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56fde92d761e401900d28c47
Computer
The bipolar transistor was invented in 1947. From 1955 onwards transistors replaced vacuum tubes in computer designs, giving rise to the "second generation" of computers. Compared to vacuum tubes, transistors have many advantages: they are smaller, and require less power than vacuum tubes, so give off less heat. Silico...
When was the bipolar transistor created?
{ "answer_start": [ 39 ], "text": [ "1947." ] }
56fde92d761e401900d28c48
Computer
The bipolar transistor was invented in 1947. From 1955 onwards transistors replaced vacuum tubes in computer designs, giving rise to the "second generation" of computers. Compared to vacuum tubes, transistors have many advantages: they are smaller, and require less power than vacuum tubes, so give off less heat. Silico...
When did transistors start replacing vacuum tubes in computers?
{ "answer_start": [ 50 ], "text": [ "1955" ] }
56fdea0919033b140034cdc3
Computer
At the University of Manchester, a team under the leadership of Tom Kilburn designed and built a machine using the newly developed transistors instead of valves. Their first transistorised computer and the first in the world, was operational by 1953, and a second version was completed there in April 1955. However, the ...
At the University of Manchester, who oversaw the building of a computer using transistors instead of valves?
{ "answer_start": [ 64 ], "text": [ "Tom Kilburn" ] }
56fdea0919033b140034cdc4
Computer
At the University of Manchester, a team under the leadership of Tom Kilburn designed and built a machine using the newly developed transistors instead of valves. Their first transistorised computer and the first in the world, was operational by 1953, and a second version was completed there in April 1955. However, the ...
The first transistorised computer was operational in what year?
{ "answer_start": [ 245 ], "text": [ "1953" ] }
56fdea0919033b140034cdc5
Computer
At the University of Manchester, a team under the leadership of Tom Kilburn designed and built a machine using the newly developed transistors instead of valves. Their first transistorised computer and the first in the world, was operational by 1953, and a second version was completed there in April 1955. However, the ...
What did the machine use to generate its clock waveforms?
{ "answer_start": [ 344 ], "text": [ "valves" ] }
56fdea0919033b140034cdc6
Computer
At the University of Manchester, a team under the leadership of Tom Kilburn designed and built a machine using the newly developed transistors instead of valves. Their first transistorised computer and the first in the world, was operational by 1953, and a second version was completed there in April 1955. However, the ...
Who built the Harwell CADET?
{ "answer_start": [ 584 ], "text": [ "electronics division of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell" ] }
56fdea0919033b140034cdc7
Computer
At the University of Manchester, a team under the leadership of Tom Kilburn designed and built a machine using the newly developed transistors instead of valves. Their first transistorised computer and the first in the world, was operational by 1953, and a second version was completed there in April 1955. However, the ...
In what year was the Harwell CADET built?
{ "answer_start": [ 565 ], "text": [ "1955" ] }
56fdea41761e401900d28c4b
Computer
The next great advance in computing power came with the advent of the integrated circuit. The idea of the integrated circuit was first conceived by a radar scientist working for the Royal Radar Establishment of the Ministry of Defence, Geoffrey W.A. Dummer. Dummer presented the first public description of an integrated...
The integrated circuit of a computer was the idea of whom?
{ "answer_start": [ 236 ], "text": [ "Geoffrey W.A. Dummer" ] }
56fdea41761e401900d28c4c
Computer
The next great advance in computing power came with the advent of the integrated circuit. The idea of the integrated circuit was first conceived by a radar scientist working for the Royal Radar Establishment of the Ministry of Defence, Geoffrey W.A. Dummer. Dummer presented the first public description of an integrated...
Where did Geoffrey W.A. Dummer work at?
{ "answer_start": [ 182 ], "text": [ "Royal Radar Establishment of the Ministry of Defence" ] }
56fdeafd19033b140034cdcd
Computer
The first practical ICs were invented by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor. Kilby recorded his initial ideas concerning the integrated circuit in July 1958, successfully demonstrating the first working integrated example on 12 September 1958. In his patent application of 6 Febr...
Where created the first practical integrated circuits?
{ "answer_start": [ 41 ], "text": [ "Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor." ] }
56fdeafd19033b140034cdce
Computer
The first practical ICs were invented by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor. Kilby recorded his initial ideas concerning the integrated circuit in July 1958, successfully demonstrating the first working integrated example on 12 September 1958. In his patent application of 6 Febr...
Where did Jack Kilby work at when he created the first IC?
{ "answer_start": [ 55 ], "text": [ "Texas Instruments" ] }
56fdeafd19033b140034cdcf
Computer
The first practical ICs were invented by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor. Kilby recorded his initial ideas concerning the integrated circuit in July 1958, successfully demonstrating the first working integrated example on 12 September 1958. In his patent application of 6 Febr...
When was the first functional IC demonstrated?
