Information Technology
COMPUTERS Part 1
Generally, a computer is any device that can perform numerical calculations--even an adding machine, an abacus, or a slide rule. Currently, however, the term usually refers to an electronic device that can perform a series of tasks according to a precise set of instructions. The set of instructions is called a program, and the tasks may include making arithmetic calculations, storing, retrieving, and processing data, controlling another device, or interacting with a person to perform a business function or to play a video game. Today's computers are marvels of miniaturization. Machines that once weighed 30 tons and occupied warehouse-size rooms now may weigh as little as 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) can carried in a suit pocket or a purse. The "brains" of today's computers are integrated circuits (ICs), sometimes called microchips, or simply chips. These tiny silicon wafers can each contain millions of microscopic electronic components and are designed for many specific operations. Some chips make up a computer's central processing unit (CPU), which controls the computer's overall operation; some are math coprocessors that can perform millions of mathematical operations per second; and others are memory chips that can each store more than 16 million characters of information at one time.
In 1953 there were only about 100 computers in use in the entire world. Today hundreds of millions of computers form the core of electronic products, and programmable computers are being used in homes, schools, businesses, government offices, and universities for almost every conceivable purpose Computers come in many sizes and shapes. Special-purpose, or dedicated, computers are designed to perform specific tasks. Their operations are limited to the programs built into their microchips. These computers are the basis for electronic calculators and can be found in thousands of other electronic products, including digital watches (controlling timing, alarms, and
Generally, a computer is any device that can perform numerical calculations--even an adding machine, an abacus, or a slide rule. Currently, however, the term usually refers to an electronic device that can perform a series of tasks according to a precise set of instructions. The set of instructions is called a program, and the tasks may include making arithmetic calculations, storing, retrieving, and processing data, controlling another device, or interacting with a person to perform a business function or to play a video game. Today's computers are marvels of miniaturization. Machines that once weighed 30 tons and occupied warehouse-size rooms now may weigh as little as 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) can carried in a suit pocket or a purse. The "brains" of today's computers are integrated circuits (ICs), sometimes called microchips, or simply chips. These tiny silicon wafers can each contain millions of microscopic electronic components and are designed for many specific operations. Some chips make up a computer's central processing unit (CPU), which controls the computer's overall operation; some are math coprocessors that can perform millions of mathematical operations per second; and others are memory chips that can each store more than 16 million characters of information at one time.
In 1953 there were only about 100 computers in use in the entire world. Today hundreds of millions of computers form the core of electronic products, and programmable computers are being used in homes, schools, businesses, government offices, and universities for almost every conceivable purpose Computers come in many sizes and shapes. Special-purpose, or dedicated, computers are designed to perform specific tasks. Their operations are limited to the programs built into their microchips. These computers are the basis for electronic calculators and can be found in thousands of other electronic products, including digital watches (controlling timing, alarms, and