The realization that computer programming was not the sole property of engineers at Microsoft came as a tremendous shock. As a rising seventh grader, I was required to buy a TI-83+. On the first day of class, as the teacher taught how to use the calculators for arithmetic and graphing, a rumor reached me that another student had a game on his calculator. A game? I wondered in disbelief, how does that even work? I knew that calculators were for adding, subtracting and complicated math problems. They were definitely not for games. After class, however, I found out otherwise. As the crowd of kids gathered around to see the now famous calculator, I watched as a downloaded version of a Space Invaders game unfolded on the screen. Space Invaders? I was shocked and excited. Finishing my homework quickly became a top priority in order to have time to learn TI-BASIC, the language that could be written directly on the calculator. Within a couple weeks, I had written my own game, a menu based fight where two characters had two options: attack or quit. In reality, it had the entertainme...
---. “Sharing the Software.” Digital Chameleon: The Rise of Computer Emulation. 13 Sep. 1999. Zophar’s Domain. 25 Oct. 2000.
As I opened the front door of the IBM Building, my next chapter in life began. My eyes widen as I observed my teacher writing code on the smartboard. Uneasiness and fear rushed down my spine. I was the only person among fourteen girls without prior knowledge of coding. I spent eight hours in a confined room learning how to code. My computer science teacher appointed assignments in HTML and Python.
While a market for the Apple I was clearly grown, Steve Jobs would again drive the Apple Inc. to develop a personal computer with an ease of use that was previously unknown to consumers. The introduction of the ‘Apple II’ refocused the self-assembly kit idea of the home computer to one of a commercially ready product. The Apple II brought along a wide availability of software for its’ operating system. Many programs were extensively adopted in numerous schools across the country and in resulted in the development of further educational software (Atkinson 87). Games as well as applications that could help file information, assist with tax returns, and draw important figures became available as well. The spreadsheet financial program ‘VisiCalc’ proved why Apple Inc. was a clear leader in computer companies. Although VisiCalc was not developed by Apple Inc., it was implemented into the Apple II
Over the past few decades, technology has advanced significantly. The use of calculators, computers, and other techniques in many fields has increased. On a large scale, technology is replacing traditional methods of instruction in the field of education. Many people believe that adopting technology in the learning process can increase productivity. However, David Gelernter, a professor at Yale University and a leading figure in the field of technology, suggests limiting the use of technology in the classroom in his article “Unplugged: The Myth of Computers in the Classroom,” published in the New Republic magazine in 1994.
“Never underestimate your own strength. You were born for a purpose and are blessed with the power to achieve it” (Leon Brown). I have this quote printed out and on the wall next to my door so I can see it every day as a reminder to myself. I believe that we all have a purpose on this earth and that everything we go through on the journey there has a reason whether to teach a lesson or set an example. We have places where we want to end up and goals we want to achieve. We set these goals and dreams to help us fulfill the purpose we see for ourselves. I believe my purpose is to help people in their times of need. To fulfill my purpose, I will need to use my personal, academic and career goals to create a pathway to get to where I want to be
My goals in college are to get involved with student government, play lacrosse graduate in the top of my class all my life of being in school I was always active not just a regular student. Whether it was SGA or sports or volunteer work I was a part of it; all years of school levels I have graduated with honors and I do not want to see anything different now while I am in college. As we all know college is not a walk in the park and I am well aware of that. I have to really be on my game to accomplish my goal of graduating with honors. I am already on the way of my goal, I have already completed 3 business courses and am now on the process of taking one now. I have taken business law, introduction of business, and industrial business; I did not take them at Towson however they still transferred over as business courses.
Occupations in the field of computer science are considered to be “male” jobs. Women are increasingly less likely to enter the field than in years past. However, two of the first people that we were introduced to in our textbook as key people in the history of Computer Science are Ada Augusta and Grace Murray Hopper. The page limits of this paper do not allow the author to adequately describe all of the contributions that Grace made to Computer Science. Instead, you will be introduced to Grace Hopper and how her pioneering work on the Mark I continue to influence women and the world of computer science.
