Historical Development of computers I - JSS1 Computer Sudies Past Questions and Answers - page 2
In ancient civilizations, what did the notches on tally sticks represent?
Dates
Numerical values
Geographical locations
Religious symbols
When did the Ishango bone date back to?
5,000 years ago
10,000 years ago
15,000 years ago
20,000 years ago
Examine the role of tally sticks in ancient civilizations, highlighting their significance in trade, agriculture, and record-keeping. How did the use of notches carved into sticks or bones contribute to the development of early numerical concepts?
Tally sticks were essential tools in ancient civilizations for tasks such as trade, agriculture, and record-keeping. Notches carved into sticks or bones represented units, facilitating numerical concepts. The sticks, often split for verification, played a crucial role in the early development of counting systems by providing a tangible method for tracking quantities and transactions.
Discuss the cultural variations and applications of the abacus in ancient Chinese, Roman, Greek, and Egyptian civilizations. How did the abacus contribute to basic arithmetic operations, and why did different cultures develop their variations of this early counting device independently?
The abacus, a versatile counting device with beads or stones on rods or wires, had varied cultural adaptations in ancient Chinese, Roman, Greek, and Egyptian civilizations. It enabled basic arithmetic operations by manipulating beads to represent numerical values. Different cultures independently developed variations of the abacus, showcasing its adaptability and importance in diverse societies for performing calculations and facilitating commerce.
Explore the significance of the punched card system developed by Herman Hollerith in the late 19th century. How did this electro-mechanical counting device impact the processing of census data, and in what way did it lay the foundation for early computing systems?
Herman Hollerith's punched card system, developed in the late 1800s, revolutionized data processing, especially in the census. The system used punched cards to represent data, with electrical connections triggered by holes. Initially employed for census data, it became the foundation for early computing systems, showcasing a pivotal transition from manual to automated data processing, setting the stage for the evolution of electronic computing.