Computers
Today’s generation could never ever imagine in their wildest dreams about the world, ages before, when there were no computers or any other technologies. So much we have advanced that now every information is just a click away and is in your hands 24/7. All this advancement was possible only with the introduction of a small device called the “Computer”.
Basically, computer is a device that accepts the message by the imputer and processes this message and stores the information at the storage devices and later gives an output of the message through the output devices.
A simple explanation of the computer. Normally, a computer consists of a processing unit called the Central Processing Unit or the CPU and a form of memory. In the years between 1940 and 1945 were the first electronic digital computers developed. The initial sizes were as big as a room and consumed power as much as today’s personal computers.
Initially, computer was related to a person who carries out calculations or computations and as such the word computer was evolved in 1613 and continued till the end of 19th century. Later it as re-described as a machine that carries computations.
The early computers were limited in their functions. It was the fusion of automatic calculation and programmability that produced the first computers that were recognized in 1837. Charles Babbage in 1837 was the first to introduce and design a fully programmed mechanical computer, his analytical engine. Due to limited finances and inability of resisting tinkering with the design, he could not complete his work and it was later completed by his son Henry Babbage who made it into a simplified version of the analytical engine’s computing unit.
The original objective of inventing a computer was to create a fast calculating machine. During the World War II, it became very essential to understand and locate the direction and speed of the enemy weapons. Calculations had to be done accurately and mathematically and without an advanced machine it would not be possible. To defend the enemy , the front line soldiers required firing tables and only a computer could produce such firing tables with speed and accuracy at that time.
To produce the technology then, high sums of money and brain power was required. The first computer was produced by the Moore School of Engineering called the ENIAC, on behalf of the US Army which was in 1946. The ENIAC was able to produce the firing tables, by carrying out large number of calculations accurately.
Over a period of time computers have evolved and toady with the Artificial Intelligence technology, we use the most advanced kind of computers that have helped man in every sectors of life. At every generations of the computers or in fact during the evolution, each time computers are being launched that are lighter, smaller, speedier and more powerful. The computers have been a dominating factor since the 1970`s and today it has conquered almost all walks of life.
Computers are being used for various purposes today like weather forecasting, machinery operations, guidance of spacecraft and technology. Apart from these in the medical sector, it provides a great helping hand in storing information that could be referred later, in space technology, automation in banks, ticket booking through the net, traffic control, and even games could be played in computers on and many more. All these are possible only because of the characteristics that a computer posses like speedy, accuracy, reliability and integrity. It could executive over a billion instructions per second without committing any mistakes is completely reliable. The memory of the computer is so vast that it could hold in a large amount of data.
To run a computer, it is the programming that decides and it should be run in a computer. Programming is defined as a set of instructions allotted to the computer that accepts it in order to solve a problem. There are many different languages that are being used to program a computer. Some of the languages are BASIC, COBOL, C, C++, JAVA are a few to name.
With the introduction of computers, attaining information has become a lot more easier. Computers have become the backbone of Information Technology and a major application in this sector is the Internet. With the Internet, nothing is impossible today. Apart from acquiring information, one could stay connected to friends and family, a great platform for business expansions, purchasing, studying and the list just goes on, it is endless.
Computerization in almost all sectors, have created job opening for thousands. Computer education has been introduced at school levels and in primary classes, as such is the importance of acquiring the knowledge of computers. Every year there are thousands of students step out from universities and colleges across the globe into the world of computer technology and this youth is what is tomorrow’s assets in getting technology into the next level of advancement.
The computer has proved in all roles that it has been assigned. A great helping hand, in every sector that has been applied with computers. Telecommunication and satellite imagery are also computer based, which is added to the long list of applications computer holds in other fields.
With every positive, there is a negative and the same is applicable with computers also. With all the positives that one could acquire and seize, the negative side is also large. The increase in Cyber crime, pornographic websites, false identity leading to trapping of youngsters and many more. Yet , the advantages are more outnumbered and there are many preventive measures also introduced to stop the negative aspects.
The world would not have been what it is today, had there not been an entry to this great machine even though in the crude form, ages before us. Computer has a great future and we just have to keep a watch and mark the changes coming to it.
