Early Computers | 1930s-1980s AD

What is an abacus?

Performed simple math calculations

In 1936, Zuse invented this type of computer?

The first freely programmable computer

Post a photo of the 1944 Mark Computer.

In 1944, Aiken and Hopper designed the Mark Series of computers to be used for what?

Used by the US Navy for gunnery and ballistic calculations

Post a photo of the UNIVAC Computer.

In 1951, Eckert and Mauchly designed the first commercial computer for whom?

For the Census bureau

What does UNIVAC stand for?

Universal Automatic Computer

In 1953, IBM enters the scene. What does IBM stand for?

International Business Machines

What is FORTRAN?

The first successful high level programming language...The IBM mathematical formula translating system

Post a photo of the first mouse.

In 1964, how did Engelbart change the way computers worked?

He made computers more user-friendly by inventing the computer mouse

What is the significance of ARPnet?

The first internet. It was developed to protect the flow of information between military installations by creating a network of geographically separated computers

In 1971, Intel introduced this? Post a photo of it.

The first single chip microprocessor, the Intel 4004:

In the same year, IBM introduced this? Post a photo of one.

The first "memory disk", commonly called the "floppy disk" because of its flexibilty:

In 1973, Metcalf and Xerox created this?

The first ethernet computer network

During the next several years, the first consumer computers were marketed. Post photos of the Altair, Apple I, Apple II, TRS-80, Commodore PET. Label each.

Altair^

Apple I^

Apple II^

TRS-80^

Commodore PET^

In 1981, Bill Gates and Microsoft introduced this package?

The MS-DOS computer operating system which was packages with the IBM PC

Post a photo of the Lisa computer.

In 1983, who introduced the Lisa computer?

Apple!

What is GUI?

Graphical User Interface

Post a photo of the computer mentioned below.

In 1984, a more affordable home computer was introduced. Name the computer and the company that marketed it?

The Apple Macintosh computer

The commercial only ran one time. When?

January 22, 1984 on the Super Bowl

In response to the Apple GUI, Gates and Microsoft introduced this?

The Windows operating system

Two men are known for their development of the Apple I computer. Who are they?

Steve Jobs and a poor man I do not know the name of.

When was the internet that we know, world wide web, developed and introduced?

No idea. Doesn't say.. :-(

Over the years, Apple has included "easter eggs" within their software. What is an "easter egg"?

Little tricks and witty or cute things that Apple has included in some of their software?

Search for easter eggs in Photoshop and Illustrator. List a few in this post ... and try to find them in the applications.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

Where do you think computers will take us in the next 10 years?

To the moon! Oh, wait...

Photography | 1839-1960s AD

Until the 1880s, how were news stories illustrated?

Printing presses published engravings or woodcuts

What is a camera obscura?

First camera, "Dark chamber". Optical device that projects an image of its surroundings onto a screen

Post an example of a camera obscura.

How did scholars and artists utilize the camera obscure?

Used for the safe observation of solar eclipses and the phases of the moon

From where did the photographic camera develop?

From the camera obscura in a more portable use

Who first used the term "photography"? Where was is derived from?

Sir John Hershel, derived from the Greek words for light and writing

Post the first photograph.

Who is credited with making the first successful photograph?

Joseph Niepce!

Post an example of a Daguerreotype image.

Who invented the Daguerreotype process? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the process?

Louis Daguerre! Exposure time decreased greatly and could be permanently exposed by immersing the paper in salt. The downside was the it was expensive and could not be duplicated

Post an example of a Calotype image.

Who invented the Calotype process? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the process?

William Fox Talbot! It was not of great quality, but it could be duplicated (because of its negatives), becoming the basis of our modern photographic process

Post an example of a Wet Collodion Process image.

Who invented the Wet Collodion process? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the process?

Fredrick Scott Archer! Exposure time was reduced to two or three seconds, and the cost was significantly less. But the wet plates had to be developed immediately, making it difficult to carry around the chemical tent, etc.

Post an example of a Dry Plate Process image.

Who invented the Dry Plate process? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the process?

Richard Maddox! Used gelatin rather than collodion,making it easier to develop, but still too complicated for the general public.

