The Ins and Outs of the Computer
Abstract
The computer that we use in our homes and places of business usually consists of a box containing the computer, a mouse, a couple of disks with drivers, a monitor for output and a keyboard for input. We may connect the computer to any number of local or remote peripherals of other computers, but here is the foundation of the computer. It is here that everything starts, and here is where all of the innovations and ideas of the present day have been started. For the moment let's assume that sufficient processing takes place inside the computer, and look at how things get in and out.
Keyboards
Keyboards are one of the most important input devices for a computer. They serve as your primary means of communication with your computer. Most keyboards have an ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) layout, which includes a numeric keypad, special function keys, special control keys, as well as typing keys. The typing keys are just the keys containing the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. These keys have a QWERTY setup. QWERTY stands for the first six letters in the top row of the standard letter keys. It was designed so that the most commonly used letters would not be near each other. There are also other parts to the keyboard such as the numeric keypad, the function keys, and the control keys. The numeric keys are a group of 17 keys located on the right of your keyboard that includes all of the numbers from 0-9, a plus sign, a minus sign, and other assorted keys. Since many computers are used for business purposes and to input numbers into a computer, the numeric keypad was designed which made it easier and faster to input numbers. The control keys are intricate keys like del (delete), ctrl (control), alt (alternate), shift, and enter. The delete (or backspace) key is used to erase characters in a document. The esc (escape) key is normally used to exit out of a program or application, while when you strike the enter key, a task or command is carried out. The tab key is primarily used to indent in a document. The shift key is often used in combination with other keys. Lastly, there are the ctrl and alt keys. Like the shift key, these are also used in combination with other keys, and they typically perform functions related to those of the function keys.
Not long ago computers were non-existent in many homes. When computers were first introduced to the world, they were for the sole purpose of performing business functions. The only people who owned computers were large organizations. Eventually, computers were introduced into the homes of those who could afford to buy them. Today, just about everyone owns some form of system that they use daily to help manage their day-to-day operations. What many once survived without now seems impossible to do without. As technology continues to grow, it has a greater effect on families and the education system. Some companies such as Microsoft and Apple made it possible to reinvent a new form of technology that would change the world. Each company had some form of struggle and overtime had to keep up with the changes of time and the way people communicated. From the first day of its invention, organizations have had to steadily implement new operating systems to keep up with the demands of the people while staying afloat with competitors. The ways of life for many have changed as well as the way people communicate. It is evident that the history and uses of computers have changed the world but these computers could not perform without the operating systems. Various operating systems will be discussed, how they began and how they each changed since they were first introduced. Although, they all had a purpose each varied in how they performed and changed the lives of many and will continue in the near future.
If you ask people to name one of the most important technologies of the twentieth century, one of the answers would most certainly be the computer. A computer, however, is not a technology all to itself. Many other technologies went into the modern home computers of today, including the mouse. Douglas C. Engelbart, a worker at the SRI (Stanford Research Institute), invented the mouse in 1964. However, the process of the invention of the mouse was not instantaneous and without effect on the realm of computing and society. In this paper I will be examining the problems that had to be overcome and the technologies that had to be invented for the mouse to become a reality. It also analyzes the impacts it has had on society and the computer industry.
The article I chose to review from the website http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nuerok.html was “A Computer in Your Head?” by Eric Chudler, Ph.D. This article was originally published in ODYSSEY magazine, 10:6-7, 2001 (March), by Cobblestone Publishing Co. The reason I chose this article is it has always interested me in how similar the brain is to a computer. It also helps that I am currently taking a Computer information Systems class and I personally find that applying my classes to each other assists me in understanding material more accurately. The article had a lot of interesting ideas but did not go very in depth into the capabilities of the brain in comparison to a computer. There were many interesting facts that were prevalent throughout the article and the comparison is fairly easy to follow.
Computers; they are a part of or in millions of homes; they are an intricate part of just about every if not all successful businesses, the government, and the military. Computers have become common place in today’s society and the lives of the people who live in it. They have crossed every national, racial, cultural, educational, and financial barrier, which consequently ushered in the information age. A computer is a programmable electronic device that can store, retrieve and process data, and they come in all shapes, and sizes. They can be used for and in just about anything. As stated before, they are used in just about every aspect of modern society. They are so fundamental to modern society that it would be disastrous to society without them. As stated before, there are many areas in modern society that are run by computers. They play an intricate part of millions of homes in the world. Office workers in business, government and the military may use them to write letters, keep rosters, create budgets, find information, manage projects, communicate with workers, and so on. They are used in education, medicine, music, law enforcement, and unfortunately crime. Because computers have become such a part of the world and how it operates, there is a tremendous responsibility for those who are in control of these computers and the vital information that they carry, to manage and protect them properly. This is management and protection is vital because any loss or damage could be disastrous for the affected entity. For example, a mistake or intentional alteration of a personal credit file could affect ones ability to buy a car or home, or can lead to legal actions against the affected person until the mistake or intentional alteration has been corrected. Therefore, with the advent of computers in the information age, and all of the intentional and unintentional violations against them, comes the need to safeguard them and the information they carry with strong systems and policies of computer security.
