Impact of Computers in Todays Society
The Impact Of Computers In Today’s Society
Tran Nguyen
Professor Roman Dody
CIS 105
13 December 2010
The Impact of Computers In Today’s Society
Computer, as the term is most commonly used, refers to the digital computer, an electronic device that makes lengthy or complicated calculations at high speeds and (except for certain small models) is also able to make decisions based on logic. A less common type of computer is the analog computer. A digital computer forms the core of a data processing system. Data processing is, basically, the organization of information into a useful form by such processes as comparing, selecting, and arranging. A very simple example of data processing is alphabetizing a list of names. Electronic data processing, or EDP, is data processing performed by a computer. Computers vary greatly in the speed at which they can perform calculations and in their ability to handle complicated tasks. Computers also vary greatly in size—from arrays of equipment occupying a large room to a slice of silicon smaller than a postage stamp. In general, small computers are referred to as microcomputers; large computers, as mainframes; and computers of intermediate size, as minicomputers. General-purpose microcomputers are commonly called personal computers. The computer ranks as one of the major technological developments of the 20th century. Beginning about 1950, it took the computer less than two decades to revolutionize the methods of business, industry, and government; to greatly advance work in the sciences; and to find wide application in such diverse fields as accounting, education, medicine, and publishing. Today, the computer industry—which includes the manufacturing of computers, the designing and marketing of computer programs, and the providing of computer-related services—is among the most important in the world.
History
Early forerunners of the computer were the abacus, developed in the ancient times in the Far East, and
Tran Nguyen
Professor Roman Dody
CIS 105
13 December 2010
The Impact of Computers In Today’s Society
Computer, as the term is most commonly used, refers to the digital computer, an electronic device that makes lengthy or complicated calculations at high speeds and (except for certain small models) is also able to make decisions based on logic. A less common type of computer is the analog computer. A digital computer forms the core of a data processing system. Data processing is, basically, the organization of information into a useful form by such processes as comparing, selecting, and arranging. A very simple example of data processing is alphabetizing a list of names. Electronic data processing, or EDP, is data processing performed by a computer. Computers vary greatly in the speed at which they can perform calculations and in their ability to handle complicated tasks. Computers also vary greatly in size—from arrays of equipment occupying a large room to a slice of silicon smaller than a postage stamp. In general, small computers are referred to as microcomputers; large computers, as mainframes; and computers of intermediate size, as minicomputers. General-purpose microcomputers are commonly called personal computers. The computer ranks as one of the major technological developments of the 20th century. Beginning about 1950, it took the computer less than two decades to revolutionize the methods of business, industry, and government; to greatly advance work in the sciences; and to find wide application in such diverse fields as accounting, education, medicine, and publishing. Today, the computer industry—which includes the manufacturing of computers, the designing and marketing of computer programs, and the providing of computer-related services—is among the most important in the world.
History
Early forerunners of the computer were the abacus, developed in the ancient times in the Far East, and
References: 1. Bailey, D.M., and Laura Castore. Careers in Computers, pp. 345-353 ( Messner, 2005). 2. Darcy, Laura , and Louise Boston. Webster’s New World Dictionary of Computer Terms, Pp. 121-134, revised edition (Simon & Schuster, 2003). 3. Glossbrenner, Alfred. The Complete Handbook of personal Computer Communications, Pp. 34-37, (St. Martin’s Press, 2003). 4. Godlberg, K.P., and R.D. Sherwood. Microcomputers: A Parent’s Guide, Pp. 786-787 (Wiley, 2000). 5. Long, Larry. Introduction to Computers and Information Processing, Pp. 32-36 (Prentice-Hall, 2002).