Who is George Eastman? What company did he establish?

He made photography accessible to all, inventing roll film. He established Eastman Kodak Company!

Post an example of The Kodak Camera from 1888.

In 1888, he produced a camera that use his flexible roll film. How did he make this camera/photography accessible to the public?

Sped up the process of recording multiple images

What is Edwin Land best known for? What company did he establish?

Patenting polarized light filters and invented instant photography, establishing Polaroid!

Post a photo of the first Polaroid camera.

How long did the first Polaroid camera take to produce a photo?

60 seconds!

What was Eadweard Muybridge known for?

Motion picture photography! He was an English photographer who was known for his work using multiple cameras to capture motion

Post a photo of the Zoopraxiscope.

What is the Zoopraxiscope?

Used to project a series of images in successive phases of motion

Post a photo of Muybridge's horse in motion.

How did Muybridge settle the debate and photograph a horse in motion?

All four of a horse's legs come off the ground while galloping by placing a series of large cameras in a line, each being triggered by a thread as the horse passed by

In 1880s, the development of the motion picture camera allowed this?

Allowed for individual images to be captured and stored on a single film reel

Post a photo of a motion picture projector.

What is a motion picture projector?

Shined a light through the film and magnified the "moving picture" onto a screen for an audience

The Linotype Machine | 1886 AD

Who is credited with the invention of the typewriter?

Christopher Scholes

What is a "stenographer"?

Stenographers take notes on what people say, like James O. Clephane in the Supreme Court

Post an example of Shole's typewriter.

Why did Sholes send a prototype of his typewriter to Clephane?

He realized that stenographers would be among the first and most important users

After the typewriter began production, why did Clephane pursue another machine?

It still took too long to typeset and copy the words onto a typewriter from his notes

Who spent a year redesigning Clephane's typesetting machine?

Ottomar Mergenthaler

What is meant by "typesetting"?

Casting type from a metal matrix versus papier-mache

Post an example of Linotype Machine.

How does the Linotype Machine differ from the typewriter?

Allowed type to be set mechanically rather than by hand and produced a solid line of type by casting hot lead into a series of molds that corresponded to individual letters

How did this machine change the newspaper industry?

Made it possibly for a small number of operators to set type for more pages on a daily basis

Post an example of a Linotype keyboard.

How did the keyboard of the Linotype Machine differ from keyboards that we use today?

90 characters, and no shift key (thus more letters) Arranged by frequency, left to right.

Post an example of a Linotype slug.

What is a slug?

An assembled line of type cast as a single piece

Post an example of a person operating a Linotype Machine.

Why is the Linotype Machine the greatest advanced in printing since movable type?

Allowed for fast typing and the ability to print things in larger amounts and faster. It was like movable type, but a lot more efficient.

The Gutenberg Press | 1450 AD

What is Johannes Gutenberg credited with?

Credited with inventing the technology of printing with moveable type in 1450

Post a photo of the Gutenberg Press.

How did the printing press work?

It was a hand press in which ink was rolled over the raised surface of movable hand-set block letters held within a wooden frame, the form was then pressed against a sheet of paper

What motivated Gutenberg to find a better way of creating books?

His love of reading motivated him

Why did Gutenberg experiment with metal type versus wood type?

Woodcuts were not durable; they split in the press after repeated use, as seen with Chinese moveable type

Post an example of movable type in a type case.

What is moveable type?

The system of printing that uses movable components to reproduce the elements of a document (usually individual letters and punctuation)

What is a matrix?

Hard metal that is hammered into a softer copper bar to create a mold

What ink did Gutenberg develop that he used specifically for the printing press?

Oil-based ink, which was more durable that water-based ink

What is paper made from? Where did paper originate?

A substrate made from wood pulp, created by Ts'ai Lun in 105 AD

What is a "substrate"?

A surface/object that is created out of another object

Who did Gutenberg seek to help with the invention of the press? Close to the end of the 5 years, what happened?

Gutenberg asked John Fust, a wealthy businessman, to invest; Fust agreed, but if Gutenberg could not repay the loan, with interest, after 5 years, Fust would get the press, tools, and materials; Fust sued Gutenberg and the judge ruled in favor of Fust

What was the first book he printed?

