1. (6 points)
   11. Circuit boards are described as Second generation hardware
   12. Transitors are described as Second generation hardware
   13. Magnetic core memory is described as Second generation hardware
   14. Card input/output is described as First generation hardware
   15. Parallel Computing is described as Fourth generation hardware
   16. Magnentic drums are described as First generation hardware
   17. Magnetic tape drives are described as First generation hardware
   18. Integrated Circuits are described as Third generation hardware
   19. Personal computers are described as Fourth generation hardware
   20. Vacuum tubes are described as First generation hardware
   21. Large scale integration is described as Fourth generation hardware
   22. Magnetic discs are described as Second generation hardware

2. (9 points)

   • Still operating under the same name:

     • IBM (history)
     • Intel
     • Xerox
     • Hewlett-Packard
     • NCR. Though interestingly, they were bought by AT&T in 1991, changed their name in 1994 to "AT&T Global Information Solutions" and then changed the name back to NCR in 1996 as it was spun off again independent of AT&T (history).

   • Still in business under another name:

     • Control Data Corporation - In 1988, the company separated out its disk drive business creating Imprimis Technology, which was then sold in 1989 to Seagate Technology, which operates today.

       Then, in 1992, CDC restructured its company, breaking the remaining computing aspects apart from the non-computing business aspects. The computing aspects division was renamed Control Data Systems, Inc (CDSI), though commonly still called "Control Data". However in 1999, the company was acquired by what was then British Telecom's division named Syntegra, later renamed BT Syntegra, and as of today it appears to have dropped that name and simply is the IT division of BT.

       In 1992, the non-computing portion of CDC became Ceridian, which operates today (history of Ceridian).

     • Remmington Rand - merged with Sperry Corporation in 1955 to form Sperry Rand. In turn, that merged with Burroughs in 1986 taking the new name, Unisys (history according to Unisys). Here is an even more colorful history, though I'm not entirely sure who is the underlying source of information.

     • Burroughs - merged with Sperry Rand in 1986 to form Unisys. (history)

     • Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) - was bought by Compaq in 1998, which in turn was bought by Hewlett Packard, in 2002 after a lengthy battle.

3. (5 points)

   answers will vary

The device described in this problem was Wilhelm Schickard's Calculating Clock. One student cited an article about Leonardo da Vinci's design of a similar device, although it is not clear whether that device had been built at the time.

An interesting discussion of these and other mechancial calculators can be found at www.dotpoint.com/xnumber/mechanical1.htm. Another spectacular overview of the history of computers includes everything which we have discussed, with far more pictures and illustrations.