Chapter 2 1. How many generations of computer hardware have evolved? What is one characteristic of each generation?
There are five generations.
First-generation used vacuum tube technology and they are bulky and unreliable. They generated too much heat. It is too hard to program.
For the second generation, it used transistors. Compared to first-generation, they are faster, more reliable, and easier to program.
Third generation combined integrated circuits. Their characteristic is small and fast.
As developing to fourth generation, the computer became smaller by using VLSI circuits. Personal computer appeared.
Finally, the computer we use now is fifth generation. It is much faster because of parallel processing CPUs. It spends less power.

2. How many generations of computer software have evolved? What is one characteristic of each generation?
There are five generations and it has been listed blow: Generation | Major attribute | First | Machine language | Second | Assembly language | Third | High-level language | Fourth | Fourth-generation language | Fifth | Natural language processing (NLP) |

First, the machine language is time consuming.
Second, assembly language is much easier to program and higher level.
Third, high-level language is more like English. So, it is easier to learn and code.
Forth, fourth-generation language also called nonprocedural language. It means that people don’t need to follow the rigorous command syntax to use them.
Finally, the NLP can generation code automatically, it only asks for little programmer effect.

Cause study 1 1. Name some financial apps introduced in this case.
There several Apps introduced in this case, such as Mint app (mint.com) from Intuit, HelloWallet from HelloWallet.com, and Quick Shot.

2. What are some examples of analytics that can be done using financial