A two-volume Bible for 300 Florins each, 1455

Post an example of this book.

How did the Gutenberg Press impact communication?

Perfected script and made it easier to read, books were made more rapidly, current information could be shared locally and around the world, the cost of books decreased (allowing more people to buy them), demand grew, and the population became more literate; people then wanted books written in their own language and a greater variety of books; with that, book trade began to flourish, as well as papermaking industries, economy rose, and art and science began to flourish, which led to the beginning of the Renaissance

Who introduced the printing press to England?

William Caxton in 1476

What was the early form of newspapers?

1525, trade newsletters

When was the first news weekly published? What was it called?

1704, the first American news weekly, The Boston Letter, began publication by John Campbell in Boston, MA

What kind of press was built in the US in the mid 1800s?

One completely made from cast iron

Post an example of a 1930s printing press.

By the late 1930s, presses had increased in efficiency and were capable of 2,500 to 3,500 impressions per hour. What is meant by "impression"?

Impression is referring to how many blocks of type it could press onto paper

Which printing process is the Gutenberg press an example of? Briefly describe the process?

Relief printing; moveable type is placed into the press. Ink is spread onto the type. Paper is then placed on top. The press applies the direct pressure needed to transfer the ink to the paper

Post an example of an intaglio press.

What is intaglio printing and how is ink transferred?

(Printmaking) Image area is etched into the plate surface to hold the ink. Ink is applied, then rubbed with a cloth to remove the excess. Damp paper is placed on top. The press applies pressure to transfer the ink to the paper

Post an example of a screen (porous) printing press.

What is porous printing and how is ink transferred?

Basic stencil process. Image carrier is attached to a screen; ink is forced through open mesh areas

Post an example of a lithography printing press.

What is lithography and how is ink transferred?

Planographic. Printing from a flat surface, based on the concept that oil and water do not readily mix. Drawing or artwork is made on the plate with greasy ink or crayon, water is then applied

Post an example of a offset lithography printing press.

What variation of lithography is used by the commercial printing industry today?

Offset Lithography

How do printing presses used today compare to the Gutenberg Press?

Today's presses are mechanical/electric (obviously) and can produce things at a much faster, more seamless rate. No more movable type plates are used, and it does not use pressure on top of the paper and type blocks, but stamps onto the paper (I think...)

Describe four-color process printing using CMYK?

A combination of layers of dots on paper in cyan, magenta, yellow, and black that, when combined, creates the effect of other colors

The Codex and the Illuminated Manuscript | 1st Century AD

Post an example of a scroll.

What were the drawbacks of the scroll?

They only allowed for sequential usage so that readers had to read the text in the order that it was written

Post an example of a codex.

What is a codex?

Covered and bound collection of hand written pages, easier than reading a scroll

"Codex" is derived from the Latin meaning "block of wood". Why?

It was like a block split into tablets for writing on, like a book

What is the difference between "sequential access" and "random access"?

Sequential access- one must go through the scroll to find a certain passage

Random access- one can go to any point to find information

What were the advantages of using the codex?

They could use random access to find something in the text, and the Codex could also be opened flat to any page; also more portable and was easier to organize in libraries because the title could be written on the spine

What helped spread the use of the codex?

Associated wit the rise of Christianity, and adopted the format for the early Bible

What replaced papyrus? Describe the process used to create it?

Parchment; substrate made from animal skin such as sheep, goats, and cows; hair and fat removed and skin was smoothed out, the hide was then soaked in water, calcium, flour, and salt were added, the skin was stretched out, flattened, and then dried

What is vellum?

Animal skin that was prepared to be written on

Name several examples of current technology that utilizes the format of the codex?

The Bible, dictionaries, other large-bound books

What led to a period of cultural and economical deterioration?

The decline of the Roman empire, resulting in fewer books being created

Post an example of an illuminated manuscript.

Who began creating books by hand, taking the creation to an art form?

Monastic monks

What does "illumination" refer to? What was included in this ornamentation?

Refers to the borders, illustrations, and ornamentation added to each page of text

What tool was used for creating the illuminated manuscripts?

