Computers

COM-
PUTER
DESIGN:
PAST
PRESENT
FUTURE

AN
ADVEN-
TURE
IN COM-
PUTER

Web Introduction
Once upon a time people managed to communicate without e-mail, sms, live-chat, video chat,
Ques
virtual worlds, Facebook, MySpace or even word processing! Can you imagine having to use
t your legs to walk into a building to check out a book? Imagine libraries that you visited in person.
Imagine a time in history when people used little bits of plastic and ink to write with (and in some
1. cases chew on). Today you are in grade 6 or 7. It's hard to believe, but 10 years from now, chil-
dren will not only find these things hard to believe - they’ll also find it hard, if not impossible, to
2. imagine a world where you dialed a modem over a telephone line to connect to the Internet. Or
Task where you tried to download a program and it took all day. They might even find it difficult to be-

3. lieve that students had to share computers, take their turn. Children will be shocked to learn that
Process there wasn’t a computer on every desk. When that day comes you'll be able to tell them a story
Mission 1
about the 'good old days'.

Task
Mission 2
Mission 3
Mission 4
Mission 5 You're a time traveler from “UpWhen”. (The future is called 'UpWhen'. The past is called
Mission 6
4. “DownWhen”). Things have gone bad in UpWhen. People have lost the ability to imagine better
Evaluation computers! Fortunately a secret government agency has discovered an old paper magazine
5. about computers from the year 2008. Apparently this time was full of innovation and rapid tech-
Conclusio
nical advancement. You will be sent back this time by traveling on a wormhole through a solar
6. flare. Your urgent mission is to go DownWhen to 2008 and search out information about com-
Credits puters, their development and their social impact. You have been sent DownWhen to a Golden
Age of creativity, innovation and improvement. You will learn from the past and become en-
thused to imagine and design more powerful and amazing computers. The future needs you!
In the course of your journey, you will:

View amazing computers and learn about a

handful of computer pioneers
Imagine what future computers will look like
Develop a two-dimensional presentation about
the impact of computers on people as of 2008
using Microsoft PowerPoint
Despite using such crude technology your
presentation will persuasively convince people to
will be a Fifth Generation. In fact, people in
use a computer
Your presentation must be informative. the early 21st century are living on the edge of the
Scientists in your time are counting on you beginning of the Fifth Generation of Computers.
You must upload your presentation to the Fifth Generation Computers have artificial
Internet so that present day scientists can locate intelligence.
your presentation and use it to convince people to
do start using computers again
Don't mess this up! Failure will see you sent even Mission 3: In this mission you will explore
back to the 1970's (before PONG!) when four how computers have impacted on the lives of
colour pens were an amazing technological people since the middle of the 1940's to 2008.
breakthrough ... Click here to get started!

Process
Mission 4: Decode computer advertising
from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Interpret these Ads
and extract information about the features and
Mission 1: Your first mission is to quickly
benefits and each computer. Complete the
familiarise yourself with the recent downwhen
MindMap.
computer evolution history. Complete the Name
that Computer activity and then follow the link to
Mission 5: Create a design proposal for a
the blog and post your comments about what you
future computer: Include detailed information
think is interesting / important / or worth
about functions, features, and uses. Compare and
commenting on concerning the rapid evolution of
contrast decoded computer advertising from the
computers in the late 20th Century. Click here to
1980’s with a series of future-tech design ideas.
jump to your first mission.
Mission 2: During this journey, you and your
Mission 6: Now that you have gathered and
fellow Cyber Travelers (hey we’re not trusting you
organised information about the past / present
alone to save the world) will research machines
and future of computers - you will need to create
and answer questions related to them. Click here
a PowerPoint presentation about the impact of
to begin.
computers on society. Click here to started!
From Mission 2, you learned about four major
Generations of computers. You learned that the
First Generation is characterized by huge
machines powered by vacuum tubes. The Second
Generation of Computers is characterized by
transistors, as you discovered.
The integrated circuit dominated the Third
Generation of Computers and the Micro There is no
Computer, better known as the Personal reason anyone
computer, came to being in the Fourth would want a
computer in
Generation.
their home.
However, you wonder to yourself, this can not
Ken Olson
be the end. There must be more. Indeed! There
 DEVELOP-
OF COM-
DESIGN

See
Think
Wo n d e
r

MISSION ONE - NAME THAT COMPUTER

CLICK ON EACH COMPUTER AND READ THE LINKED ARTICLE. COPY DOWN THE
NAME OF THE COMPUTER AND TRY TO LOCATE ITS CREATION DATE

Name of Com- Name of Com- Name of Com- Name of Com-

puter: puter: puter: puter:

Cost$ Cost: Cost:

Date: Date: Date: Date:
CPU Speed: CPU Speed: CPU Speed: CPU Speed:
Size in Sq Number of Com- RAM: RAM:
Meters: ponents:

Inventors: Inventors: Inventors: Inventors:

You have traveled into the early past of modern computing. Record your thoughts and reflections and
compare them with other time travelers. What changes do you see over the 35-year period captured in
this timeline? Why do you think these changes occurred? What sort of changes do you think will hap-
pen over the next 35 years? Feel free to imagine - but give reasons for your opinions.

Follow this link to connect to a blog to record your opinions. Password is “downwhen”
MISSION 2 Directions: Click the pictures on the left hand
side. This time use the full articles to get
your information
What is the name of the first computer pictured (top left)?

