This is the initial module of the T171 course and it enabled be to be able to understand and explain the basic features of a computer, explain the difference between the hardware and software and the relationship between them. Although I had used a computer for sometime the internal workings were a mystery. I therefore found that the detailed information given on the subject within section 1.21 on the software and hardware and Section 1.4 2 on computer architecture particularly useful.
Secondly it enabled me to obtain an increased knowledge of the events, key people, organisation and technologies which have played a part in the development of the Personal Computers. I can now recognise the original roles and subsequent influence and strong feelings that such people as Gordon Moore3, Bill Gates4, and Steve Jobs along with the main companies such as Intel, Microsoft and IBM4, have had and continue to have in the both the development of the personal computer and the companies which started to manufactured and develop them. This was greatly helped by the information given within the text of ‘Accidental Empires’5 and the very detailed course notes on the 171website. This also included web links to sites giving further details on the individuals and companies.
There were a number of exercises within this particular module in most cases they were not specifically linked to a specific topic, but rather were designed to start to get us locating and using various resources on the web to answer questions.
1 T171 Module 1 Section 1.2, [online] Open University, Available from : http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module1/section1/software-hardware.cfm [Accessed 12 Sept 2004]
2 T171 Module 1 Section 1.4, [online] Open University, Available from : http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module1/section1/architecture.cfm [Accessed 12 Sept 2004]
3 T171 Module 1 Section 1.4, [online] Open University, Available from : http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module1/section2/moores-law.cfm [Accessed 12 Sept 2004]
4 T171 Module 1 Section 5.4, [online] Open University, Available from : http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module1/section5/ibm-and-ms.cfm [Accessed 12 Sept 2004]
5 Cringely R X. (2nd edn. 1996), Accidental Empires, Penguin
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