Science & Nature
EasyComputer Beginnings Crossword
Category: Science & NatureDifficulty: Medium17 × 11
Thursday, August 27
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Enter one letter per square. Answers run Across or Down. Omit spaces and accents; any special spelling convention is stated in the clue. This is a freeform themed grid, so some letters are not crossed.
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About This Theme
Before computers fit into pockets, the underlying ideas already had names. This crossword combines early computing vocabulary with terms that still describe what modern machines do. Some clues concern information, others hardware, and others the instructions that connect the two. Watch for the distinction between a device and a method. You will not need a programming language to solve it, but thinking step by step will help.
Clues
Across
- 1Large computer class associated with centralized data processing (9)
- 3Early electronic computer whose acronym ends in Integrator and Computer (5)
- 7Electronic switching device that helped replace vacuum tubes (10)
- 8Smallest binary digit of information (3)
- 9Stiff paper medium storing data as holes, two words (9)
- 10Software that translates source code into another form such as machine code (8)
Down
- 1Device whose name combines modulator and demodulator (5)
- 2Step-by-step procedure for solving a problem (9)
- 4Counting device using beads moved on rods or wires (6)
- 5Set of instructions written for a computer to execute (7)
- 6Group of eight bits in modern conventional usage (4)
- 8Number system using only zero and one (6)
Answers and Explanations
After Your Solve
BIT and BYTE describe information at different scales. ALGORITHM and PROGRAM are also related without being identical: one is a procedure, while the other is instructions expressed for execution. COMPILER identifies a tool that translates source code. The historical answers, such as ABACUS and PUNCH CARD, remind us that calculation and encoded instructions did not begin with today's screens. This puzzle is about those enduring ideas rather than the changing specifications of any particular computer.
- 1 acrossMAINFRAME
Mainframes serve substantial shared workloads.
- 3 acrossENIAC
ENIAC was a major early electronic computing project.
- 7 acrossTRANSISTOR
Transistors made smaller electronic circuits possible.
- 8 acrossBIT
A bit can take one of two values.
- 9 acrossPUNCHCARD
Hole patterns encoded information.
- 10 acrossCOMPILER
Compilation is a translation process.
- 1 downMODEM
The name reflects conversion between signal forms.
- 2 downALGORITHM
An algorithm describes a method.
- 4 downABACUS
An abacus supports manual calculation.
- 5 downPROGRAM
A program expresses executable instructions.
- 6 downBYTE
The modern qualifier avoids historical variations.
- 8 downBINARY
Binary uses two digits.
Further Reading
- Theme referencecomputerhistory.org
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