Changes in computing

Changes in computing

Changes in Computing Technology

Ideas which inspired Digital Computing

Changes in computingResume Jobs - programmer; analyst; manager

it security analyst; test integration engineer

ICL; Brunel University; BBC ; BACSEntegrity

ICL mainframes; DEC Mini computers;IBM PC's;

Changes in computing Learning to program Did a 3 month course at Control Data Institute

The CDC 6600 .

Changes in computing Learning to program

Joined ICL. Learned to program in Cobol; Plan; Fortran and Algol.

ICL paid for a 4 week course to earn Plan

Changes in computing Early computer room Large air conditioned room Card readers Paper tape readers Line printers CPU Disk/Tape drives Lots of staff

Changes in computing Punched cards

Changes in computing Punched card reader

Changes in computing Paper tape

Changes in computing Magnetic tape

Changes in computing Magnetic disk

Changes in computingEarly programming languages Cobol - intended for use by anyone

Intended to be portableacross machines

Plan - an assembly level language (like a simple version of C)

Changes in computing Early program development Wrote the code on a coding sheet Prepared pack of cards (program + job

instructions) or paper tape Submitted job to operations room Waited for results

Changes in computing Early programming It will be ready next week Its almost working Trust me I thought I’d fixed that

Changes in computing Early computer system design Hugh complex programs -

hence strong dependence on individual programmers

Gaps between design and implementation

Often disappointed users

Changes in computing Early operating systems Programs talked directly to hardware

(when the hardware changed - the program changed)

Manual intervention was often required

Programs could generally be debugged via a front panel using switches and lights; it is said that Alan Turing was a master of this on the early Manchester Mark I machine.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_operating_systems)

Changes in computing Early networking Mainframes had text based terminals Communications were special Modems were slow and expensive The Data Centre ruled - even if the development

teams / users were dispersed

Changes in computingEarly Ownership Manufacturer provided users with a license to use

their system (not allowed to look at the code; copy the product or redistribute it)

Changes in computing Early view of system design

Investigate system

Automate system

Sack staff FOCUS ON AUTOMATION

Changes in computingTechnical changes More powerful hardware.

Complex operating systems.

Growth of PC’s

More powerful networks and associated management software

"Another decade is straightforward," the cofounder of Intel said at the recent International Solid-States Circuits Conference, when discussing the 38-year-old principle that the number of transistors on a given chip can be doubled every two years.

(Techweb)

Changes in computingTechnical changes More Powerful Hardware

Changes in computingTechnical changes Complex operating systems.

An OS without a graphical user interface or various file viewers is often considered not to be a true or complete OS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_operating_systems

Changes in computingTechnical changes Growth of PC’s (dispersed power)

Changes in computingTechnical changes Growth of PC’s (dispersed power)

Nearly 100 million PCs are likely to be replaced this year, with 120 million being swapped out in 2005.

(Gartner).

Changes in computingTechnical changes More powerful specialised networks and

associated management software

Changes in computing System design

Business System Analysis

Computer system designand construction

Implementation FOCUS ON MEETING BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

Changes in computingStandards

Standards for project and risk management Standards for system design Standards for programming

Changes in computing Specialisation

Business AnalystsSystem Architects

DesignersCodersTesters

IT Security Configuration Management

Data ManagementDatabase design

Project Management

Changes in computingThe internet

Originally the Internet was designed as a military system - paid for by the government

Now almost entirely dominated by commercial interests.

Very insecure and fragile (alternatives were available)

Users can set up shop on the Internet (with little or no computing expertise)

Changes in computingOwnership Open Source provides an alternative to the

proprietary model

Microsoft and Intel, are planning to make your computer obey them instead of you.

There are plans to use the ‘trusted computing’ facility for email and documents--resulting in email that disappears in two weeks, or documents that can only be read on the computers in one company.

(gnu)

Changes in computingOwnership Open Source provides users with a license

to use the system (source must be available to users - also you can - generally speaking - copy and redistribute the product.)

Changes in computingOwnership

Dell's portable MP3 music player is now compatible with computers running Linux, the company said Wednesday.

This will let users import and convert songs, organise music collections, play MP3s and audio CDs, and create music CDs.

(Zdnet)

Changes in computingGlobalisation Powerful networks and computer systems make it possible

for companies to put their factories in the ‘cheapest’ country

Robotics could change this picture

Changes in computing Globalisation

By the end of next year some 830,000 US service jobs will have been exported overseas, according to a survey on the growing trend of outsourcing.

This is a 40% increase on its previous estimate, as more companies look for cheaper foreign labour.

The growth in outsourcing has become a hot US political issue. (BBC)

Changes in computing(Limits) Computers cannot always be relied on to work

when you need them.

Changes in computing(Limits) When computers do work they do not always

provide the right answer.

An early-warning system radar malfunction falsely warned the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) headquarters of a "massive" Soviet ballistic missile strike approaching the United States.

-Annual Report to the Congress for Fiscal Year 1982, Department of Defense, p. 121

Changes in computing(Limits) There is a ‘digital divide’ between rich & poor

“ IDG - After three days of talks and months of preparation, leaders of the world's seven largest economic powers plus Russia failed to agree on any specific action to bridge the growing technological divide between the world's richest and poorest nations.

At the conclusion of the G8 Summit on the leaders made a commitment to further study the issue and take it up again at their next meeting, in a year's time

(July 25, 2000 IDG Martyn Williams)

Changes in computing(Limits) Computer technology can be hard to dispose of

safely.

GSA Bulletin FMR B-4Utilization and DisposalTo: Heads of Federal agencies

The disposition of computers and computer monitors, has become a challenge for Federal agencies because the equipment contains hazardous materials and/or toxic substances such as cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury.

The world's supply of fresh water is running out. Already one person in five has no access to safe drinking water..

(BBC)

Changes in computing(Limits) Computing may be diverting effort from solving more

important problems

Exercise

When did you first use a computer? What did you use it for?

What do you use a computer for now?