Harvard mark-I and the bug, Computer Engineering

Assignment Help:

The next important effort in the direction of devising an electromechanical computer was made at Harvard University mutually sponsored by IBM and Department of UN Navy, Howard Aiken of Harvard University created a system known as Mark I in 1944. Mark I was a decimal machine means that computations were performed employing decimal digits.

Some of you should have heard a term known as 'bug'. It is mostly used to denote errors in computer programs. This term was invented when one day a program in Mark-I didn't run accurately because of a moth short-circuiting the computer. Since then moth or bug has been linked with problems or errors in computer programming. So process of eliminating error in a program is termed as 'debugging'.

The common shortcomings of these electromechanical and mechanical computers were: 

  • Inertia/Friction of moving components limited speed.
  • Data movement using liners and gears was very unreliable and difficult.

Change was to have a storing and switching mechanism with no moving parts. The electronic switching device 'triode' vacuum tubes were used so first electronic computer was born.


Related Discussions:- Harvard mark-I and the bug

Contact-based keyboards, Contact-based keyboards employ switches directly. ...

Contact-based keyboards employ switches directly. Though they have a comparatively shorter life they are the most preferred type these days because of their lower cost.  Three such

What are kinds of models, What are kinds of models? Class model - Objec...

What are kinds of models? Class model - Objects in the system and their relationships. State model - Life history of the objects. Interaction model - Interactions between

What are the various design constraints, What are the various Design constr...

What are the various Design constraints used while performing Synthesis for a design? 1. Make the clocks (frequency, duty-cycle). 2. Explain the transition-time requirements

Criteria for selecting a theme for a project, Q. Criteria for selecting a t...

Q. Criteria for selecting a theme for a project? Topics for projects as we indicated earlier should emerge from the children's world. Teaching often becomes boring and unintere

Explain sequential logic circuit, Explain Sequential logic circuit An...

Explain Sequential logic circuit Ans. Sequential logic circuit:- (i) Output not only depends upon the recent state of the input but also depend upon the earlier state

Flowchart, How to calculate the flowchart

How to calculate the flowchart

What is morphing, What is Morphing Differences in appearance between ke...

What is Morphing Differences in appearance between key frames are automatically calculated by computer - this is called MORPHING or TWEENING. Animation is ultimately RENDERED (

Explain debug monitors, Explain Debug monitors. Debug monitors give d...

Explain Debug monitors. Debug monitors give debugging support for a program. A debug monitor executes the program being debugged in its own control thereby giving execution e

Describe the forms tag, Now let's get a grip on how to add interactivity to...

Now let's get a grip on how to add interactivity to your web documents by way of the tag. With this tag you can add to your web pages a guestbook, surveys, order forms, ge

Episodes - artificial intelligence , Episodes - artificial intelligence: ...

Episodes - artificial intelligence: If an agent's current choice of action not based on its past reactions, then the environment is known as episodic. In the non-episodic envi

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd