Trivial Net - Computer and Tech Trivia for Geeks » Trivia

Encom 511

geeky — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:00:36 +0000

Question: The Encom 511 was the computer in what movie?

Hackers
Lawnmower Man II
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
Tron

Answer: Tron

XP

geeky — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:00:07 +0000

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!

Universal solution

geeky — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:00:34 +0000

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.

Astronomy

geeky — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:00:08 +0000

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.

Counting

geeky — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:45 +0000

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.

Adding Machine

geeky — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:00:19 +0000

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.

Comptometer

geeky — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:51 +0000

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

Cost overruns

geeky — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:00:24 +0000

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.

Not enough fingers

geeky — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:00:58 +0000

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

Floating-point

geeky — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:00:28 +0000

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.