IT GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.
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COMPUTER & ITS DEFINITION:
1.ABOUT: 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.
2.History of making computer:(unfinished)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.
3.Uses & Abuses :Computer is an electronic device used for storing and analyzing information fed into it, for calculating, or for controlling machinery automatically. It is a very flexible gadget, which can be used in a wide variety of ways, depending on the requirement and available resources. Micro-processors on small chips control various home appliances. They do automatic fine tuning and colour regulating on television sets and other household gadgets. In offices, computer is used to maintain records, files, prepare payrolls apart from performing various other functions. In hospital, computer is used to diagnose diseases. It helps in carrying out surgeries.Computer is rendering valuable service to the radars, missiles, rocket launching, automatic flights, etc. We have pilotless aeroplanes which are controlled by computers from the ground stations. Airlines and railways are now offering instant information on bookings with the help of computers. Computers help big business houses in carrying out their up- to-date business. Computers are widely used to solve climatic, industrial, commercial, financial and other complicated problems. In advanced countries, computers are used to regulate and control traffic.Computer is not blessing in all. It has caused to create many problems. A computer can perform works of several people. It has increased the rate of unemployment. It has replaced scores of people. Often the mistakes made by computers are really blunders. Excessive dependence of man on computers have reduced mental efficiency in human beings. Internet is often used for mischievous intentions. They are used to send false e-mails for malicious intentions to harass the person. Some others try to view those websites that are not meant for them. This is bad tendency and must be checked. Internet should be for development and other good purposes and not for destruction and decay.Computers have many shortcomings. However, their advantages far outweigh their disadvantages. They are integral part of modern life. We cannot think of life without computer.
4.Updates & upgrades:The rate at which new computer hardware products are arriving in the market is simply mind-boggling. As the technology advances, the size and the price of the devices come down, while the efficiency and capacity increase. The scenario is same in all cases, whether it is about internal components like processor, motherboard, RAM, graphics card, and hard disk or for peripheral accessories like mouse, keyboard, and monitors. Personal computers became popular only before about three decades back. But already there are huge piles of outdated and antique hardware components and devices. This is a tribute to the tremendous rate of development of latest technologies in computer hardware field. Perhaps, the newest entrant into the archeological catalogue of computer peripherals is CRT monitors. The sleek looking LCD monitors are spreading like computer virus.
Data storage devices have attracted considerable attention of the technology developers. New kinds of storage devices such as newer versions of flash memory cards, hard disks using latest technology and disks of ever-increasing capacity are the results of advancement in latest technology in compute hardware. The memory size of the random access memory (RAM) cards is soaring to enable the smooth functioning of graphics animation software packages and streaming video websites. Also, computer motherboards have undergone substantial changes over the years. More and more functions are being added to the motherboard. Also, despite the incredible improvement in performance and functionalities, the price of these components has actually fallen steadily.
The most vital component of a computer is the microprocessor. It is in this field that a battle of developing latest technologies in computer hardware takes place. The pace of development of microprocessor increases as the competition between the major processor chip manufacturing companies, Intel and AMD, intensifies. Both the companies are engaging in a neck and neck competition and continuously outdo each other in introducing new technologies.
In the field of computer peripherals, the latest technology in computer hardware is in developing yet another version of wireless mouse and keyboard. The concept of wireless mouse and keyboard is about a decade old. But the development of these items is still a work in progress. The latest products of wireless mouse and keyboard are said to be highly durable and error free.
Some of the developments in the latest technology in computer hardware are gearing up for changing the present concept of desktop and laptop computers. With new developments making possible the convergence of mobile phone technology and computers, a new breed of fully functional palm-top computers are going to be introduced in near future. With touch screen monitors and without the need for a mouse, these gadgets are likely to become the next big leap in the constantly leaping technological development field.
