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Computer History
This category includes questions and answers about the history of the computer. Ask questions about the first computer and major developments in computing.
5,564 Questions
What are the uses and different types of monitors?
There are two main types of monitors - TN and IPS.
There are also different sizes and aspect ratios of monitors too.
TN displays - what most monitors are. These types of monitors usually have poorer colour rendition and poorer viewing angles that IPS monitors, but they can have much higher refresh rates (100 hz, 120hz, 144hz etc) and their input lag is usually very low (1ms response time). These are best used for gaming as you need fast response times and refresh rates. They are usually cheaper that IPS displays.
IPS displays - more suited to those that are wanting to watch films in high definition, edit photos/videos or just enjoy the colour rendition a bit more than would be yielded with a TN display. IPS monitors tend to have normal refresh rates (60hz) and have usually higher input lag (5ms +) but their colours are MUCH better than TN monitors are are really fantastic for that. They also have much larger viewing angles ( up to 179 degrees). These are usually more expensive.
There are diferent sizes of monitors too, the two main options being 24" and 27". The sizing depends on what you want it for, but performance wise they are largely similar. 24" monitors are the most popular
One more point is the aspect ratio and resolution of the monitor. Most 24" monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9, and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. These can vary (such as 16:10 aspect ratio monitors and 21:9) but it is personal preference. You can get 4K displays too, though these are very expensive currently.
What is the history of the Basic Input Output System?
In 1973 Intel hired Gary Kildall on contract to write a PL/M compiler for their Intellec MDS-80 computer that they had just built to help their customers develop software for the Intel 8080microprocessor. While working on this compiler Kildall entirely on his own and without consulting Intel decided the computer needed an operating system, which he called CP/M. To make this operating system easier to write and facilitate porting to different 8080 based computers Kildall invented the concept of a BIOS, a ROM resident program providing bootstrap functions and low level hardware dependent I/O routines.
Kildall delivered all 3 products to Intel, but CP/M was rejected because Intel at the time decided they did not need operating systems as they were not selling computers; only microprocessor and memory chips. Kildall then started his own company called Digital Research to market CP/M. By 1976 Intel realized their mistake, but did not want to pay to license CP/M which they could have had for free earlier so they wrote their own operating system which they called ISIS.
Almost all microprocessor based computers since then have used a BIOS or something functionally equivalent.
the output is divided by 3.
What is the origin of the word debug in the context of computers?
Retired Navy Admiral Grace Hopper, a pioneer in the early days of computers, had a main frame computer that was not working properly. She opened it up in the back and found a moth that had died and was touching two connections shorting them out. She pulled out the moth and stated in the official Naval Log Book that the computer had been debugged and was working fine. She taped the moth to the page of the log book. Since then the term was used when troubleshooting hardware/software of computers.
What was the first all-electronic computer and who invented it?
The first all electronic computer was probably the British Colossus cryptanalytic computer built during WW2 to crack the German high command's Fish cyphers. ENIAC was not finished until after the war ended. The ABC electronic computer preceded both of these in 1942, but was not all electronicas its "clock" was provided ay a motor and rotating shafts.
What did Douglas Engelhard invent?
Douglas Engelbart is best known for inventing the computer mouse, which he developed in the 1960s as part of his work on human-computer interaction. He also contributed to the creation of hypertext, collaborative software, and the concept of networked computers, which laid the groundwork for modern computing. Engelbart's innovations significantly advanced how people interact with computers, ultimately shaping the development of the internet and personal computing.
Was konrad zuse or charles Babbage the first inventor of the computer?
Babbage has priority as his invention precedes Zuse by about a century, even though he never was able to build it.
What networking protocol was first used by Novell NetWare and is not supported on the Internet?
IPX/SPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange) is not supported on internet.
Windows 93 is really hard to prove but it was actually Windows Chicago which is the codename for Windows 95 and the earlier version for 95. Windows 97 and 99 was real but it got canceled. Windows 97 was NT 4.0 or 5.0. And Windows 99 got canceled because Microsoft moved on to Windows 2000.
What are trams called in the US?
I've been to the USA, and from what I saw (and heard), they are called streetcars or trolleys, but usually streetcars.
Not sure that I fully understand what the question is asking, but if you want to talk about the Duality of man, then it is a theory that all men have both good and evil inside them. Perhaps it works as a balance? Perhaps like a Chinese Yin and Yang? Good source is the scene from Full Metal Jacket where Joker explains his Peace sign button on his uniform together with the written words Killer on his helmet, and states perhaps it has something to do with the Duality of Man!
What were the circumstances that led to the invention of the first electronic computer ENIAC?
The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator & Computer) is considered to be the first digital computer that was built in the early 1940s in USA. At first it was used to calculate artillary firing tables for US Army Ballistic Research Labroratory.
