April 17, 2008, 1:46 PM PDT
Takeaway: From the origins of the Internet to the birth of RAM, IT Dojo celebrates its first week with a pop quiz on key events in computer evolution.
What would a classroom be without the occasional pop quiz? To celebrate IT Dojo’s first week, I’m republishing one of TechRepublic’s most popular Pop Quizzes. Way back in 2002, I challenged members to test their knowledge of computer history, and over 3,400 people answered the challenge. After tallying the results, I noticed several questions had really stumped our quiz takers. I would like to see if the results are different six years later.
Note: A quick reminder before your test your knowledge. I published all the answers to this quiz in my September, 2002 article, “Many members stumped by computer history pop quiz”. I encourage you to take the test BEFORE looking at the answers–that just ruins all the fun. And besides, it’s not like your next raise depends on you getting a perfect score.
So here it is - TechRepublic’s classic Computer History pop quiz.
A major advance in the history of computers took place in 1745, when Jacques de Vaucanson invented a device to control his textile looms. What made de Vaucanson's invention so significant?
In 1969, the US DoD funded the creation of ARPANET, which linked research institutions and defense contractors. ARPANET eventually grew into what we know as the Internet. What does ARPANET stand for?
On June 21, 1948, University of Manchester (UK) researchers introduced the Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM), nicknamed "The Baby." What set The Baby apart from ENIAC created two years earlier
Popular Electronicsâ January 1975 cover showed the original computer manufactured for sale to the home market--the Altair 8800 designed by Ed Roberts. What was the inspiration for the name "Altair?
In the mid-1960s, minicomputers cost around $20,000. A decade later, costs had dropped and the Apple II, with 16K of RAM but no monitor, was a very popular machine. What did an Apple II cost in 1977?