{ "answer_start": [ 266 ], "text": [ "12 September 1958." ] }
56fdeafd19033b140034cdd0
Computer
The first practical ICs were invented by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor. Kilby recorded his initial ideas concerning the integrated circuit in July 1958, successfully demonstrating the first working integrated example on 12 September 1958. In his patent application of 6 Febr...
What was Kilby's IC made of?
{ "answer_start": [ 732 ], "text": [ "germanium" ] }
56fdeafd19033b140034cdd1
Computer
The first practical ICs were invented by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor. Kilby recorded his initial ideas concerning the integrated circuit in July 1958, successfully demonstrating the first working integrated example on 12 September 1958. In his patent application of 6 Febr...
Noyce's IC was made up of what material?
{ "answer_start": [ 690 ], "text": [ "silicon" ] }
56fdeb6419033b140034cdd7
Computer
This new development heralded an explosion in the commercial and personal use of computers and led to the invention of the microprocessor. While the subject of exactly which device was the first microprocessor is contentious, partly due to lack of agreement on the exact definition of the term "microprocessor", it is la...
What was the name of the first single-chip microprocessor?
{ "answer_start": [ 387 ], "text": [ "Intel 4004" ] }
56fdeb6419033b140034cdd8
Computer
This new development heralded an explosion in the commercial and personal use of computers and led to the invention of the microprocessor. While the subject of exactly which device was the first microprocessor is contentious, partly due to lack of agreement on the exact definition of the term "microprocessor", it is la...
Who created the Intel 4004 microprocessor?
{ "answer_start": [ 424 ], "text": [ "Ted Hoff, Federico Faggin, and Stanley Mazor" ] }
56fdeb6419033b140034cdd9
Computer
This new development heralded an explosion in the commercial and personal use of computers and led to the invention of the microprocessor. While the subject of exactly which device was the first microprocessor is contentious, partly due to lack of agreement on the exact definition of the term "microprocessor", it is la...
Where did Ted Hoff, Federico Faggin, and Stanley Mazor work at?
{ "answer_start": [ 472 ], "text": [ "Intel." ] }
56fdebbf761e401900d28c4f
Computer
With the continued miniaturization of computing resources, and advancements in portable battery life, portable computers grew in popularity in the 2000s. The same developments that spurred the growth of laptop computers and other portable computers allowed manufacturers to integrate computing resources into cellular ph...
Computing resources that are created in cell phones are called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 342 ], "text": [ "smartphones" ] }
56fdebbf761e401900d28c50
Computer
With the continued miniaturization of computing resources, and advancements in portable battery life, portable computers grew in popularity in the 2000s. The same developments that spurred the growth of laptop computers and other portable computers allowed manufacturers to integrate computing resources into cellular ph...
How many tablets were sold in 2Q 2013?
{ "answer_start": [ 522 ], "text": [ "237 million devices" ] }
56fdec0119033b140034cddd
Computer
In practical terms, a computer program may be just a few instructions or extend to many millions of instructions, as do the programs for word processors and web browsers for example. A typical modern computer can execute billions of instructions per second (gigaflops) and rarely makes a mistake over many years of opera...
Billions of instructions per second are called what in computer terms?
{ "answer_start": [ 257 ], "text": [ "(gigaflops)" ] }
56fdecd819033b140034cddf
Computer
Program execution might be likened to reading a book. While a person will normally read each word and line in sequence, they may at times jump back to an earlier place in the text or skip sections that are not of interest. Similarly, a computer may sometimes go back and repeat the instructions in some section of the pr...
When a computer goes back and repeats instructions of a program over until an internal condition is met is called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 399 ], "text": [ "the flow of control" ] }
56fdecd819033b140034cde0
Computer
Program execution might be likened to reading a book. While a person will normally read each word and line in sequence, they may at times jump back to an earlier place in the text or skip sections that are not of interest. Similarly, a computer may sometimes go back and repeat the instructions in some section of the pr...
What allows a computer to perform repetitive tasks without human intervening?
{ "answer_start": [ 399 ], "text": [ "the flow of control" ] }
56fdedfb761e401900d28c53
Computer
In most computers, individual instructions are stored as machine code with each instruction being given a unique number (its operation code or opcode for short). The command to add two numbers together would have one opcode; the command to multiply them would have a different opcode, and so on. The simplest computers a...
Which computer is the Harvard architecture modeled after?
{ "answer_start": [ 1165 ], "text": [ "Harvard Mark I computer" ] }
56fdedfb761e401900d28c54
Computer
In most computers, individual instructions are stored as machine code with each instruction being given a unique number (its operation code or opcode for short). The command to add two numbers together would have one opcode; the command to multiply them would have a different opcode, and so on. The simplest computers a...
