Chapter 1 Introduction

As you read through pages 35 - 47 (blue book) answer the following questions.

1. What are the four basic functions performed by every computer? (37)

2. What was the purpose of the Colossus computer? (39)

3. Describe the three devices that defined the first three computer generations. (40-41)

4. What are the benefits of integrated circuits?

5. Use webopedia to describe the differences between a mainframe and supercomputer.

6. According to the text what is the world's fastest computer? What rank is this same computer today? Find out at the Top 500 List Which computer is at the top of the list today and where is it located? Use this article if the Top 500 List is not available.

7. How fast is this top super computer?

8. According to this same article, which countries have the most supercomputers, list the top three and how many each country has.

9. What is firmware and where can it be found? Give several examples of where you find firmware.

10. Describe a mainframe computer in a way which differentiates it from a super computer based on this article.

11. According to this article who are some of the major users of mainframe computers and for what purposes?

12. Here is an example of what happens when a mainframe computer system goes down - Southwest Computer Problems. How much was this incident going to cost Southwest? What was the CEO more concerned about than the financial loss?