History of the Computer Industry in America Essays - Free Essays

History of the Computer Industry in America Essays - Free Essays History of the Computer Industry in America America and the Computer Industry Only once in a lifetime will a new invention come about to touch every aspect of our lives. Such a device that changes the way we work, live, and play is a special one, indeed. A machine that has done all this and more now exists in nearly every business in the U.S. and one out of every two households (Hall, 156). This incredible invention is the 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 peoples lives for the better. The very earliest existence of the modern day computers ancestor is the abacus. These date back to almost 2000 years ago. It is simply a wooden rack holding parallel wires on which beads are strung. When these beads are moved along the wire according to "programming" rules that the user must memorize, all ordinary arithmetic operations can be performed (Soma, 14). The next innovation in computers took place in 1694 when Blaise Pascal invented the first digital calculating machine. It could only add numbers and they had to be entered by turning dials. It was designed to help Pascals father who was a tax collector (Soma, 32). In the early 1800s, a mathematics professor named Charles Babbage designed an automatic calculation machine. It was steam powered and could store up to 1000 50-digit numbers. Built in to his machine were operations that included everything a modern general-purpose computer would need. It was programmed byand stored data oncards with holes punched in them, appropriately called punchcards. His inventions were failures for the most part because of the lack of precision machining techniques used at the time and the lack of demand for such a device (Soma, 46). After Babbage, people began to lose interest in computers. However, between 1850 and 1900 there were great advances in mathematics and physics that began to rekindle the interest (Osborne, 45). Many of these new advances involved complex calculations and formulas that were very time consuming for human calculation. The first major use for a computer in the U.S. was during the 1890 census. Two men, Herman Hollerith and James Powers, developed a new punched-card system that could automatically read information on cards without human intervention (Gulliver, 82). Since the population of the U.S. was increasing so fast, the computer was an essential tool in tabulating the totals. These advantages were noted by commercial industries and soon led to the development of improved punch-card business-machine systems by International Business Machines (IBM), Remington-Rand, Burroughs, and other corporations. By modern standards the punched-card machines were slow, typically processing from 50 to 250 cards per minute, with each card holding up to 80 digits. At the time, however, punched cards were an enormous step forward; they provided a means of input, output, and memory storage on a massive scale. For more than 50 years following their first use, punched-card machines did the bulk of the world's business computing and a good portion of the computing work in science (Chposky, 73). By the late 1930s punched-card machine techniques had become so well established and reliable that Howard Hathaway Aiken, in collaboration with engineers at IBM, undertook construction of a large automatic digital computer based on standard IBM electromechanical parts. Aiken's machine, called the Harvard Mark I, handled 23-digit numbers and could perform all four arithmetic operations. Also, it had special built-in programs to handle logarithms and trigonometric functions. The Mark I was controlled from prepunched paper tape. Output was by card punch and electric typewriter. It was slow, requiring 3 to 5 seconds for a multiplication, but it was fully automatic and could complete long computations without human intervention (Chposky, 103). The outbreak of World War II produced a desperate need for computing capability, especially for the military. New weapons systems were produced which needed trajectory tables and other essential data. In 1942, John P. Eckert, John W. Mauchley, and their associates at the University of

