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

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

Shortcut links for each week of lecture

• #Lecture_week_1
• #Lecture_week_2
• #Lecture_week_3
• #Lecture_week_4
• #Lecture_week_5
• #Lecture_week_6
• #Lecture_week_7
• #Lecture_week_8
• #Lecture_week_9
• #Lecture_week_10
• #Lecture_week_11
• #Lecture_week_12
• #Lecture_week_13

Week	Topic (more links will added in the during the semester)
Lecture week 1: Aug. 31 - Sept. 6 (lectures start on Tue. Sept. 2)	Course introduction and administrative information including grading: [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page] Optional topic: The history of 'Tam' a bit about the guy in front of the class this semester (not on the exam) Optional topic: The history of the computer science department at the University of Calgary (not on the exam) Early computational devices, extra resource: Video for the [Genaille-Lucas Rulers - redubbed version as of Sept. 2025]: [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
Lecture week 2: Sept. 7 - 13	Early computational devices: refer to last week's resources Analog devices: [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
Lecture week 3: Sept. 14 - 20	Analog devices (continued from last week) Early mechanical computers part 1: [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page] Early mechanical computers part 2: [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
Lecture week 4: Sept. 21 - 27 Midterm I: Friday Sept. 26	Early mechanical computers (continued from last week) Charles Babbage and his Difference Engine [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
Lecture week 5: Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 (No classes Tuesday Sept. 30)	Charles Babbage and his Analytic Engine Notes: [2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page] The mechanical monsters, Part I: Zuse & his machines [Notes: 2 per page] [Notes: 3 per page] [Notes: 6 per page]
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]