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”.
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| SURENDRA KUMAR YADAV |
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.
