Course website: The History of computers and computing technology [To the faculty website of James Tam]

CPSC 409: fall 2025

A history of computers and computing technology from ancient to modern times. The content goes back to personal computing devices (such as "finger reckoning) and may cover recent events up to the rise of social networks and the history of computer and video gaming.

Lecture, important administrative course information, general assignment information

Day/Time for class

 L01: MWF 4:00 - 4:50 PM

Contact Information

James Tam

 

Office time:  Please identify yourself as a CPSC 409 student when you come into the 'office'

 

 

Email: tam@ucalgary.ca
   
General grading information

Estimating your term grade: [Grade calculator spreadsheet]
Course topics and outline [Main grid]
Exams [Dates/times/details]
Official Course Information Sheet [Outline, approved and signed by the faculty office]

 

Main grid: Course topics, exam information (content will be available via the D2L course page)

Shortcut links for each week of lecture

Week Topic (more links will added in the during the semester)
Lecture week 1: Aug. 31 - Sept. 6 (lectures start on Tue. Sept. 2)

Lecture week 2: Sept. 7 - 13

 

Lecture week 3: Sept. 14 - 20

Lecture week 4: Sept. 21 - 27

Midterm I: Friday Sept. 26

Lecture week 5: Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 (No classes Tuesday Sept. 30)
Lecture week 6: Oct. 5 - 11
  • The mechanical monsters, Part I: Zuse & his machines (continued from last week)
  • The mechanical monsters, Part II: The Bell Lab computers: Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]

Lecture week 7: Oct. 12 - 18 (No classes Monday Oct. 13)
  • The mechanical monsters, Part II: The Bell Lab computers (continued from last week)
  • The mechanical monsters, Part III: The Harvard Machines Of Howard Aiken, the IBM calculators [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
  • The electronic revolution, Part 1: The American projects Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]

 

Lecture week 8: Oct. 19 - 25
  • The electronic revolution, Part 1: The American projects (continued from last week)
  • The electronic revolution, Part 2: The British projects Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]

Lecture week 9: Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Midterm II: Friday Oct. 31
  • Early stored program computers, Part 1: John Von Neumann, early memory types Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
  • Early stored program computers, Part 2: SPC developments in the US and Britain Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]

Lecture week 10: Nov. 2 - 8

 
  • Early stored program computers, Part 2: SPC developments in the US and Britain continued from last week)
  • Mainframes and early super computers [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
  • The history of the Internet Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
Reading Week: Nov. 9 - 15, no classes  

Lecture week 11: Nov. 16 - 22
  • The history of the Internet (continued from last week)
  • The early private networks [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]

Lecture week 12: Nov. 23 - 29
  • The early private networks (continued from last week)
  • Microprocessors/microcomputers and the major software houses [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]

Lecture week 13: Nov. 30 - Dec. 6 (last day of class is Fri. Dec. 5)

 
  • Microprocessors/microcomputers and the major software houses (continued from last week)
  • History of video and computer games (if there is time: based on the in class vote I will prioritize talking about the consoles over the software (games).
    • Part I: history of the game consoles [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
    • Part II: history of the video and computer games: [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
  • I haven't had time to teach these topics for many years but here they are if you are at least interested in the content:
    • History of computer interfaces and Human-Computer Interaction (if there is time) [Notes: 2 per page]
    • History of the Internet search sites (if there is time) [Notes: 2 per page]
Final exam period: Dec. 9 - 19  

 

Examinations

 

General information that applies to all exams [Information link]

1

Midterm #1: Fri. Sept. 26, during regular class time  worth 33.33% of the term mark) [Information link]

2

 Midterm #2: Fri. Oct. 31, during regular class time worth 33.33% of the term mark) [Information link]

3

 Midterm #3: Held during the regular final exam period [Scheduled by the Office of the Registrar] (Worth 33.34% of the term mark) [Information link]