A computer that stores its program in memory and kept separate from the data is called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 1130 ], "text": [ "the Harvard architecture" ] }
56fdee67761e401900d28c57
Computer
While it is possible to write computer programs as long lists of numbers (machine language) and while this technique was used with many early computers, it is extremely tedious and potentially error-prone to do so in practice, especially for complicated programs. Instead, each basic instruction can be given a short nam...
A computer's assembly language is known as what?
{ "answer_start": [ 278 ], "text": [ "basic instruction can be given a short name that is indicative of its function" ] }
56fdee67761e401900d28c58
Computer
While it is possible to write computer programs as long lists of numbers (machine language) and while this technique was used with many early computers, it is extremely tedious and potentially error-prone to do so in practice, especially for complicated programs. Instead, each basic instruction can be given a short nam...
Programs that convert assembly language into machine language are called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 662 ], "text": [ "an assembler." ] }
56fdee67761e401900d28c59
Computer
While it is possible to write computer programs as long lists of numbers (machine language) and while this technique was used with many early computers, it is extremely tedious and potentially error-prone to do so in practice, especially for complicated programs. Instead, each basic instruction can be given a short nam...
Computer programs that are long lists of numbers are called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 74 ], "text": [ "machine language" ] }
56fdeebd19033b140034cde3
Computer
Programming languages provide various ways of specifying programs for computers to run. Unlike natural languages, programming languages are designed to permit no ambiguity and to be concise. They are purely written languages and are often difficult to read aloud. They are generally either translated into machine code b...
Programming languages are translated into machine code by what?
{ "answer_start": [ 322 ], "text": [ "a compiler or an assembler" ] }
56fdeebd19033b140034cde4
Computer
Programming languages provide various ways of specifying programs for computers to run. Unlike natural languages, programming languages are designed to permit no ambiguity and to be concise. They are purely written languages and are often difficult to read aloud. They are generally either translated into machine code b...
Programming languages are translated at run time by what?
{ "answer_start": [ 405 ], "text": [ "an interpreter" ] }
56fdeee819033b140034cde7
Computer
Machine languages and the assembly languages that represent them (collectively termed low-level programming languages) tend to be unique to a particular type of computer. For instance, an ARM architecture computer (such as may be found in a PDA or a hand-held videogame) cannot understand the machine language of an Inte...
An ARM architecture computer can be found in what?
{ "answer_start": [ 239 ], "text": [ "a PDA or a hand-held videogame" ] }
56fdefbe19033b140034cde9
Computer
Though considerably easier than in machine language, writing long programs in assembly language is often difficult and is also error prone. Therefore, most practical programs are written in more abstract high-level programming languages that are able to express the needs of the programmer more conveniently (and thereby...
Assembly language that is translated into machine language is done by what type of computer?
{ "answer_start": [ 525 ], "text": [ "a compiler" ] }
56fdf01419033b140034cdeb
Computer
These 4G languages are less procedural than 3G languages. The benefit of 4GL is that it provides ways to obtain information without requiring the direct help of a programmer. Example of 4GL is SQL.
An example of a 4GL is what?
{ "answer_start": [ 193 ], "text": [ "SQL" ] }
56fdf01419033b140034cdec
Computer
These 4G languages are less procedural than 3G languages. The benefit of 4GL is that it provides ways to obtain information without requiring the direct help of a programmer. Example of 4GL is SQL.
What is the pro of 4GL over a 3G language?
{ "answer_start": [ 88 ], "text": [ "provides ways to obtain information without requiring the direct help of a programmer" ] }
56fdf2d419033b140034cdef
Computer
Errors in computer programs are called "bugs". They may be benign and not affect the usefulness of the program, or have only subtle effects. But in some cases, they may cause the program or the entire system to "hang", becoming unresponsive to input such as mouse clicks or keystrokes, to completely fail, or to crash. O...
Another name for errors in programs are called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 39 ], "text": [ "\"bugs" ] }
56fdf2d419033b140034cdf0
Computer
Errors in computer programs are called "bugs". They may be benign and not affect the usefulness of the program, or have only subtle effects. But in some cases, they may cause the program or the entire system to "hang", becoming unresponsive to input such as mouse clicks or keystrokes, to completely fail, or to crash. O...
Bugs are usually the fault of whom or what?
{ "answer_start": [ 666 ], "text": [ "programmer error or an oversight made in the program's design" ] }
56fdf33b19033b140034cdf3
Computer
Admiral Grace Hopper, an American computer scientist and developer of the first compiler, is credited for having first used the term "bugs" in computing after a dead moth was found shorting a relay in the Harvard Mark II computer in September 1947.
Who was the developer of the first compier?
{ "answer_start": [ 0 ], "text": [ "Admiral Grace Hopper" ] }
56fdf33b19033b140034cdf4
Computer
Admiral Grace Hopper, an American computer scientist and developer of the first compiler, is credited for having first used the term "bugs" in computing after a dead moth was found shorting a relay in the Harvard Mark II computer in September 1947.
