CK-12 Physical Science - For Middle School

http://www.ck12.org Chapter 2. Scientific Research and Technology

Engineers must weigh the benefits and risks of new technologies, and the benefits should outweigh the risks.

Advances in Technology

Technology advances as new materials and processes are invented. Computers are a good example.Table2.5 and
the videos below show some of the milestones in their evolution. The evolution of modern computers began in the
1930s. Computers are still evolving today. How have computers changed during your lifetime?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETVAlcMXitk (4:11)

MEDIA

Click image to the left for use the URL below.

URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/5039

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gas2Xi0rW6A (5:36)

MEDIA

Click image to the left for use the URL below.

URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/5040

TABLE2.5:Evolution of Computers

Computer (Year) Description

ENIAC (1946)

US Army Photo

Like other early computers, the huge ENIAC computer

used vacuum tubes for electrical signals. This made it

very large and expensive. It could do just one task at a

time. It had to be rewired to change programs. That’s

what the women in this photo are doing.

ERMA (1955) The ERMA computer represented a new computer

technology. It used transistors instead of vacuum tubes.

This allowed computers to be smaller, cheaper, and

more energy efficient.