Biography of Judith Resnik, NASA Astronaut

Biography of Judith Resnik, NASA Astronaut Dr. Judith Resnik was a NASA astronaut and engineer. She was part of the first group of female astronauts recruited by the space agency, and the second American woman to fly in space. She participated in two missions, logging a total of 144 hours and 57 minutes on orbit. Dr. Resnik was part of the ill-fated Challenger mission, which exploded 73 seconds after launch on January 28, 1986. Fast Facts: Judith A. Resnik Born: April 5, 1949 in Akron, OhioDied: January 28, 1986 in Cape Canaveral, FloridaParents: Sarah and Marvin ResnikSpouse: Michael Oldak (m. 1970-1975)Education: Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of MarylandInteresting Fact: Judith A. Resnik planned at one time to become a concert pianist. She was accepted at Juilliard School of Music but turned it down to study mathematics. Early Life Born on April 5, 1949, in Akron, Ohio, Judith A. Resnik grew up under the influence of two talented parents. Her father, Marvin Resnik was an optometrist who had served in the Army in World War II, and her mother, Sarah, was a paralegal. Resniks parents raised her as an observant Jew and she studied Hebrew as a child. She was also very much interested in music, planning at one time to become a concert pianist. Many of her biographies describe Judith Resnik as a very strong-minded child, bright, disciplined and talented at whatever she set out to learn and do. Official NASA portrait of astronaut Dr. Judith A. Resnik. NASA   Education Judith (Judy) Resnik went to Firestone High School, graduating as valedictorian of her class. She actually had a place waiting for her at Juilliard School of Music in New York but elected instead to study mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University. While there, she began studying electrical engineering. She did her masters degree work at the University of Maryland. Eventually, she went on to get a Ph.D. in the subject in 1977. While pursuing her graduate studies, Resnik worked at RCA on missile and radar projects for the military. Her research into integrated circuitry caught NASAs attention and played a role in her acceptance as an astronaut. She also did research into biomedical engineering at the National Institutes of Health, with a particular interest in vision systems. During her graduate studies, Resnik also qualified as a professional aircraft pilot, ultimately piloting NASA T-38 Talon aircraft. During the years before her eventual acceptance at NASA, she worked in California, getting ready for the application and tryout process. NASA Career NASAs first class of female astronauts: Shannon W. Lucid, Margaret Rhea Seddon, Kathryn D. Sullivan, Judith A. Resnik, Anna L. Fisher, and Sally K. Ride.   NASA In 1978, Judy Resnik became a NASA astronaut at the age of 29. She was one of six women accepted into the program and went through its rigorous years of training. She often cited the actress Nichelle Nichols (from Star Trek) as an influence on her decision to join NASA. In her training, Resnik focused on all the systems astronauts were required to know, and paid particular attention to robotic arm operations, as well as the deployment of orbiting experiments and solar array systems. Her work on the ground focused on tethered satellite systems, spacecraft manual control systems, and software applications for the remote manipulator systems.   Astronaut Judith Resnik during egress training at NASA. NASA   Resniks first flight took place aboard the space shuttle Discovery. It was also the maiden voyage for the spacecraft. With that mission, she became the second American to fly, following the first woman, Sally Ride. Many viewers of the IMAX film The Dream is Alive first saw her as the astronaut with long, flowing hair, fast asleep on orbit during one of the scenes.  Ã‚   Astronaut Judith Resnik (left) and crewmates aboard space shuttle Discovery in 1984.   NASA Resniks second (and last flight) was aboard the space shuttle Challenger, which was to carry the first teacher to space, Christa McAuliffe. It broke up 73 seconds into launch on January 26, 1986. Had that mission been successful, she would have been one of the mission specialists, working on a variety of experiments. In her short 37-year lifespan, she logged 144 hours and 57 minutes on orbit, worked toward two degrees in science, and pursued both her work and her hobbies (cooking and car racing) with equal intensity.   Personal Life Judith Resnik was briefly married to engineer Michael Oldak. They had no children, and both were engineering students when they met. They divorced in 1975.   Memorial plaque at the Astrononaut Memorial wall in Florida. This Dignity Memorial bears the names of all who have died in space-related mishaps. Seth Buckley, CC BY-SA 3.0 Awards and Legacy Judith A. Resnik was honored many times after her death. Schools are named for her, and theres a lunar crater on the far side of the Moon called Resnik. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers established an award in her name, given to people who make outstanding contributions to space engineering. At the Challenger Centers, a network of museums and centers named for the Challenger 7, she holds a place of interest and honor, particularly for female students. Each year, NASA honors lost astronauts at the Memorial Wall and space mirror at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center in Florida, including the Challenger Seven who died in the 1986 tragedy.   Sources Dunbar, Brian. â€Å"Memorial for Judith Resnik.† NASA, www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/memorial.html.NASA, NASA, er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/resnik.htm.NASA, NASA, history.nasa.gov/women.html.â€Å"Remembering Judy Resnik.† Space Center Houston, 21 Jan. 2019, spacecenter.org/remembering-judy-resnik/.Suleyman, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/judith-resnik.

Make an argument for what you believe the THEME of this short story is Essay

Make an argument for what you believe the THEME of this short story is - Essay Example In my opinion, the main theme in this short story would be the perception that Indians hold about their fellow Indian Americans, which revolves around the issue of class and acceptance, and how most of them would choose to interact with individuals who hold opposing views from what is expected by society (Johansen 347). What this means is that; Indian Americans will only accept their own if they have been accepted by the white man’s social order. It is through this story that one can see how the Indians learn to see themselves or the changes they wish to see, even if they seem impossible to attain. Countless individuals believe that the Indian Americans themselves have already labeled themselves depending on how society demands (Johansen 352). This is seen through the short story that talks about an Indian American basketball team that is going to face off against another Indian team, but has to overcome challenges in order to play. Before the start of the game, arguments and discussions ensue over the authenticity of one group of the Indian players. In order to play, it was required that the players had to have BIA enrollment cards, or have at least one-quarter of Indian blood (Forbes 225). In my opinion, it may be difficult to prove how authentic one’s race may be, especially to a group that is of the same race, who consider themselves superior due to various factors. The irony that arises in this situation is seen in the manner in which these different groups of individuals seem to accept the fact that being labeled is fine, and that it seems to divide them but they do not pay attention to it. It is funny to think of one group of individuals, all minorities, being prejudiced against each other because they do not have their names or enrollment numbers in a government database. This labeling proves that even as the white society left the Indian communities, and all other races alone, fighting and racism would still continue. The only difference