Who first coined the term "bugs"?
{ "answer_start": [ 0 ], "text": [ "Admiral Grace Hopper" ] }
56fdf33b19033b140034cdf5
Computer
Admiral Grace Hopper, an American computer scientist and developer of the first compiler, is credited for having first used the term "bugs" in computing after a dead moth was found shorting a relay in the Harvard Mark II computer in September 1947.
What type of creature shorted a relay of Grace Hopper's computer?
{ "answer_start": [ 166 ], "text": [ "moth" ] }
56fdf33b19033b140034cdf6
Computer
Admiral Grace Hopper, an American computer scientist and developer of the first compiler, is credited for having first used the term "bugs" in computing after a dead moth was found shorting a relay in the Harvard Mark II computer in September 1947.
What type of computer of Grace Hopper's was shorted by a moth?
{ "answer_start": [ 205 ], "text": [ "Harvard Mark II" ] }
56fdf33b19033b140034cdf7
Computer
Admiral Grace Hopper, an American computer scientist and developer of the first compiler, is credited for having first used the term "bugs" in computing after a dead moth was found shorting a relay in the Harvard Mark II computer in September 1947.
When was Grace Hopper's Hardvard Mark II shorted by a moth?
{ "answer_start": [ 233 ], "text": [ "September 1947" ] }
56fdf3c119033b140034cdfd
Computer
A general purpose computer has four main components: the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), the control unit, the memory, and the input and output devices (collectively termed I/O). These parts are interconnected by buses, often made of groups of wires.
The ALU of a computer stands for what?
{ "answer_start": [ 57 ], "text": [ "arithmetic logic" ] }
56fdf3c119033b140034cdfe
Computer
A general purpose computer has four main components: the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), the control unit, the memory, and the input and output devices (collectively termed I/O). These parts are interconnected by buses, often made of groups of wires.
Input and output devices are known as what term?
{ "answer_start": [ 170 ], "text": [ "I/O" ] }
56fdf3c119033b140034cdff
Computer
A general purpose computer has four main components: the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), the control unit, the memory, and the input and output devices (collectively termed I/O). These parts are interconnected by buses, often made of groups of wires.
Besides the ALU, input and output devices, what are the other two main components of a computer?
{ "answer_start": [ 86 ], "text": [ "the control unit, the memory" ] }
56fdf4c6761e401900d28c5d
Computer
Inside each of these parts are thousands to trillions of small electrical circuits which can be turned off or on by means of an electronic switch. Each circuit represents a bit (binary digit) of information so that when the circuit is on it represents a "1", and when off it represents a "0" (in positive logic represent...
A circuit in a computer part represents what?
{ "answer_start": [ 171 ], "text": [ "a bit (binary digit) of information" ] }
56fdf4c6761e401900d28c5e
Computer
Inside each of these parts are thousands to trillions of small electrical circuits which can be turned off or on by means of an electronic switch. Each circuit represents a bit (binary digit) of information so that when the circuit is on it represents a "1", and when off it represents a "0" (in positive logic represent...
In positive logic representation a "1" represents when a circuit is what?
{ "answer_start": [ 235 ], "text": [ "on" ] }
56fdf4c6761e401900d28c5f
Computer
Inside each of these parts are thousands to trillions of small electrical circuits which can be turned off or on by means of an electronic switch. Each circuit represents a bit (binary digit) of information so that when the circuit is on it represents a "1", and when off it represents a "0" (in positive logic represent...
In positive logic representation a "0" represents when a circuit is what?
{ "answer_start": [ 268 ], "text": [ "off" ] }
56fdf50019033b140034ce03
Computer
The control unit (often called a control system or central controller) manages the computer's various components; it reads and interprets (decodes) the program instructions, transforming them into control signals that activate other parts of the computer. Control systems in advanced computers may change the order of ex...
What are other names for a control unit for a computer?
{ "answer_start": [ 31 ], "text": [ "a control system or central controller)" ] }
56fdf50019033b140034ce04
Computer
The control unit (often called a control system or central controller) manages the computer's various components; it reads and interprets (decodes) the program instructions, transforming them into control signals that activate other parts of the computer. Control systems in advanced computers may change the order of ex...
Reading and interpreting from a control unit is called doing what?
{ "answer_start": [ 138 ], "text": [ "(decodes" ] }
56fdf56519033b140034ce07
Computer
A key component common to all CPUs is the program counter, a special memory cell (a register) that keeps track of which location in memory the next instruction is to be read from.
A special memory cell of a CPU is called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 82 ], "text": [ "a register" ] }
56fdf56519033b140034ce08
Computer
A key component common to all CPUs is the program counter, a special memory cell (a register) that keeps track of which location in memory the next instruction is to be read from.
A register of a CPU keeps track of what?