Animal skins and natural quill pens

Why were these manuscripts reserved for religious purposes?

The work was too laborious for a more common use

What is craftsmanship? Why is it important?

The quality at which something is created; it is important because it makes things appealing to the eye and easier to understand; also more durable, which may be why illuminated manuscripts still exist today

The Roman Alphabet | 7th Century BC

What was the basis of the Roman uppercase alphabet?

A variant of the Greek Alphabet

What were the purposes of the formal and informal styles of lettering?

Formal- Used for important manuscripts and official documents

Informal- Used for letters and routine types of writing

Why is the Roman alphabet the most widely used and what contributions did it make?

Contributions- Serifs, institution of the baseline in typography and penmanship (perfectly aligned rows of type)

From where did serifs originate?

Originated with the carving of words into stone, where stonesman added little hooks to the tips of letters to prevent the chisel from slipping

When and where did lowercase, or minuscule, letters develop?

These letters developed with the Roman institution of the baseline

What is a ligature and why were they utilized?

Ligature is the connection of type, but I am not sure why they were utilized, as it does not say in the podcast. But I would assume that they were utilized to help with penmanship and readability of a text

Post an example of the Roman alphabet in visual form.

Here is a fancy Roman alphabet design thing:

The Greek Alphabet | 800 BC

How did Greeks come in contact with the Phoenicians?

The Phoenicians regularly traveled to Greece and established trade agreements with them

How was the Greek adaptation of the alphabet different from its predecessor?

The Greeks adapted several consonants to act as vowels in order to better suit the Greek languages; additional letters were also included

Why is the Greek alphabet considered to be the world's first true alphabet?

It has given rise to many other alphabets, including the Latin alphabet

Name several similarities and differences between the Greek and modern English alphabets?

The Greek alphabet had not developed serifs (developed with the Latin alphabet), and the Latin alphabet adapted the Greek alphabet for its uppercase alphabet. During the time of the Roman alphabet, formal in informal scripts were developed for different texts such as official documents versus letters and routine writing. Modern English alphabets developed typography and penmanship, as well as type aesthetics

Post an example of the Greek alphabet in visual form.

The Phoenician Alphabet | 1050 BC

The Phoenician alphabet is based on what principle?

The principle that one sign represents one spoken sound

Describe the shape of the letters and what tool created them?

Created with a stylus, the Phoenician alphabet consisted of angular and straight shapes

What two reasons made the Phoenician alphabet so successful?

1) This system contrasted with other scripts that were more complex and difficult to learn, and 2) the trading culture of the Phoenician merchants spread the use of the alphabet into parts of North Africa and Europe

What long term effects on the social structures of civilizations did the Phoenicians have with the creation of their alphabet?

It was the first widespread script, with its simplicity allowing it to be used in multiple languages, but also allowed common people to learn how to write, disintegrated class divisions between royalty and the common people

Post an example of the Phoenician alphabet in visual form.

Hieroglyphics and the Egyptians | 3,000 BC

In the sixth century BC, what three civilizations invaded Egypt?

The Persians, and later the Greeks and Romans

Post an example of the inside wall(s) of an Ancient Egyptian temple.

What was discovered on the inside of the temples?

Carved and painted images on every wall and surface

Scholars believe that Ancient Egyptians were inspired and influenced by which written language?

Very possibly by Sumerian cuneiform, influenced by the concept of expressing words in writing

What is the difference between logographic and alphabetic elements?

Logograms are visual symbols representing ideas or objects, whereas alphabetic variations evolved into demotic, used for document records

The term Hieroglyphic derived from what two Greek words?

From the words "heiro", meaning sacred, and "glyphic", meaning engraving or writing

What is a scribe?

A person trained to record events and records for the government and religion; also responsible for writing a set of scrolls for Pharoahs and other important Egyptians on papyrus

Who else was trained to read and write? Why?

Students were trained to read and write, but military leaders were also trained as scribes so that they could communicate while in battle

Post an example of hieroglyphics on papyrus.

What is papyrus and how was it made?

Papyrus is a substrate made from reeds native to Egypt; wet reeds are cross-weaved into one another, flattened, and dried; then they are rubbed with flat stones until the surface is smooth

What is a substrate?

