CS361: Operating System

Stephen Mandry - Computerworld 1986

TCP/IP

• Interfaces directly with PC-DOS
• Originally designed for the Department of Defense
• “We like TCP/IP because it is an open protocol, because it is a government supported protocol and it is used on a wide number of systems”
• Intent is to compute, and then use data on a local server

Modems

• Average speed of modems was ~2400 bps
• Some companies switching selling 4800 bps modems
• Modems becoming increasingly popular in home computers

COBOL

• Advertisement in one of the issues
• Compiling 10,000 lines of source took 76 seconds
• COBOL-8X released, based on 85 ANSI standard

Modems

• Even the cheaper modems could run several hundred dollars
• Even in 1986, there were many uses for modems

Internet

• McDonald's menu went online
• People working at home
• Usability Increase

AI

• AI referenced many times
• Expert systems are considered to be possible in the near future
• Some people don't like the new AI trend
• PTO criticizes, says that alternatives weren't given enough consideration

Computer Literacy

• First computer literacy classes in public schools
• Starts as early as kindergarten, literacy measured from 3rd grade on