Bozo the Clown
- The Teletubbies
Answer: The Teletubbies
And we do have to wonder what that says about the graphic designers busily at work inside Microsoft!
November 29th, 2008
Universal solution
Question: True or false: the "Universal Computer" designed by Alan Turing could solve any mathematical problem.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Turing proved that a fixed, definite process on an automatic machine cannot solve every mathematical problem.
November 28th, 2008
Astronomy
Question: The application of computers to astronomy was revolutionary. Ephemeris data calculated by Wallace Eckert in 1951 was the basis for many NASA missions. Which of these bodies was in Eckert's data?
- Jupiter
- Mercury
- Earth
- Bardot
Answer: Jupiter
Ephemeris data on Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, and Pluto from 1652 to 2060 was generated.
November 27th, 2008
Counting
Question: Herman Hollerith organized the Tabulating Machine Corporation which grew into IBM. His punched cards were first used by which government agency?
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Census Bureau
- Internal Revenue Service
- Department of Defense
Answer: Census Bureau
Use of punched cards cut the time required for the 1890 census to one-third that of the previous one.
November 26th, 2008
Adding Machine
Question: The American Arithmometer Company patented the first practical recording adding machine in 1892. It later changed its name to that of the inventor. What was his name?
- Burroughs
- Honeywell
- Sperry Rand
- NCR
Answer: Burroughs
The Burroughs Adding Machine Company came into being in 1905.
November 25th, 2008
Comptometer
Question: The first wholly key-operated calculating machine was the Comptometer, a practical adding and listing machine. Who invented it?
- Leo Evans
- Norbert Dodge
- Francis Galton
- Dorr Felt
Answer: Dorr Felt
November 24th, 2008
Cost overruns
Question: The government funded development of a computing machine, but cost overruns of more than ten times the original estimates caused the administration to withdraw in alarm. An oft-repeated story, but who was the developer the first time it happened?
- W. Burroughs
- N. Dodge
- C. Babbage
- G. Boole
Answer: C. Babbage
Charles Babbage allowed the cost of his difference engine to escalate from 1,500 pounds to 17,000 pounds after eight years of government support.
November 23rd, 2008
Not enough fingers
Question: Before the digital computer age, astronomers had to calculate orbits of astronomical bodies by hand. What was the typical precision of these orbital calculations?
- 2 places
- 6 places
- 9 places
- 100 places
Answer: 9 places
November 22nd, 2008
Floating-point
Question: The use of algorithms is fundamental to developing computer programs. When was the first known use of the floating-point algorithm, which included conditional branches and iterations?
- before 1940
- 1940-1945
- 1945-1948
- after 1948
Answer: before 1940
The Babylonians during Hammurabi's dynasty (1800-1600 B.C.) developed such algorithms for excavations, linear equations, and geometric problems.
November 21st, 2008