{ "answer_start": [ 114 ], "text": [ "which location in memory the next instruction is to be read from" ] }
56fdf56519033b140034ce09
Computer
A key component common to all CPUs is the program counter, a special memory cell (a register) that keeps track of which location in memory the next instruction is to be read from.
What is a component that all CPUs have?
{ "answer_start": [ 38 ], "text": [ "the program counter" ] }
56fdf63d19033b140034ce0d
Computer
Since the program counter is (conceptually) just another set of memory cells, it can be changed by calculations done in the ALU. Adding 100 to the program counter would cause the next instruction to be read from a place 100 locations further down the program. Instructions that modify the program counter are often known...
In what part can the program counter be changed by calculations?
{ "answer_start": [ 120 ], "text": [ "the ALU" ] }
56fdf63d19033b140034ce0e
Computer
Since the program counter is (conceptually) just another set of memory cells, it can be changed by calculations done in the ALU. Adding 100 to the program counter would cause the next instruction to be read from a place 100 locations further down the program. Instructions that modify the program counter are often known...
Instructions that change the program counter are called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 324 ], "text": [ "\"jumps\"" ] }
56fdf63d19033b140034ce0f
Computer
Since the program counter is (conceptually) just another set of memory cells, it can be changed by calculations done in the ALU. Adding 100 to the program counter would cause the next instruction to be read from a place 100 locations further down the program. Instructions that modify the program counter are often known...
Loops are defined as what?
{ "answer_start": [ 353 ], "text": [ "instructions that are repeated by the computer)" ] }
56fdf66f761e401900d28c63
Computer
The sequence of operations that the control unit goes through to process an instruction is in itself like a short computer program, and indeed, in some more complex CPU designs, there is another yet smaller computer called a microsequencer, which runs a microcode program that causes all of these events to happen.
In some CPU designs there is tinier computer called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 225 ], "text": [ "microsequencer" ] }
56fdf66f761e401900d28c64
Computer
The sequence of operations that the control unit goes through to process an instruction is in itself like a short computer program, and indeed, in some more complex CPU designs, there is another yet smaller computer called a microsequencer, which runs a microcode program that causes all of these events to happen.
A microsequencer can be found in what other computer component?
{ "answer_start": [ 165 ], "text": [ "CPU" ] }
56fdf6df761e401900d28c67
Computer
The control unit, ALU, and registers are collectively known as a central processing unit (CPU). Early CPUs were composed of many separate components but since the mid-1970s CPUs have typically been constructed on a single integrated circuit called a microprocessor.
The CPU is an abbreviation for what?
{ "answer_start": [ 65 ], "text": [ "central processing unit" ] }
56fdf6df761e401900d28c68
Computer
The control unit, ALU, and registers are collectively known as a central processing unit (CPU). Early CPUs were composed of many separate components but since the mid-1970s CPUs have typically been constructed on a single integrated circuit called a microprocessor.
What 3 parts make up the CPU?
{ "answer_start": [ 0 ], "text": [ "The control unit, ALU, and registers" ] }
56fdf6df761e401900d28c69
Computer
The control unit, ALU, and registers are collectively known as a central processing unit (CPU). Early CPUs were composed of many separate components but since the mid-1970s CPUs have typically been constructed on a single integrated circuit called a microprocessor.
CPUs that are constructed on a single integrated circuit are called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 248 ], "text": [ "a microprocessor" ] }
56fdf6df761e401900d28c6a
Computer
The control unit, ALU, and registers are collectively known as a central processing unit (CPU). Early CPUs were composed of many separate components but since the mid-1970s CPUs have typically been constructed on a single integrated circuit called a microprocessor.
Since when have CPUs been constructed with a microprocessor?
{ "answer_start": [ 163 ], "text": [ "mid-1970s" ] }
56fdf722761e401900d28c6f
Computer
The set of arithmetic operations that a particular ALU supports may be limited to addition and subtraction, or might include multiplication, division, trigonometry functions such as sine, cosine, etc., and square roots. Some can only operate on whole numbers (integers) whilst others use floating point to represent real...
Some trigonometry functions are what?
{ "answer_start": [ 182 ], "text": [ "sine, cosine," ] }
56fdf722761e401900d28c70
Computer
The set of arithmetic operations that a particular ALU supports may be limited to addition and subtraction, or might include multiplication, division, trigonometry functions such as sine, cosine, etc., and square roots. Some can only operate on whole numbers (integers) whilst others use floating point to represent real...
The term for whole numbers is what?
{ "answer_start": [ 259 ], "text": [ "(integers" ] }
56fdf73719033b140034ce13
Computer
Logic operations involve Boolean logic: AND, OR, XOR, and NOT. These can be useful for creating complicated conditional statements and processing boolean logic.
Boolean logic consists of what?
{ "answer_start": [ 40 ], "text": [ "AND, OR, XOR, and NOT" ] }
56fdf762761e401900d28c73
Computer
Superscalar computers may contain multiple ALUs, allowing them to process several instructions simultaneously. Graphics processors and computers with SIMD and MIMD features often contain ALUs that can perform arithmetic on vectors and matrices.