The substrate is, in this case, the papyrus made of reeds

What were the Books of the Dead?

Instructions and spells to help Pharoahs and other important Egyptians find their way to the afterlife, usually commissioned by themselves before death

How did Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics become a forgotten language?

In the late 300 AD, Emperor Theodosius I closed all non-Christian temples, so those who could read and write hieroglyphics disappeared until no one could decipher the language

Post an example of the Rosetta Stone.

What is the Rosetta Stone? Where was it discovered?

A slab of hieroglyphics, discovered in Rosetta during Napoleon Bonaparte's 1798 invasion on Egypt

What three languages are included on the stone?

Egyptian hieroglyphics, Demotic, and Greek

Why couldn't the text on the Stone be deciphered?

1) There is a chunk of the slab missing, and 2) none of the texts seem to be complete

Who finally deciphered the text? What was his breakthrough?

French scholar Jean Francois Champollion, and was able to match up the hieroglyphics with the Greek version of the name Egyptian Pharoah Ramses

Why does the interpretation of the Rosetta Stone have such significance?

We now know a great deal about the ancient Egyptians and Egyptian hieroglyphics

Cuneiform and the Sumerians | 3,000 BC

The Sumerians were one of the earliest types of this kind of civilization? What does that mean?

Civilizations are not civilizations unless there is a solid region on which they live and job specialization within the inhabitants' region. Your argument is invalid.

One of the earliest nomadic civilizations to migrate to Sumer; they were the first real civilization, as they lived in a single area (the fertile crescent, as it is now called).

Why is the region of Sumer considered the Cradle of Civilization?
It is where cuneiform, the first written language, was created

What could the Sumerians practice year round because of the regions climate?

The Sumerians could grow and harvest food year-round, allowing them to stay in the region

Post an example of early Cuneiform (Sumerian pictograph).

Why was Cuneiform created?
To keep track of business transactions

What medium was used to "write" Cuneiform? Explain the process of preparing and writing on this surface?
Sumerians used clay tablets; they first had to wet the clay, form it into a...tablet, and then used a wedge-shaped stylus made of reeds to make impressions of different shapes and patterns for each different transaction (over a thousand at one point, and all had to be done by a select few who knew each one!); had to be let out in the sun to harden again

What did Cuneiform begin as a series of?
Pictographs! (a pictorial or visual representation of an object)

Post an example of evolved Cuneiform (wedge-shaped).

After it evolved over time, what shape did the characters of Cuneiform evolve into?
A wedge shape!

Post an example of Akkadian Cuneiform.

After the Akkadians conquered, what happened to the Sumerian culture and written language?
The Akkadians adopted the Sumerian culture and written language

What is a pictograph?
A pictorial or visual representation of an object

Why did the creation of Cuneiform allow the Sumerians to become a sophisticated culture?

They were able to communicate with each other for business and eventually for every day activities when it was simplified for the common Sumerian ability

Assignment 14: Research and Inspiration!

(Job description on Career page!)

RESEARCH:

• Message- Pull in the designers/artists!
• Audience- Young college kids, high school hopeful designers/artists
• What?- Show how illustration is a good career, keeping it modern and this generation
• Color/Style- Modern, simple, clean, solid 2-4 color scheme, OR... an all-over illustrated, collaged style to stand out to the younger crowd of designers (Include fashion sketches, anatomy sketches, illustrated pieces, pencils, erasers, drawing pens and boards, SIMPLE FONT IF USED)

INSPIRATION:

Simple background with a large illustration and text box NOT at the bottom, but on the side

OR even the right page, where there are various examples with job career credit on the side (like Pixar, Harvard, Disney, etc.) Information at bottom

I like the use of line in each creature, and the cut out color (or brushed on)...hmm. I may do a simple contour "sketch" and fill it in with the brush tool

I like the black and white concept, and the contour shape still. The hair on the left has a brush-like quality that I may be able to imitate

"Serif"! I like the drawn look it has and the simple colors are not distracting to the idea it is representing. The use of the brush tool is seen under his feet

I like the idea, the lines, and the subtle texture. Simple and clean.

And that's all for now, folks!