History of Computers and their Impacts

Introduction 

The word "Computer" literally means "calculator," but it serves more than just that purpose. A computer is an electronic device that quickly and efficiently provides us with the needed information in the form of words and numbers. Additionally, it is a tool that stores data permanently so that it will be useful when needed. Our lives now revolve around computers, and that makes sense because they are so helpful to us.

History

Use of the word "Computer"

According to legend, the term "computer" was initially used to describe a person in 1613 whose rate of calculating was extremely fast..

Mechanical Computers

In 1822, Charles Babbage created a device that could swiftly and easily do extremely complex calculations. Ada Lovelace provided significant assistance to Charles in the setup of his device. It has been said that Ada was the first programmer of her era. Charles could not finish his machine because of a lack of funds, but in 1837 he contributed the idea for the Analytical Engine, which included the idea for the Arithmetic Logic Unit and other modern Computers. In Charles' lifetime, he never noticed it. But in 1910, his son Henry finished a portion of it.

The First Programmable Computer

It is said about a person named Konard Zosse from Germany that he created the world's first programmable computer in 1936 and this computer was named Z1.

The Idea of ​​the Modern Computer

The basic structure of the computer we use today was given by Alan Turing in 1936 with a computer called the Turing machine. This machine could print on paper all the instructions it was given. Without this idea, we could not use the computer today.

the first computer with programmes A German man by the name of Konard Zosse is credited with developing the first programmed computer, which he gave the moniker Z1, in 1936.

The Concept of the Contemporary Computer

Alan Turing demonstrated the fundamental architecture of the computer we use today in 1936 using a device known as the Turing machine. All of the instructions were capable of being printed out on paper by this machine. We wouldn't be able to utilise computers today without this concept.

The First Computer Company

J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly established the Electronic Controls Company in 1949, which became the first computer company in history.

The First RAM-equipped Computer

The Whirlwind machine, the first computer ever made and where RAM was first used, was released by MIT in March 1955.

The World's First PC

When the term "personal computer" was coined by a scientist by the name of Ed Roberts in 1975, the Altair 8800 cost 750 dollars (about 75,000 rupees), which is equivalent to at least 500,000 rupees now. It had vanished and employed various kinds of lights.

Computer's Classification

The foundation of contemporary information technology is the computer. So, in the present era, the computer can be considered the fundamental building block of information technology.

The following categories apply to modern computers based on their speed and amount of work:

Mainframe Computers

They are substantial computers. Large rooms are needed to accommodate multiple users simultaneously using mainframe computers. It is utilised in large organisations for this purpose. The mainframe is run via workstations, dumb terminals, or personal computers. A computer that merely has a "keyboard" and a "display" is referred to as a dumb terminal. From a few to hundreds of people can operate simultaneously on a mainframe. All computers up to the 1960s were mainframes. These were exceedingly pricey, therefore the industry later began producing smaller computers known as minis or minis. the IBM mainframe, the NEC 610, the 43810, and the DEC 10T. he list goes on. These days, mainframes are obsolete.

 Workstation Computers

Workstations are specialised computer configurations used to develop software for engineering, graphics, and other purposes. These programmes or apps must be built using medium power processing. Users are connected through a graphical user interface terminal by workstations that are connected to a network. Workstation computer monitors have unique input/output devices and a greater resolution. Workstations can function as network and internet servers as well.

Mini Computers

These are mid-sized computers that fall in the middle of mainframes and workstations. In the 1960s, the minicomputer was first launched. The price of integrated circuits has decreased as a result of their utilisation.

Micro Computers

A revolution is now in place. which are inexpensive and operate admirably. They go by the name "personal computers" as well. There is only one user of this device. That is, only one person at a time can utilise it. It can fit on a typical table because of its little size. Most of the frequently used personal computers today are found in households and workplaces. In 1970, the phrase "personal computer" was first used. It is also known as a PC or a microcomputer. The components of a standard PC are a monitor, keyboard, mouse, system unit, and multimedia devices. Personal computers come in a variety of forms, including desktops, laptops, notebooks, smartphones, and personal digital assistants.