Growing up in the late 90’s, I witnessed computers revolutionize India – we had cellphones and personal computers and the internet transforming our lives - and like most other kids, I was fascinated by them. It wasn’t until I took course on QBasic in 8th grade, however, that I really took a liking to computer programming. The idea of computer ‘languages’ seemed almost magical to me. Over the years, that proclivity for programming grew into a passion and led me to take more programming electives in higher grades. I also took the initiative to set up a student-run Computer Club in my high school and host our first annual Computer Symposium. My upbringing in Delhi also made me aware of the gaping inequalities of wealth distribution in our society and as my interest in Computer Science deepened, it only reinforced my belief that lean-technologies can help governments of developing countries in bringing their policies to the altar of execution more efficiently.
The fist computer, known as the abacus, was made of wood and parallel wires on which beads were strung. Arithmetic operations were performed when the beads were moved along the wire according to “programming” rules that had to be memorized by the user (Soma, 14). The second earliest computer, invented by Blaise Pascal in 1694, was a “digital calculating machine.” Pascal designed this first known digital computer to help his father, who was a tax collector. Pascal’s computer could only add numbers, and they had to be entered by turning dials (Soma, 32). It required a manual process like its ancestor, the abacus. Automation was introduced in the early 1800’s by a mathematics professor named Charles Babbage. He created an automatic calculation machine that was steam powered and stored up to 1000 50-digit numbers. Unlike its two earliest ancestors, Babbage’s invention was able to perform various operations. It relied on cards with holes punched in them, which are called “punch cards.” These cards carried out the programming and storing operations for the machine. Unluckily, Babbage’s creation flopped due to the lack of mechanical precision and the lack of demand for the product (Soma, 46). The machine could not operate efficiently because technology was t adequate to make the machine operate efficiently Computer interest dwindled for many years, and it wasn’t until the mid-1800’s that people became interested in them once again.
The history of the computer dates back all the way to the prehistoric times. The first step towards the development of the computer, the abacus, was developed in Babylonia in 500 B.C. and functioned as a simple counting tool. It was not until thousands of years later that the first calculator was produced. In 1623, the first mechanical calculator was invented by Wilhelm Schikard, the “Calculating Clock,” as it was often referred to as, “performed it’s operations by wheels, which worked similar to a car’s odometer” (Evolution, 1). Still, there had not yet been anything invented that could even be characterized as a computer. Finally, in 1625 the slide rule was created becoming “the first analog computer of the modern ages” (Evolution, 1). One of the biggest breakthroughs came from by Blaise Pascal in 1642, who invented a mechanical calculator whose main function was adding and subtracting numbers. Years later, Gottfried Leibnez improved Pascal’s model by allowing it to also perform such operations as multiplying, dividing, taking the square root.
After viewing the video by Wolfram (2010), I believe that as teachers we need to prepare more for using computers. Most of my students have a smartphone. And they use it for almost everything, including using the calculator. “Using new technologies involves time, effort, and a rethinking of instructional approaches.” (Sousa. 2015, p. 129). I learned math in a paper, and I love it, but I feel that today that is not enough for our students. Our students get bored about doing calculation the whole time on a piece of paper. Wolfram (2010) questioned, “Do we really believe that the math that most people are doing in school practically today is more than applying procedures to problems they don 't really understand, for reasons they don 't get?”
This perfectly holds true for me in the world of Computer Engineering where novel ideas are not a novelty. It is this novelty that entices me to this field and gives me a deep sense of professional pride. In this context, I would like to pursue my graduation in Computer Engineering, which not only supplements the knowledge that I possess but also provides a strong platform for my future career goals.
"The best way to predict future is to create it"- Peter Drucker. I strongly believe in this statement that taking action now can help you shape the life you want to live. I’m a firm believer that you can determine your own destiny if you make your own future. After scrutinizing my interests, past trainings and final ambition, I have realized that a masters degree in Business & Information System will help me to achieve my future career goal in Information Systems. My proclivity is more specifically towards Business Analytics and data science. I see an MS program in the USA as a crucial step towards achieving my career objective because not only it is the birthplace of my chosen field of study but also it has nurtured it for its full growth and continuous development.
Four years ago, teachers were slowly introduced to the world of computers. Most teachers were apprehensive, afraid that with an incorrect click, the computer would “explode”. How would the students learn if the teachers were unable to set an example? Here, traditional values had to be set aside, and learning about the new technology had to be embraced by both the students and teachers.
computer. The electronic computer has been around for over a half-century, but its ancestors have been around for 2000 years. However, only in the last 40 years has it changed the American society. From the first wooden abacus to the latest high-speed microprocessor, the computer has changed nearly every aspect of people’s lives for the