Computers that have multiple ALUs are called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 0 ], "text": [ "Superscalar" ] }
56fdf80d761e401900d28c75
Computer
A computer's memory can be viewed as a list of cells into which numbers can be placed or read. Each cell has a numbered "address" and can store a single number. The computer can be instructed to "put the number 123 into the cell numbered 1357" or to "add the number that is in cell 1357 to the number that is in cell 246...
How many numbers can a cell of a computer's memory hold?
{ "answer_start": [ 144 ], "text": [ "a single number" ] }
56fdf80d761e401900d28c76
Computer
A computer's memory can be viewed as a list of cells into which numbers can be placed or read. Each cell has a numbered "address" and can store a single number. The computer can be instructed to "put the number 123 into the cell numbered 1357" or to "add the number that is in cell 1357 to the number that is in cell 246...
What is the responsibility of giving significance to what the memory sees as nothing but numbers?
{ "answer_start": [ 598 ], "text": [ "the software's" ] }
56fdf85a761e401900d28c79
Computer
In almost all modern computers, each memory cell is set up to store binary numbers in groups of eight bits (called a byte). Each byte is able to represent 256 different numbers (28 = 256); either from 0 to 255 or −128 to +127. To store larger numbers, several consecutive bytes may be used (typically, two, four or eight...
A group of 8 bits is called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 115 ], "text": [ "a byte" ] }
56fdf85a761e401900d28c7a
Computer
In almost all modern computers, each memory cell is set up to store binary numbers in groups of eight bits (called a byte). Each byte is able to represent 256 different numbers (28 = 256); either from 0 to 255 or −128 to +127. To store larger numbers, several consecutive bytes may be used (typically, two, four or eight...
How many numbers can a byte represent?
{ "answer_start": [ 155 ], "text": [ "256 different numbers" ] }
56fdf85a761e401900d28c7b
Computer
In almost all modern computers, each memory cell is set up to store binary numbers in groups of eight bits (called a byte). Each byte is able to represent 256 different numbers (28 = 256); either from 0 to 255 or −128 to +127. To store larger numbers, several consecutive bytes may be used (typically, two, four or eight...
What is the range of the numbers that a byte can represent?
{ "answer_start": [ 201 ], "text": [ "0 to 255 or −128 to +127" ] }
56fdf89e761e401900d28c7f
Computer
The CPU contains a special set of memory cells called registers that can be read and written to much more rapidly than the main memory area. There are typically between two and one hundred registers depending on the type of CPU. Registers are used for the most frequently needed data items to avoid having to access main...
What part of the computer has memory cells called registers?
{ "answer_start": [ 0 ], "text": [ "The CPU" ] }
56fdf89e761e401900d28c80
Computer
The CPU contains a special set of memory cells called registers that can be read and written to much more rapidly than the main memory area. There are typically between two and one hundred registers depending on the type of CPU. Registers are used for the most frequently needed data items to avoid having to access main...
What is the typical range of registers for a CPU?
{ "answer_start": [ 169 ], "text": [ "two and one hundred registers" ] }
56fdf9de19033b140034ce15
Computer
RAM can be read and written to anytime the CPU commands it, but ROM is preloaded with data and software that never changes, therefore the CPU can only read from it. ROM is typically used to store the computer's initial start-up instructions. In general, the contents of RAM are erased when the power to the computer is t...
What type of memory can a CPU only read from?
{ "answer_start": [ 64 ], "text": [ "ROM" ] }
56fdf9de19033b140034ce16
Computer
RAM can be read and written to anytime the CPU commands it, but ROM is preloaded with data and software that never changes, therefore the CPU can only read from it. ROM is typically used to store the computer's initial start-up instructions. In general, the contents of RAM are erased when the power to the computer is t...
What type of memory can a CPU read and write from?
{ "answer_start": [ 0 ], "text": [ "RAM" ] }
56fdf9de19033b140034ce17
Computer
RAM can be read and written to anytime the CPU commands it, but ROM is preloaded with data and software that never changes, therefore the CPU can only read from it. ROM is typically used to store the computer's initial start-up instructions. In general, the contents of RAM are erased when the power to the computer is t...
What type of memory is always kept and kept the same?
{ "answer_start": [ 335 ], "text": [ "ROM" ] }
56fdf9de19033b140034ce18
Computer
RAM can be read and written to anytime the CPU commands it, but ROM is preloaded with data and software that never changes, therefore the CPU can only read from it. ROM is typically used to store the computer's initial start-up instructions. In general, the contents of RAM are erased when the power to the computer is t...
