Name__________________

Computers, Part I

1. Why were the abacus and Arabic numbers important for Western mathematics and computing?

 

 

2. What was Colossus? What was ENIAC?

 

 

3. What is the difference between a mainframe, a minicomputer, and a PC? What are some strengths and weaknesses of each?

 

 

4. Why is the Altair 8800 so important in PC history? Was the computer practical for commercial use? What important person or groups did this computer influence?

 

 

5. What is a “Killer App (also known as a Killer Application)?”

 

 

6. Why were Steve Jobs and “The Woz” (Steve Wozniak) so important to Apple? What important skills and talents did each contribute to the company that the other one lacked?