Test your knowledge of computing, inventions, and the history of tech with free quizzes — no sign-up required
Boot up your brain with our Technology & Innovation quiz collection. Covering computing history, landmark inventions, the internet, artificial intelligence, consumer technology, and the visionaries who shaped the digital age, these quizzes are built for tech enthusiasts, engineering students, and curious minds of all backgrounds.
Questions range from the pioneers of early computing and the birth of the internet to modern smartphones, social media platforms, and the science behind everyday devices. Whether you can recite processor specs or just use your phone for social media, these quick-fire quizzes will test your tech knowledge in under two minutes.
Browse the questions below — click any answer to reveal it.
Using 2 flags of 2 colors each, the U.S. Navy sends short-range messages by this system
Answer: Semaphore
In August 1807, this Robert Fulton-built steamship left NYC for Albany on the Hudson River
Answer: The Clermont
A chemical compound known as DHA is a common active ingredient in what beauty product?
Answer: Self-tanner
A cowcatcher is a metal grill that is commonly found on the front of what type of vehicle?
Answer: Train
A five-note melody– D flat,D flat,G,D flat,and A flat–is the famous jingle for what technology company?
Answer: Intel
A key component in their company logo,Pixar’s mascot Luxo Jr. is a what?
Answer: Desk Lamp
A device some people fear will accidentally create a black hole, the Large Hadron Collider is a what?
Answer: Particle Accelerator
Sound Navigation Ranging is better known as _________.
Answer: Sonar
On an old-fashioned rotary phone, what number requires the longest turn of the dial?
Answer: 0
Opposed by Apple, using unapproved software on your iPhone is popularly referred to as what?
Answer: Jailbreaking
In the e-mail and memo abbreviation “bcc,” what does the “b” stand for?
Answer: Blind
In 2008, what one word did Google add to its sparse home page in order to conform with California law?
Answer: Privacy
Before the 1912 Cadillac, we risked broken bones turning these to start the car
Answer: Cranks
On a standard computer keyboard, what is the only vowel that isn't on the top row of letters?
Answer: A
What does the abbreviation DOS stand for in the operating system MS-DOS?
Answer: Disk Operating System
In the tech world, what does IoT stand for?
Answer: Internet of Things
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was the first of which type of aircraft?
Answer: Stealth
What is the nickname given to the stretch between San Jose and San Francisco known for its many technology businesses?
Answer: Silicon Valley
Which region of Canada would you find Canada’s Technology Triangle?
Answer: Waterloo Region
Which country’s late monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, got a patent for a rainmaking technology?
Answer: Thailand
What text technology allowed early cell phone users to type out messages before full keyboards and touchscreens became standard?
Answer: T9
What popular computer language shares its name with the vitamin formerly known as ascorbic acid?
Answer: C
Gunpowder, paper, and soy sauce were all invented in what country?
Answer: China
In the well-known acronym “laser,” the “L” stands for what?
Answer: Light
In 1835 C.S.A. Thilorier froze this gas to create the first "dry ice".
Answer: Carbon dioxide
After hearing this invention of his work, Edison said, "I was never so taken aback in my life".
Answer: The phonograph
C. Vanderbilt thought George Westinghouse's idea of stopping a train by this means a fool notion.
Answer: The air brake
If you're using a GPS device to get around, you should know GPS stands for this.
Answer: Global Positioning System
Originating in Asia around 200 B.C., this saddle attachment increased the military value of horses.
Answer: A stirrup
A Sumerian pictograph shows one in 3500 B.C.: the oldest are wooden disks with 3 carved planks clamped by struts.
Answer: A wheel
Mash-up "binary" & "digit" to make this single unit of information
Answer: A bit
ZQ47J9R is this type of password, from the 2 types of symbols it contains
Answer: Alphanumeric
British Airways retired its fleet of this supersonic jet in 2003.
Answer: The Concorde
In 1948 scientists at Bristol-Meyers "buffered" this medicine for the first time.
Answer: Aspirin
Polio victims were kept alive by the 1920s invention of the tank respirator, better known as the iron this.
Answer: Iron lung
After watching smoke emitted by WWI airplanes, Major J.C. Savage developed the technique for this.
Answer: Skywriting
In 1686 Edmond Halley, not Al Roker, published the first comprehensive one of these maps.
Answer: Weather maps
Big construction projects often include Francois Hennebique's reinforced type of this building material.
Answer: Concrete
Known by a 3-letter abbrev., it was first proposed in 1989 by software developer Tim Berners-Lee.
Answer: World Wide Web
Whitcomb Judson's "clasp locker" of 1893 was this fastener's forerunner.
Answer: Zipper
Sealy makes these with "advanced memory foam technology".
Answer: Mattresses
Common name given Douglas Engelbart's device, an "X-Y position indicator for a display system".
Answer: Mouse
A basic electronic calculator does multiplication by translating it into a series of this simpler operation.
Answer: Addition
In 2003 Billboard magazine started this new chart; the first No. 1, "Crazy In Love", had a total of 1,500.
Answer: Music Downloads
On a single digit LED readout, number shown when all 7 LEDs are lit.
Answer: 8
Patented in 1965, this stadium ground covering was first used commercially on a large scale in Texas.
Answer: Astroturf
The Vladivostok to Khabarovsk section of this Russian railroad opened to traffic in 1897
Answer: Trans-siberian Railway
William McKinley became the first sitting president to ride in a car when he took a spin in this "steamer" in 1899
Answer: Stanley Steamer
After their second glider crashed at Kitty Hawk in 1901, it was back to the drawing board
Answer: The Wright Brothers
One of his patents in 1891 was for a motion-picture projector, the kinetoscope
Answer: Thomas Edison