A progam inside the ROM of a PC is called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 425 ], "text": [ "the BIOS" ] }
56fdf9de19033b140034ce19
Computer
RAM can be read and written to anytime the CPU commands it, but ROM is preloaded with data and software that never changes, therefore the CPU can only read from it. ROM is typically used to store the computer's initial start-up instructions. In general, the contents of RAM are erased when the power to the computer is t...
Software stored in ROM is called what usually?
{ "answer_start": [ 726 ], "text": [ "firmware," ] }
56fdfa03761e401900d28c83
Computer
In more sophisticated computers there may be one or more RAM cache memories, which are slower than registers but faster than main memory. Generally computers with this sort of cache are designed to move frequently needed data into the cache automatically, often without the need for any intervention on the programmer's ...
RAM cache memory is slower than what?
{ "answer_start": [ 99 ], "text": [ "registers" ] }
56fdfa85761e401900d28c85
Computer
I/O is the means by which a computer exchanges information with the outside world. Devices that provide input or output to the computer are called peripherals. On a typical personal computer, peripherals include input devices like the keyboard and mouse, and output devices such as the display and printer. Hard disk dri...
Devices that give input or output to a computer are called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 147 ], "text": [ "peripherals" ] }
56fdfa85761e401900d28c86
Computer
I/O is the means by which a computer exchanges information with the outside world. Devices that provide input or output to the computer are called peripherals. On a typical personal computer, peripherals include input devices like the keyboard and mouse, and output devices such as the display and printer. Hard disk dri...
A mouse is what type of peripheral device?
{ "answer_start": [ 212 ], "text": [ "input" ] }
56fdfa85761e401900d28c87
Computer
I/O is the means by which a computer exchanges information with the outside world. Devices that provide input or output to the computer are called peripherals. On a typical personal computer, peripherals include input devices like the keyboard and mouse, and output devices such as the display and printer. Hard disk dri...
A printer is what type of peripheral device?
{ "answer_start": [ 259 ], "text": [ "output" ] }
56fdfa85761e401900d28c88
Computer
I/O is the means by which a computer exchanges information with the outside world. Devices that provide input or output to the computer are called peripherals. On a typical personal computer, peripherals include input devices like the keyboard and mouse, and output devices such as the display and printer. Hard disk dri...
Hard disk drives are what type of peripheral device?
{ "answer_start": [ 382 ], "text": [ "input and output" ] }
56fdfa85761e401900d28c89
Computer
I/O is the means by which a computer exchanges information with the outside world. Devices that provide input or output to the computer are called peripherals. On a typical personal computer, peripherals include input devices like the keyboard and mouse, and output devices such as the display and printer. Hard disk dri...
A keyboard is what type of peripheral device?
{ "answer_start": [ 212 ], "text": [ "input" ] }
56fdfad119033b140034ce1f
Computer
While a computer may be viewed as running one gigantic program stored in its main memory, in some systems it is necessary to give the appearance of running several programs simultaneously. This is achieved by multitasking i.e. having the computer switch rapidly between running each program in turn.
In computer terms, when a computer is switching rapidly between running each program in turn, is called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 209 ], "text": [ "multitasking" ] }
56fdfb9219033b140034ce21
Computer
One means by which this is done is with a special signal called an interrupt, which can periodically cause the computer to stop executing instructions where it was and do something else instead. By remembering where it was executing prior to the interrupt, the computer can return to that task later. If several programs...
A method of multitasking that takes a "slice" of time in turn is called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 757 ], "text": [ "\"time-sharing\"" ] }
56fdfb9219033b140034ce22
Computer
One means by which this is done is with a special signal called an interrupt, which can periodically cause the computer to stop executing instructions where it was and do something else instead. By remembering where it was executing prior to the interrupt, the computer can return to that task later. If several programs...
A signal that stops a compute executing instructions is called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 64 ], "text": [ "an interrupt," ] }
56fdfbee19033b140034ce25
Computer
Seemingly, multitasking would cause a computer that is switching between several programs to run more slowly, in direct proportion to the number of programs it is running, but most programs spend much of their time waiting for slow input/output devices to complete their tasks. If a program is waiting for the user to cl...
Multitasking would seemingly cause a computer to run in what fashion?
{ "answer_start": [ 97 ], "text": [ "more slowly," ] }
56fdfbee19033b140034ce26
Computer
Seemingly, multitasking would cause a computer that is switching between several programs to run more slowly, in direct proportion to the number of programs it is running, but most programs spend much of their time waiting for slow input/output devices to complete their tasks. If a program is waiting for the user to cl...
What do a lot of programs spend time waiting for?
{ "answer_start": [ 232 ], "text": [ "input/output devices" ] }
56fdfc2c761e401900d28c8f
Computer
Some computers are designed to distribute their work across several CPUs in a multiprocessing configuration, a technique once employed only in large and powerful machines such as supercomputers, mainframe computers and servers. Multiprocessor and multi-core (multiple CPUs on a single integrated circuit) personal and la...
