Innovations in Computer Technology

On October 24, 2002, IBM scientists announced that they've developed the smallest-ever logic circuit. The entire circuit covers less than a trillionth of a square inch. The equivalent circuit made from state-of-the-art silicon transistors takes up 260,000 times as much space. Although "logic circuits" can only complete simple calculation sorts of functions, the fact that these scientists used carbon monoxide compared to the traditional, larger-sized silicon molecules is a tangible leap into the nanotechnology edge for computer advancement.

IBM's recent announcement will be recorded as one more block in computing technology's trail - from strides in mechanical to electronic innovations. Circuits can be as simple as a working flashlight or as complex as your computer. But unlike a flashlight, a computer's integrated circuits — referred to as "chips" — move, store and process information as well as electricity. The most complex chips are called microprocessors, and they typically consist of silicon transistor circuits that basically function as on/off switches. If scientists and engineers can make smaller transistors, then they can make digital devices like computers and handhelds smaller and more efficient.

To get a glimpse of how our wired (and wireless) society might live in the future, you'll need to understand how computers work and how historical innovations have shaped our modern world. So in this week's lesson you'll visit a cool website that takes you inside a computer, then you'll step into a history portal to meet some of the people who contributed to computing technology's development.

The Journey Inside

Intel was the first chip company to develop a microprocessor in 1971. More recently, they've created a great website that explains how computers do what they do. If you have Flash Player 4 or later installed on your system, click to The Journey Inside site to get started. (For a comparable HTML version, jump down this page for navigation through the Intel Museum Exhibits site.)

From The Journey Inside, begin at the Introduction to Computers section and read through How to Navigate This Site, and look for the "go to activity" icons while you're at this website to find some interactive games. Move through the pages beginning at 01, the History of Computers, and ending on page 07, Which is Smarter - Human Brain or Computer? In reviewing this series, you'll learn how to identify the The Four Components of a Computer (input, storage, processing and output) and How Computers Process Information.

How is a computer similar and different from a toaster? How do the four components work together? How do you use these components on your computer, hand-held calculator, cell phone, or other devices? Would a faster computer affect how you use each of them?

Next, check out the Circuits and Switches section. Here you'll learn how electricity works and how people harness its properties for daily uses. What is the difference between materials that resist and those that conduct electricity? What does this have to do with a working circuit?

Your next stop is Digital Information. This section is especially important for understanding how computers transfer and process information, since it answers the question, What is Binary Code? As you'll learn, binary code represents an on/off switch, similar to how circuits work in general. Things get more complex when an entire language is based on this system, meaning that a specific series of zeroes and ones can represent a letter, for example. What is ASCII? Can you explain how computers translate binary code into pictures you can see on your screen?

Now that you understand how information is transmitted, learn how it gets processed by reading the Microprocessors section. When you use your computer for various tasks, can you identify what your computer fetches, decodes and executes to fulfill your command? How are microprocessing chips made? How does the use of chemistry and electricity fit into the picture?

For a more detailed study of these concepts, or if you aren't using Flash, check out the Intel Museum Exhibits. This site is especially cool, because you can clink on any underlined words to open a pop-up definition from the Technical Glossary.

Read through the different sections, How Transistors Work, How Chips Are Made, How Microprocessors Work, and Memory Technology. Review the questions for The Journey Inside exploratory above, and think about these additional questions as you move through the museum exhibits: Can you spell your own name in binary notation? What are p and n-types of silicon? How could IBM's carbon monoxide breakthrough replace these silicon-based uses?

The Computer Age Grows Up

Sometimes it's hard to imagine, but electronic computers were first created just after World War II - that's nearly 60 years ago! But while we're used to our portable package of silicon chips on the desktop, the Computer Age spent its childhood as room-sized computers composed of huge vacuum tubes.

Travel back in history to the Computer History Museum's Timeline and see how computing technology got started and evolved over the years. You can begin your journey at either end of the timeline—1945 or 1990 — and work your way to the other end. Doing this will show you each year's historic events under several topics. Alternatively, you can explore the history of each topic - Computers, People & Pop Culture, Software and Languages, Components, Robots and AI ("Artificial Intelligence"), Networks, and Companies.

What specific innovations did you find most interesting? Can you make any connections between those events and some use of modern technology? How were the scientists that contributed to these new inventions and ideas different from or similar to the ones who announced the carbon monoxide transistor? What kinds of interests do you think these scientists have that drives them to study, experiment and develop new computer technologies?

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