Following up on yesterday's "Master's at Arms" badge (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31344293 ), I thought people might be interested in what the requirements were for the "Computers" badge for the Boy Scouts of America, nearly 50 years ago.
a. Give a short history of computers. Describe the major parts of a computer system. Give four different uses of computers.
b. Describe the differences between analog and digital computers. Tell the use of each.
c. Explain some differences between special- and general-purpose machines.
2. Do the following:
a. Tell what a program is and how it is developed.
b. Explain the difference between an assembler and a compiler. Tell where each might he used. Describe a source and an object program.
c. Use a flowchart diagram to show the steps needed to set up a camp.
3. Do one of the following:
a. Prepare flowcharts to find out the average attendance and dues paid at the last five troop meetings.
b. Prepare flowcharts to work out a simple arithmetic problem. Explain to your counselor how this program could be stored in a computer. Tell how it could be used again.
4. Do the following:
a. Name four input/ output devices for computers. Explain the use of two of them in a system.
b. Explain the Hollerith code. Show how your name and address would be punched on a card.
5. Tell the meaning of six of the following: a. memory b. bits c. on-line d. bytes e. microsecond f. address g. channel h. interrupt i. register j. console k. central processing unit
6. Tell the meaning and use of 12 of the following: a. business data processing b. information retrieval c. simulation d. scientific processing e. floating point f. truncation g. fixed point h. accuracy i. input j. record k. output l. file m. software n. instruction o. hardware p. indexing q. loop r. subroutine s. real time t. time sharing u. cybernetics
7. Visit a computer installation. Study how it works.
8. Do the following:
a. Explain what each of the following does: design engineer, analyst, customer engineer, operator, programmer, salesman
b. Read two pieces of information about computers. Describe what you read.
The definition for “on-line” sure changed a lot, that’s the only term in #5 that doesn’t mean the same thing anymore.
I got my merit badge in the late 80s after visiting Evans & Sutherland with the troop. They made flight simulators for the government, among other things. At the time, it seemed like the coolest place ever to work, and I’m sure had a major impact on my deciding to study & work in computer graphics. They were still using huge “hard drive” platters like the one the guy is holding in the picture on page 37.
I think the book’s definition of on-line is even older than that, though I’m not 100% certain it’s different than what you mean. OLTP is usually referring to databases, right? The book defines “on-line” to be when devices are directly connected to the CPU, and uses punch cards as the example of keyboard inputs that are not “on-line”.
“Where devices are told what to do by the central processing unit, they are on-line. If a computer system produced the answer on a set of punched cards (card deck), the programmer or user would have to take them to another machine to get a printing of the meaning of the holes in the cards. That second machine - not being under the control of the central processing unit - is off-line.” (p. 49)
> Explain the difference between an assembler and a compiler. Tell where each might he used. Describe a source and an object program.
> Name four input/ output devices for computers. Explain the use of two of them in a system.
> Tell the meaning of six of the following: a. memory b. bits c. on-line d. bytes e. microsecond f. address g. channel h. interrupt i. register j. console k. central processing unit
> Tell the meaning and use of 12 of the following: a. business data processing b. information retrieval c. simulation d. scientific processing e. floating point f. truncation g. fixed point h. accuracy i. input j. record k. output l. file m. software n. instruction o. hardware p. indexing q. loop r. subroutine s. real time t. time sharing u. cybernetics
I think I've interviewed senior software engineer candidates who would not do well with the above tasks.
> I think I've interviewed senior software engineer candidates who would not do well with the above tasks.
You exaggerate. I'll give it a try:
Memory is what you need to pass a software engineering interview at a top company. Address is unimportant these days, as everything is on-line - employees can work wherever they like so long as it's in the Bay Area. Channel is how you market your SAAS software. Console is what you do to your colleagues after a round of layoffs. Interrupt is what your manager does.
Old Scouting manuals are a gold mine for basics on a very wide variety of knowledge. Much of it is outdated, but I still quite enjoy reading through a replica copy of the original BSA handbook.
By the 1980s the requirements had changed to no longer include punch cards and such, presumably at the same time as when the badge itself changed from the "punch card and mainframe tape" design to a generic microcomputer.
Here are the requirements, from https://archive.org/details/BoyScoutsComputers/page/n5/mode/... :
1. Do the following:
a. Give a short history of computers. Describe the major parts of a computer system. Give four different uses of computers.
b. Describe the differences between analog and digital computers. Tell the use of each.
c. Explain some differences between special- and general-purpose machines.
2. Do the following:
a. Tell what a program is and how it is developed.
b. Explain the difference between an assembler and a compiler. Tell where each might he used. Describe a source and an object program.
c. Use a flowchart diagram to show the steps needed to set up a camp.
3. Do one of the following:
a. Prepare flowcharts to find out the average attendance and dues paid at the last five troop meetings.
b. Prepare flowcharts to work out a simple arithmetic problem. Explain to your counselor how this program could be stored in a computer. Tell how it could be used again.
4. Do the following:
a. Name four input/ output devices for computers. Explain the use of two of them in a system.
b. Explain the Hollerith code. Show how your name and address would be punched on a card.
5. Tell the meaning of six of the following: a. memory b. bits c. on-line d. bytes e. microsecond f. address g. channel h. interrupt i. register j. console k. central processing unit
6. Tell the meaning and use of 12 of the following: a. business data processing b. information retrieval c. simulation d. scientific processing e. floating point f. truncation g. fixed point h. accuracy i. input j. record k. output l. file m. software n. instruction o. hardware p. indexing q. loop r. subroutine s. real time t. time sharing u. cybernetics
7. Visit a computer installation. Study how it works.
8. Do the following:
a. Explain what each of the following does: design engineer, analyst, customer engineer, operator, programmer, salesman
b. Read two pieces of information about computers. Describe what you read.
c. Describe jobs in the computer field.