African american women underrepresantation in higher education Dissertation

African american women underrepresantation in higher education - Dissertation Example The African American women play a very important role in the academic field This alone calls for further research to find out the issues that surround the African American women in higher education.Since the beginning of 21st century, women have been integrated into the administration in most institutions of higher learning.However, they are hardly recognized and are only seen subordinates to the white women or black men. They are seen as a group that has no experience, even though they are equally competent with their colleagues (Anderson and Ramey, 1998). Still, there is a lot that needs to be done despite the fact that research has been done concerning the same. Research has in the past mainly concentrated on the students and the administration as a whole. This leaves the plight of the African American women unattended to. This literature review examines the following aspects. For one, I consider the policies that have been made by the judiciary, legislature and the executive conc erning the African American women in higher education. Secondly, the literature review focuses on the implementation of these policies, with an in depth focus on the state of Georgia. The third aspect that I will consider is the place of women in higher education. I will approach this by giving a comprehensive description of the same. Lastly, I will consider the future considerations of the policies that can enhance women’s representation in future. Main problems faced by African American women administrators ... This further leads to lack of influence and bottlenecks in achieving authority in these institutions. The third aspect that challenges these women is the prejudice on whether they are competent enough to lead other or make good management decision. Their families are also demanding, giving them limited chances of advancing in their careers. Fourthly, they face inequities in the opportunities of promotion and pay increase in these institutions (Eaglya and Johnson,1990). Many women have not been exposed to the opportunities of presidency. More so, they are still underrepresented in the faculties and in the senior most positions in the higher learning institutions. African American women have had to face limited chances in enrollment in the universities (Robson, 1985). This is mainly in North America, where a majority of women have no access to education. This explains why it is hard to have representation in the universities in such areas. The women also have balance between the tradit ional roles as homemakers and their professional careers. They are expected to do more than men, limiting their chances of rising as professional in any field (Eaglya and Johnson,1990). Further, their own views on what they are supposed to do in every day of their life, which limits their chances of fighting for their promotion in higher learning institutions (Robson, 1985). The responsibilities are both demanding, which means that a woman has limited chances of further education and thoroughness in their professionals. These are the very factors that warrant promotion and enhancement of leadership skills. Still, many women feel that their professional careers are secondary to their family roles and duties. Black women lack support by their spouses in the progression of their

The Truth about Single- Sex Schooling Essay -- Argumentative Persuasiv

Single-Sex Schooling Single-Sex Schools have been looked down upon by many due to the belief that students will not be able to function comfortably with the opposite sex when leaving to go to a coeducational College or University. This belief is usually also partnered with the thought that single-sex schools represent segregation, many people do believe that these types of schools promote the separation of males and females. Some also may believe that all single-sex schools are in fact private, meaning that tuition for these schools are expensive, and cater to the wealthy. However, all of these beliefs are far from the truth. Not only are single sex schools offered in public education, but studies have also shown that attending single-sex schools can be very beneficial in succeeding both academically and socially. Single-Sex education is especially beneficial for young females. This type of education offers females a more comfortable way of learning, students feel more comfortable asking questions and sp eaking up in a classroom setting. Also, teachers can focus on gender issues facing young females today, such as body concerns as well as focusing on more challenging subjects for young girls. Through studies made from various single-sex female schools, as well as the research made through comparisons to coeducational schools, the belief that single-sex school as being a bad idea is shown to be not only incorrect, but also a completely misguided belief. Unfortunately, for many adolescent and teenage girls? eating disorders and body concerns are very prevalent. However, according to a study made by Janel Messinger, a The Truth about Single- Sex Schooling representative from the Department of psychology at the City Universi... ...ly looked into the fabulous opportunities that their child could experience, traditions are formed, friends are made, and the education the students will have will truly last a lifetime. Works Cited: Blair, H. & Sanford, K. (1999). Single-sex classrooms: A place for transformation of policy and practice. pp.4-9. Retrieved on April 14 from Eric/EBSCO. Dollison, R.A. (1998). A comparison of the effect of single sex and coeducational schooling arrangements on the self-esteem and mathematics achievement of adolescent females. pp. 6-9. Retrieved on April 12 from Eric/EBSCO. Haag, P. (2000). K-12 single sex education: What does research say? pp.2-5. Retrieved on March 23 from Eric/EBSCO. Messinger, J. (2001). Gender and body concerns in adolescent females: Single sex and coeducational environments. pp. 5-9. Retrieved on February 28 from Eric/EBSCO.

