Tutorial Task 6 - Scavenger Hunt Questions!

1. What is the weight of the world’s biggest machine? How much did it cost to build?

The 'Knock Nevis' is the world's largest ship ever constructed.  It weighs 564,763 tons.  It cost $9 billion dollars to build. The link is http://www.knock-nevis.com/

2. Find a live webcam in Antarctica.

Webcam world is a site that displays webcams in Antarctica. This is a link for a South Pole live camera http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop/spo/livecamera.html


Can you find a place to stay in Antarctica?

The site, GeckoGo, contains lists of lodgings in Antarctica. This is the link http://www.geckogo.com/Guide/Antarctica/Explore/Lodging/

 3. When and what was the first example of global digital communication?

In 1844 an effective version of the electromagnetic telegraph was constructed by Samuel Morse. This is the first example of global digital communication.
http://www.150.si.edu/150trav/remember/r819.htm

4. What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne?

Cheapest form of travel is Tiger Airways. Tickets start from $38.95.
http://www.tigerairways.com.au/au/en/real_deals.php

5. Who is Douglas Engelbart? What is he known for?

Douglas Engelbart was an computer scientist and inventor who pioneered what is now known as collaborative hypermedia. He was born in 1925, in Oregon, USA. He also invented the computer mouse. http://www.dougengelbart.org/about/dce-bio.html

6. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Stephen Conroy?  (who is this guy?)
Stephen Conroy is the Australian Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.  He can be telephoned on (03) 9408 0190 or emailed at minister@dbcde.gov.au

7. What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1990?

'How am I supposed to live without you' by Michael Bolton. http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1990/main.htm

8. How would you define the term 'ontology'? In your own words, what does it really mean?

The term 'ontology' refers to the study about what kinds of things exist, and what entities there are in the universe. It is a branch of metaphysics. http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci212702,00.html#

9. What type of camera is used to make ‘Google Street View’?A camera created by the contractor, Immersive Media.  http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9724604-1.html
 

10. Name three computer operating systems (not for phones) that are NOT Apple OS or MS-Windows operating systems?
    a)  who created it and when?    b)  how can you get a copy of the operating system to use on your computer?

1a. BSDUnix (a sub-group of Unix).
1b. It can be downloaded from http://www.tech-faq.com/where-to-download-unix.html

2a. Linux, which was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds.
2b. It can be downloaded from http://www.computerhope.com/unix.htm

3a. Inferno, which was created in 1995.
3b. It can be downloaded from  http://www.vitanuova.com/inferno/downloads.html