There is a revolution going on right now, which are reasonably priced and perform admirably. They are also known as "personal computers." There is only one user of this device. It can only be used by one person at a time, in other words. Because of its small size, it can fit on a regular table. Nowadays, homes and businesses are where you may find the majority of widely used personal computers. The term "personal computer" was first used in 1970. It sometimes goes by the names PC or microcomputer. A monitor, keyboard, mouse, system unit, and multimedia devices make up a typical PC. There are many different types of personal computers, such as desktops, laptops, notebooks, cellphones, and personal digital assistants.

Super Computers

In the field of information technology, there has been a pressing demand to boost the performance and capabilities of current computers. In order to address these needs, the computer industry began working on this project and produced a mainframe-equaling machine that was ten times more powerful. Supercomputer was the name of this device.

A supercomputer can store and process large amounts of data quickly because it has thousands of processors. They are frequently used to create a lot of the images in movies as well as for nuclear energy research, aeroplane simulators, and weather forecasting. Supercomputers like Deep Blue, ETA-10, CRAY-XP, etc. are examples.

Types of Computers

The computer has the following types of operations if we consider how it works.

An Analog Computer

An analogue computer measures physically variable quantities that change over time. It has the ability to process continuous physical quantity measurements. In this computer, there is no signal interference. Additionally, using it is a little challenging. Graphs or metres are frequently used to depict analogue computer output. A computer of this type is employed to measure voltage, pressure, etc. Examples of such computers include speedometers, analogue clocks, and thermometers.

Digital Computers

Immutable data is measured by a digital computer. This unchangeable data is dependent on a numbering scheme. Data is processed twice by this machine. It is used to turn on and off. Data is stored numerically as on-ones and off-zeroes. Such a computer has a very high processing speed. These computers perform tasks including data analysis and data storage. Typically, these are utilised in workplaces, universities, etc. Computers of today, such as the PC and the digital clock, are examples of this.

Hybrid Computer

These computers process data in both analogue and digital modes, to varying degrees. In other words, a computer like that possesses both analogue and digital computer characteristics. These machines are used to keep track of blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. Their output can be seen on a digital display

Computer's Benefits and Drawbacks

The invention of the computer has greatly facilitated our lives and is crucial to them. It can make a lot of decisions quickly; a human cannot possibly make all of them. Our civilization has transformed as a result of computers.

The social effects of computers

Computers are incredibly helpful in the world of technology for our ability to work swiftly and easily. Both positive and bad effects of computers have been felt by society. It has altered how we view life. Every aspect of life has been impacted by computer use. Computers are being used by people for many different purposes. The decrease of labour and time needed to complete a task is one of computers' main benefits.

The Benefits of Computers

Computers are used in most businesses as well as for personal use. Computers are used in many offices and organisations to store client data. For keeping track of bank accounts and handling financial transactions, this invention is highly helpful. A computer offers online banking services. The user can use the internet and a computer to check the balance in his bank account. The computer automatically completes many jobs. People's needs are met, and they are given time back. Using a computer, it is relatively simple to find information on a variety of topics. Following are few benefits of Computers in bullets:

1) We can communicate with people around the globe through computers.

2) We have access to information about the state of the entire world.

3) A computer has a great amount of storage space.

 4) We can complete a lot of our tasks fast and easily with a computer.

Negative Aspects of Computers

The use of computers elevates the state of the globe. But just as there are two sides to every coin, so too are there benefits and drawbacks of utilising a computer. While some students use computers to play games that are detrimental to their health, others use them as a means of obtaining information. Our time and energy are wasted greatly when we use the computer constantly for things like playing games. Additionally, kids may experience handwriting issues if they use computers for study rather than paper and pencil. Similar to this, some students engage in pointless computer activities while neglecting their schoolwork.

Conclusion

Computers have several advantages (especially to businesses). As a result, we are more effective at managing company planning and addressing client needs. The use of computers too frequently can have serious drawbacks. Therefore, we should stay away from computer's drawbacks.

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