Rhetorical Analysis of Walter Benn Michaels, “The Trouble with Diversity” Essay

Diversity isn’t something to be ignored, but is that where our primary focus should lie? It is in our very nature to celebrate our differences; without it we lose our identity. As a society we literally dance in the streets to celebrate our individualities. However, Walter Benn Michaels points out a very interesting issue that is not only social but economical as well, in his book The Trouble with Diversity: How We Learned to Love Identity and Ignore Inequality. When we strip away our color, our heritage and begin to look at our wallets we become embarrassed, even shy about our how fat or thin it becomes. His political stance is intended for a general audience to: show present concepts of cultural diversity, to illustrate how Americans have come to love race, and to shift the focus from race to economic inequality. The introduction of The Trouble with Diversity is merely a glance at Michael’s agenda and becomes quite confusing to an average reader. He spends a fair amount of time discussing how we have become engulfed in our, as Michaels puts it, â€Å"love affair† with diversity that his primary goals are diluted within the text. When we break it down, his arguments become clearer. To fully understand Michaels objectives one must take into account his general audience. It becomes clear with his use of the first person narrative, â€Å"The argument, in its simplest form, will be that we love race—we love identity—because we don’t love class.† As Michaels points out the bulk of society is below the poverty line and when discussing economic inequality no one will listen more closely than those who are suffering the most. The upper class will also be able to identify with because as he emphasizes, â€Å"Survey after Survey has shown, Americans are very reluctant to identify themselves as belonging to the lower class and even more reluctant to identify themselves as belonging to the upper class.† As a society, we would rather associate ourselves as being middle class. In this way, no matter what the race, we are alike. Beginning The Trouble with Diversity with F. Scott Fitzgerald famous saying to Ernest Hemingway, â€Å"The rich are different from you and me.† Expresses how some people view the upper class as a completely different race of individuals. Hemingway’s witty response, â€Å"Yes, they have more money.† Illustrated to Fitzgerald that there is no difference in the rich, or the poor, except their wallet size; they are still human. Michaels goes on from there to describe how we have come to warship diversity. In Bakke v. Board of Regents, the Supreme Court ruled that it was reasonable for colleges to consider race when accepting applicants, as long as was in the interest of diversity and not to exclude members of certain racial background. Along with racial diversity, diversity became something to describe more than just the color of our skin. It now is used for sexual orientation, medical coding, and religious preferences. Unfortunately, diversity became closely associated with the struggle with racism and ended up with a notion that we should be â€Å"a color-blind† society. As Michael states, â€Å"Why do we assume black people want to stop being black; why do we assume the deaf want to hear?† He finishes the intro of his book by illustrating how we have come to hate class. While we have become to love our identity, we have become increasingly uninterested in identifying ourselves based on the classification of income. He even accuses the left wing party (or liberals who have prided itself on working for social equality) in diverting focus of economic inequality. â€Å"Giving the priority to issues like affirmative action and committing itself to the celebration of difference, the intellectual left has responded to the increase in economic inequality by insisting on the importance of cultural identity.† So by his observation Michaels believes that even the liberals are guilty of thinking the solution to inequality is simply to appreciate the lower class.

Analysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost - 1071 Words

Writing AP Exam Essays Advanced Placement English Literature Composition Name Juan Linares Major Work Data Page Paradise Lost Writer/Nationality John Milton/ UK 1608-1674 Theme/Meanings of the work as a whole Disobedience plays a key role in the unfolding of Milton’s poem. Satan disobeys God because God gave him free will, and causes Eve to disobey Adam, to disobey God. Justification of God. Death must happen to the world but because of the Son, Death is ultimately defeated. Characters Satan- The antagonist of the story, and some say the Promethean hero. He is at first grand and magnificent, but degrades to the squalor we associate him with. God- A giant lightbulb, an orb of ever radiant light which sits atop an unmovable throne in Heaven. Personifies reason and his responses seem cold as a result. Omnipotent being. A chorus like figure in Milton’s poem. The Son- God’s compassionate side. As God decrees the Fall of Mankind, the Son decides that, with his sacrifice, he will save Mankind. Technically Jesus though he had not been born at that time in Theology. Adam- The Apex of life in Eden. Witty, chiseled abs, keen and handsome. Alpha dog, top guy, call him whatever you want. Adam shows his respect to any he speaks with, knowing well his place in the hierarchical pyramid. He speaks kindly to Eve, even though she is inferior, he does not suck up to Raphael or God, for he understands they are superior. He represents aShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1852 Words   |  8 Pagesliterary merit. Do not merely summarize the plot. (2010 AP Literature and Composition) Disobedience and Exile an Analysis of Satan from Milton’s Paradise Lost John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost, has been the subject of criticism and interpretation through many years; these interpretations concur in that Adam and Eve are the sufferers of the poem, and it is their blight to lose Paradise because of their disobedience; however, their exile is merely a plight brought by Satan, and it is he who suffersRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost Essay2201 Words   |  9 PagesEve’s story arc in Paradise Lost, by John Milton, is a bildungsroman, the German word for a â€Å"novel of education.† Eve develops through the five stages of a typical bildungsroman character, as demonstrated by several different works from the genre. It will be useful to discuss several different bildungsromans from different eras and regions to fully determine the necessary characteristics of a bildungsroman, like The Odyssey, To Kill a Mockingbird, David Copperfield, Adventures of Huckleberry FinnRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s The Of Paradise Lost 1122 Words   |  5 Pageshumankind could be considered heroic according to well-known author John Milton. Book IX of Paradise lost portrays this sense of heroism through the sins of Adam and Eve, but also creates a sense of controversy through the unexpected personality swap between Satan and of God. This literary work is a major contribution to biblical and literary history; therefore a reason why this work is still read today. The poem must turn tragic, and Milton asserts his intention to show this great fall is more heroic thanRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1499 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing, an epic hero if that being has done what is required. In John Milton’s, â€Å"Paradise Lost†, the character of Satan presents itself as an epic hero, Milton tests that the character of Satan forces the reader to consider the possibility that Satan may actually be a hero, or at the very least, a character worth seeing in a more complex light. This along with the following examples are all showing how the character of Satan in â€Å"Paradise lost†, can be view and is viewed as an epic hero thought the novelRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1035 Words   |  5 PagesSatan is the first figure to speak in Milton’s poems in Paradise Lost. His words to Beelzebub are the sort of utterances a politician would make to his party members after a defeat. It combines convincement with the virtue of emotional manipulation. Satan’s words shift like a dream from expression of grief and sympathy to the restatement of united defiance, to which Beelzebub replies unconsciously. Milton creates this shift so subtly that it is hardly noticed and highlights through this that theRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 869 Words   |  4 PagesIn his epic, Paradise Lost, Milton entertains the reader with his version of how one of the greatest falls of humanity occurred. Although many would conside r God or Adam and Eve as the main characters in a story like this, the main character of this epic is truly Satan. Satan is shown as a strong and powerful character who is completely overwhelmed with emotions which create a type of hell in his mind; even when he is in heaven, he cannot escape his true life. Satan’s desire for vengeance on God’sRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1606 Words   |  7 PagesIn books one, two, four and nine of Paradise Lost, Milton portrays Satan as heroic, introducing freedom and reason to the minds and lives of humanity. Satan allows his subservient fallen angels, as well as Adam and eve to recognize authority, reason and the true meaning of freedom. The beginning of the story is told through Satan’s point of view, making him the first empathetic character the reader is introduced to. From the very beginning of Book One, Satan explains how him and other fellow angelsRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost1442 Words   |  6 Pages(Name) (Instructor) (Course) (Date) Heroism in John Milton’s Paradise Lost There are many definitions of a hero, and establishing the hero in John Milton’s Paradise Lost has been object to scholarly debate. One definition of a hero is that by Aristotle, who defined a hero as a person who is divine and superhuman. However, other definitions encompass the aspect of virtue in heroism. Despite all the definitions for a hero, it remains factual that a hero would be someone that the readers would delightRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1253 Words   |  6 Pages Students often read John Milton’s works with great difficulty; he is determined to have his audience know his goals and how important his writing is through epic metaphors and masterful language. In Paradise Lost, he tells his audience that this will the epic to end all epics and that this is the most important tale of all mankind: the fall of Man. Comparatively, Alexander Pope used the same style of epic not to tell an important tale, but to question much of the life of ar istocracy in his timeRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1767 Words   |  8 Pagesthat won the support of the writer John Milton. Milton was known for his rhetorical writings against Charles I and for Oliver Cromwell at the time. It would not be until after the fall of Cromwell that Milton would complete his greatest work of literature however. When the Protectorate fell and Charles II rose to power in 1660, Milton was forced into hiding for fear that he would be punished for his involvement with Cromwell. This would actually benefit Milton for it was when he was in hiding that