COMPUTER SCIENCE EXPERIENCE DAY, IONOS CLOUD

On Friday 24 November, Fifth Form GCSE Computer Science pupils were given the exciting opportunity to go to The Centre for Computing History in Cambridge. The trip featured a range of interesting activities and (of course) computers.

We took part in a fascinating workshop on Raspberry Pi Pico Micropython Coding. In this session using breadboards, LEDS, Resistors and Jumper Wires, we built and coded working traffic lights. This gave us the opportunity to experience Computer Science in its physical form. Then we saw the world’s largest functioning microprocessor, which was donated to the museum and took five years to build. This incredible construction was used in a captivating lecture by one of the staff members to explain and solidify our knowledge of system architecture. Unexpectedly, despite its size, this microprocessor only has 256 bytes of memory. In comparison, an iPhone 15 Pro has 3,906,250,000 times more storage than that! It is enough storage however to play Tetris.

Possibly the most unique part of the experience was the chance to meet the museum’s very own robot, JNFR or Jennifer. The museum staff demonstrated her ability to communicate and her ability to move in complex ways by asking her to do some Tai Chi (which she readily agreed to). In this same part of the experience, we had a lecture and discussion about the nature, evolution and morality of robots. I felt that this was a really interesting and topical lecture.

Possibly the most unique part of the experience was the chance to meet the museum’s very own robot, JNFR or Jennifer.

Finally, the museum had a really diverse collection of (mostly) working computers from the last 80 years. We all took part in a short tour which highlighted the key exhibits. Some of these exhibits included: The Dawn of Electronic Computers, The History of Calculators, The History of Data Storage and the rise of computer gaming. The oldest computer that the museum currently has is an Elliott 903 (built in 1963). More amazing, however, is the fact that it is still working and stores data on long reels of paper using holes which have been punched out.

Reflecting on the trip, I say with confidence that everyone really enjoyed themselves and came away with newfound knowledge and an enlightened view of computing history. I sincerely hope that I will have the opportunity to return one day.

Harry - Fifth Form

I […] came away with newfound knowledge and an enlightened view of computing history. I sincerely hope that I will have the opportunity to return one day.