computers in education past, present, and future cecs 4100 chapter 9

Computers in EducationPast, Present, and Future

CECS 4100

Chapter 9

Purpose for the Development of Computers

To simplify the process of data and information manipulation and storage

Evolution of Computers

Abacus - One of the earliest devices to simplify the manipulation of data (not mechanical)

Pascaline -First mechanical calculating device (17th century); a simple gear-driven device for adding and subtracting

More reliable and practical devices continued to be developed


Electronic calculators - early 1970s ; replaced mechanical ones

Jacquard’s Loom - punch cards to record pattern; first machine that could be “programmed”

Charles Babbage “Father of the Computer”

Difference Engine - tabulating device Analytical Engine - steam driven with

parts of modern computers (input, CPU, memory and output)

Never completed due to the state of technology at the time

Computer Data Processing

1890 census - Herman Hollerith won a contest when he created the fastest, most efficient method for gathering census information

Hollerith went on to market his machines and eventually this firm became IBM corporation

Electronic Machines

The first machine in which computing, control, and memory were all electrical was developed by John V. Atanasoff of Iowa State Univ. in the early 1940s.

The ABC computer (Atanasoff-Berry Computer) is recognized as the first electronic digital computer

ENIAC

ENIAC - used by the military for creating firing tables for new weapons

500 times faster than the best previousPowered by vacuum tubes (1st

generation)Filled a room 20 feet by 40 feet!

Transistors

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes in 1959

Were replaced quickly by integrated circuits (1964)

Computers became faster, smaller, and more reliable

Apple Computer

1977, Apple introduced the Apple II microcomputer, a compact, self-contained desktop computer

Early Projects

Computer Curriculum Corporation (CCC) - developed CAI

Plato - (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operation)

SCHOLAR - first attempt at intelligent tutoring

MYCIN - artificial intelligence

Computers in the Classroom

In 1981 there were, on average, 125 students per computer; in 1991, there were 18.

Predicting the Future of Computers

“This telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.”

(Western Union, internal memo, 1876)


“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”

(Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943)


“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”

(Ken Olson, President, Chairman, and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977)


“640 K ought to be enough memory for anybody.”

(Bill Gates, Microsoft Corporation, 1981)


Interactive VideoArtificial IntelligencePortable, laptop computersVirtual reality

computers in education past, present, and future cecs 4100 chapter 9

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