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(8pts)

1) To manipulate information with the computer, we need to digitize it
to a suitable format (to encode it with binary symbols). The length of
the encoded sequence is important (shorter encoded sequences are
preferable).

The same thing occurs in everyday life. When we want to send text
messages with the phone or when we use Internet Messaging, we may take
parts of words and represent them with shorter sequences of symbols to
save us typing.

Using your imagination and/or google (searching for "text messaging
jargon", for example) choose ONE of the following two text message
poems and try to translate it in full English words.

Choice A:

confined 2 a shoebox the letter u sent b4 mobile fones&ring tones
b4 txt
xcuses
L8ness&voicemail I lovd u b4 u demoted yrself2 a small i & swapped xxx
4 a kiss 

ANSWER:

Confined to a shoe box, the letter you sent before mobile phones and
ring tones excuses lateness and voicemail. I loved you before you
demoted yourself to a small i and swapped xxx for a kiss.

Choice B:

14: a txt msg pom.
his is r bunsn brnr bl%,
his hair lyk fe filings
W/ac/dc going thru.
I sit by him in kemistry,
it splits my @oms
wen he :-)s @ me.

(author: Julia Bird 30, Poetry Book Society)

ANSWER (Author's translation):

14: a text message poem
his eyes are bunsen burner blue,
his hair like iron filings
with ac/dc going through.
I sit by him in chemistry,
it splits my atoms
when he smiles at me


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(7pts)

2) Give a brief account of the history of the ELECTRONIC computer since
ENIAC. Trace only the main points and try to limit your answer to
about 20 lines of text. You may use google, and/or the resources
provided on the course web page. 

ANSWER:

Main points: 
- 1st generation, using vacuum tubes: 
Atanasoff & Berry computer using 300 vacuum tubes ('39)
ENIAC, by Eckert and Mauchley, 18,000 vacuum tubes ('46)
EDVAC, the 1st computer to store its program in memory ('47)

- 2nd generation, using transistors.
Leprechaun, built at Bell Labs ('56)
These computers were used not only for mathematical calculations but
also for data processing

- 3rd generation, using integrated circuits.
The Minicomputer. Ex: Digital Equipment Corp ('62)
About this time, programming languages were invented.

- 4th generation, VLSI (very large scale integration)
Intel created the first microprocessor ('71), an entire computer on a
single chip.
It marks the birth of the personal computer.


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(5pts)

3) 
a) What is the binary representation of decimal number 37? 

b) Write the binary representation you obtained at the previous step in
a more compact form using hexadecimal digits (base 16 numbering system).

For both subproblems, write down the INTERMEDIARY STEPS you used in the
calculation! The course web page cites a link explaining the
conversion to binary. You may use this resource if you wish (for this
assignment, you will NOT need to read how mathematical operations are
performed in binary).

Note that there are many online programs to make these convertions
(just search google). You may use them to check your answer, but it
will not suffice to simply enter the answers.


ANSWER:

Write 37 as a summation of powers of two

37 = 32 + 4 + 1 = 2^5 + 2^2 + 1 = 100000 + 100 + 1 = 100101

To convert to base 16, group 4 bits at a time from the right:

37 = (10)(0101)

and convert each group.

10 is 2 
0101 is 5

so, 100101 is 25 in base 16 (hex).