Multiprocessor and multi-core computers have multiples of what?
{ "answer_start": [ 268 ], "text": [ "CPUs" ] }
56fdfd72761e401900d28c91
Computer
Supercomputers in particular often have highly unique architectures that differ significantly from the basic stored-program architecture and from general purpose computers. They often feature thousands of CPUs, customized high-speed interconnects, and specialized computing hardware. Such designs tend to be useful only ...
How many CPUs do supercomputers typically possess?
{ "answer_start": [ 192 ], "text": [ "thousands" ] }
56fdfd72761e401900d28c92
Computer
Supercomputers in particular often have highly unique architectures that differ significantly from the basic stored-program architecture and from general purpose computers. They often feature thousands of CPUs, customized high-speed interconnects, and specialized computing hardware. Such designs tend to be useful only ...
What is the name of a computer that has many CPUs and much more powerful?
{ "answer_start": [ 0 ], "text": [ "Supercomputers" ] }
56fe00a519033b140034ce29
Computer
Computers have been used to coordinate information between multiple locations since the 1950s. The U.S. military's SAGE system was the first large-scale example of such a system, which led to a number of special-purpose commercial systems such as Sabre.
What system of the U.S. military's was the first large-scale system to coordinate information between several locations?
{ "answer_start": [ 115 ], "text": [ "SAGE system" ] }
56fe00a519033b140034ce2a
Computer
Computers have been used to coordinate information between multiple locations since the 1950s. The U.S. military's SAGE system was the first large-scale example of such a system, which led to a number of special-purpose commercial systems such as Sabre.
When were computers first used to coordinate information between many locations?
{ "answer_start": [ 84 ], "text": [ "the 1950s" ] }
56fe00e019033b140034ce2e
Computer
In the 1970s, computer engineers at research institutions throughout the United States began to link their computers together using telecommunications technology. The effort was funded by ARPA (now DARPA), and the computer network that resulted was called the ARPANET. The technologies that made the Arpanet possible spr...
Who funded the linking of computers around the US in the 1970s?
{ "answer_start": [ 188 ], "text": [ "ARPA" ] }
56fe00e019033b140034ce2d
Computer
In the 1970s, computer engineers at research institutions throughout the United States began to link their computers together using telecommunications technology. The effort was funded by ARPA (now DARPA), and the computer network that resulted was called the ARPANET. The technologies that made the Arpanet possible spr...
ARPA is now known as what?
{ "answer_start": [ 198 ], "text": [ "DARPA)" ] }
56fe0112761e401900d28c95
Computer
In time, the network spread beyond academic and military institutions and became known as the Internet. The emergence of networking involved a redefinition of the nature and boundaries of the computer. Computer operating systems and applications were modified to include the ability to define and access the resources of...
The network spread to be known as what today?
{ "answer_start": [ 90 ], "text": [ "the Internet." ] }
56fe016d761e401900d28c97
Computer
The ability to store and execute lists of instructions called programs makes computers extremely versatile, distinguishing them from calculators. The Church–Turing thesis is a mathematical statement of this versatility: any computer with a minimum capability (being Turing-complete) is, in principle, capable of performi...
The ability to store and execute lists of instructions are called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 62 ], "text": [ "programs" ] }
56fe016d761e401900d28c98
Computer
The ability to store and execute lists of instructions called programs makes computers extremely versatile, distinguishing them from calculators. The Church–Turing thesis is a mathematical statement of this versatility: any computer with a minimum capability (being Turing-complete) is, in principle, capable of performi...
The mathematical statement of computers versatility is known as what?
{ "answer_start": [ 146 ], "text": [ "The Church–Turing thesis" ] }
56fe01af19033b140034ce31
Computer
A computer does not need to be electronic, nor even have a processor, nor RAM, nor even a hard disk. While popular usage of the word "computer" is synonymous with a personal electronic computer, the modern definition of a computer is literally: "A device that computes, especially a programmable [usually] electronic mac...
All devices that can process information can qualify being called what?
{ "answer_start": [ 513 ], "text": [ "a computer" ] }
56fe022c19033b140034ce33
Computer
Historically, computers evolved from mechanical computers and eventually from vacuum tubes to transistors. However, conceptually computational systems as flexible as a personal computer can be built out of almost anything. For example, a computer can be made out of billiard balls (billiard ball computer); an often quot...
Vacuum tubes in early computers were replaced by what?
{ "answer_start": [ 94 ], "text": [ "transistors" ] }
56fe022c19033b140034ce34
Computer
Historically, computers evolved from mechanical computers and eventually from vacuum tubes to transistors. However, conceptually computational systems as flexible as a personal computer can be built out of almost anything. For example, a computer can be made out of billiard balls (billiard ball computer); an often quot...
Transistors are typically made up of what today?
{ "answer_start": [ 422 ], "text": [ "photolithographed semiconductors" ] }