Computers in Education Past, Present, and Future

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Computers in EducationPast, Present, and Future

• CECS 4100
• Chapter 9

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Purpose for the Development of Computers

• To simplify the process of data and information
  manipulation and storage

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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

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Evolution of Computers

• Electronic calculators - early 1970s replaced
  mechanical ones
• Jacquards Loom - punch cards to record pattern
  first machine that could be programmed

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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

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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

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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

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ENIAC

• ENIAC - used by the military for creating firing
  tables for new weapons
• 500 times faster than the best previous
• Powered by vacuum tubes (1st generation)
• Filled a room 20 feet by 40 feet!

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Transistors

• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes in 1959
• Were replaced quickly by integrated circuits
  (1964)
• Computers became faster, smaller, and more
  reliable

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Apple Computer

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

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Early Projects

• Computer Curriculum Corporation (CCC) - developed
  CAI
• Plato - (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching
  Operation)
• SCHOLAR - first attempt at intelligent tutoring
• MYCIN - artificial intelligence

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Computers in the Classroom

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

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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)

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Predicting the Future of Computers

• I think there is a world market for maybe five
  computers.
• (Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943)

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Predicting the Future of Computers

• There is no reason anyone would want a computer
  in their home.
• (Ken Olson, President, Chairman, and founder of
  Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977)

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Predicting the Future of Computers

• 640 K ought to be enough memory for anybody.
• (Bill Gates, Microsoft Corporation, 1981)

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Evolution of Computers

• Interactive Video
• Artificial Intelligence
• Portable, laptop computers
• Virtual reality