Which pioneer invented this machine?

Describe the major characteristics of the Eniac? Support your description to include
information about the Eniac was powered.

Also list information about its size, speed, reliability and cost if given.

Compare the characteristics of the Eniac to the characteristics of the original IBM
PC. Identify similarities and differences between the two computers. Which com-
puter is more important? Justify your choice.

Computers are classified by the Generation to which they belong. Read this article
and use it to determine where the Eniac, the Harvard Mark 1 Computer, the Apple
II, and the IBM PC should be classified.

What are the major characteristics of computers in the Second and Third Genera-
tions?
     

List at least 2 computers from each Generation.

Since the invention of      
integrated circuits,
the number of tran-
sistors that can be
placed on a single How do the computers in the Second Generation compare with the First Generation
chip has doubled every computers? Identify supporting points for your claims.
two years, shrinking
both the size and cost
of computers even fur-
ther and further en- We are using Fourth Generation computers today. Use this link to give your opinion
hancing their power.
about what technology would have to be invented to create a Fifth Generation Com-
Most electronic
devices today use some puter. Leave your name at the end of the comment.
form of integrated
circuits placed on
printed circuit 1st
boards-- thin pieces Generation
of fiberglass that Glowing
have electrical con- Vacuum
nections etched onto Tube
them.
 MISSION
Understanding
the Impact of
Computers

3 How have computers 
impacted on our lives 
since 2008?

To help you answer this 
question, meet up with a 
fellow Cyber Traveler 
and review the 
information you have 
gathered about computers 
from each Generation. 
Present your ideas to 
the class during 
discussion time. Examine 
closely the Eniac, the 
Terrible Tech: "I
Mark I, the IBM PC, and 
think there is a
the Apple II computers. 
world market
for maybe five
computers"
Boss of IBM in
1943
Understanding the Development of Computers

Answer the following

Why were Eniac, the Mark I, the IBM PC, and the
Apple II computers machines invented?
How do these computers compare with today’s
  
modern Desktop PC’s? Make this evaluation by
using the following link to CNET’s Computer Buyer’s
Guide illustrating the price, power and performance
Were they springboards for the next computers to
of current 2008 computers.
come?

Did people enjoy using them?

FOR FUN: FUTURE PC’S COMPUTER PREDIC- FUTURE DESIGN

TIONS

Follow this link and pick your  Follow this link and give your 
top 3 predictions. Explain  opinion ­ is this the future 
your choices during class dis­ of computing? Yes or No? Jus­
cussion: tify and explain your answer.
 To the left are 4 videos representing computer advertising
MISSION from the very early 1980’s through to the mid 1990’s. Watch

4Advert-
Computer
the videos and compare the selling points / design features
of each computer as represented by its advertisement.
ising Through the
Complete this MindMap on your own and then confer with a
Ages
Technology changes friend – swap and compare ideas. Share ideas with whole
but advertising re- class during Smartboard conference:
mains constant: con-
vince the customer
to buy your product
based on its fea-
tures, benefits, &
merits. Decode
these Ads for what
Advertising Points Advertising Points
they tell us about
the technology of

Word Processor Vic 20

Windows 1.0 iBook 1990’s

Reflection: Why are these advertise-

ments humorous today?
What does this mean?
Caveat  Emptor!
 Create a design proposal for a future computer: Include detailed informa-
tion about functions, features, uses. Compare and contrast decoded com-
puter advertising from the 1980’s with a series of future-tech design ideas that
MISSION
can be accessed through the links below. Combine these ideas to design your 5
own future computer.
For the purposes of this task use Word Art to represent your basic model FutureComputer
with boxes, circles, arrows, and other shapes. Remember this is a first draft.
design
So keep it simple. You will be able to use Google Sketchup at a later point if
you so desire. Label functions with text boxes. After you get approval you can s
further develop your mock-up. To start getting some ideas follow this link for al-
ternative keyboard input ideas. Check this link out for a selection of ‘future tech’
CONCLUSION
You came, you saw, you understood ... but you didn’t get
to go home ...
Congratulations! You've learned
how computers affected society back in
the year 2008.
Follow this link to email-upload your
document to an online document host-
ing site. You will have to attach your
document to your e-mail. Your present-
ation will be published upon receipt.
You’ve learned a great deal about
the past, present and future of com-
puters. This is indeed fortunate for you
because time travel is a one-way
“downwhen” trip. Fortunately you’ve
Once confined
learned a great deal about computers to fantasy and
and you’ve already developed a viable science
fiction, time
prototype for a next-generation com- travel is now
puter! You don’t know what your future simply an
engineering
holds ... but you’ve got some ideas ... problem.
;-)

References and Bibliography

http://faculty.goucher.edu/jcampf/gellis/webquest/machines_that_changed_the_world.htm
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blaiken_hopper.htm/
http://www.pics4learning.com/
http://htschool.alexssa.net/webquest/html/
http://www.crews.org/curriculum/ex/compsci/articles/generations.htm
http://mrtroom2.wikispaces.com/
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa060298.htm
http://www.maxmon.com/1939ad.htm
http://www.apple-history.com/?page=gallery&model=aII
http://www.writeboard.com/
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa031599.htm
http://rubistar.4teachers.org
Various Videos originally accessed via YouTube and converted to *.avi files via http://vixy.net. All converted video files
accessible from http://mrttroom2.wikispaces.com/