The computer evolution has been an amazing one. There have been astonishing achievements in the computer industry, which dates back almost 2000 years. The earliest existence of the computer dates back to the first century, but the electronic computer has only been around for over a half-century. Throughout the last 40 years computers have changed drastically. They have greatly impacted the American lifestyle. A computer can be found in nearly every business and one out of every two households (Hall, 156). Our Society relies critically on computers for almost all of their daily operations and processes. Only once in a lifetime will a new invention like the computer come about.
The World Turning Digital: computer is seen in virtually all aspects of our lives. From the mobile phones we use, the Television we watch etc. Makes it pretty interesting to found out how this work.
Choosing a career is very important in a person’s life. Over the past two decades, many professions have change significantly with the influx of technological developments. One needs to think about the things that interest them and what kind of lifestyle they want to have. Some things a person should think about are what qualifications are needed, what type of training is necessary, and the future need of the career they choose. Some other things to consider would be how much money they will make, what is the probability of advancement, and does the career satisfy their need for an enjoyable life.
Computers are very complex and have many different uses. This makes for a very complex system of parts that work together to do what the user wants from the computer. The purpose of this paper is to explain a few main components of the computer. The components covered are going to be system units, Motherboards, Central Processing Units, and Memory. Many people are not familiar with these terms and their meaning. These components are commonly mistaken for one and other.
Networking is another way that advances in computer engineering and software has paved a way for the advancement of communication, industry, and our lives in general through technological advancements. Just as the utilization of fire and carving of the wheel gave us advantages over the perils of life, the networking of computers has brought an unreachable far off world closer to each and every one of us. First and foremost we are now able to nearly instantaneously share information with an unreachable world. The engineering that made this possible began not on some other planet, or from the depths of a holy shrine. But from the ingenuity of a partnership of companies that sought to find a reasonable (and soon profitable) solution to the proprietary incompatibility of emerging information system networks.
I cannot forget how excited I was when I first bought my own computer. Like a mother who spends time sewing and knitting for her newborn baby, I spent hours and hours to sparkle my computer. I waited a long time to buy a brand new computer. I had to work more hours and saved money to buy a computer. I did not want to buy a cheap computer, but I wanted to buy a professional one. Was I professional on computer? No! I was not. I did not even know how to type, but I was sure that my expensive com puter could make me a computer expert. 17 inches monitor, color printer, two speakers and well-designed fancy keyboard made me just happy by looking at them on my desk.
A computer is a device which is used for several applications; business, gaming, or school. It’s important for people to know how computers work because in this day and age, operating a computer is an everyday task. This complex electrical device utilizes several parts inside of it to keep itself cool, conduct the proper tasks, and maintain stability. These devices can be found several places whether it be on the job, in one’s room, or on a school campus. Computers are essential for everyday use in order to complete what is required. What each component is and its function will be described.
Computers have changed the way that the world works in many different ways. Some of these changes are positive and some of these changes have had negative effects on our lives. From an industrial standpoint most of these changes have been helpful to businesses and the economy. In the medical field computers have had an impact in many different areas, ranging from the way appointments are made to the carrying out of everyday tasks.
Did your phone just ring? Or was that your computer notifying you of a new email? Since the Digital Revolution and the addition of digital electronics like the personal computer, software-based technology has always been an essential aspect of our lives. Something that would have taken up an entire classroom can now fit within the grasp of your hands thanks to the efforts of various computer scientists and engineers, making our lives much easier.
In designing a computer system, architects consider five major elements that make up the system's hardware: the arithmetic/logic unit, control unit, memory, input, and output. The arithmetic/logic unit performs arithmetic and compares numerical values. The control unit directs the operation of the computer by taking the user instructions and transforming them into electrical signals that the computer's circuitry can understand. The combination of the arithmetic/logic unit and the control unit is called the central processing unit (CPU). The memory stores instructions and data.
Only once in a lifetime will a new invention come about to touch every aspect of our lives. Such a device that changes the way we work, live, and play is a special one, indeed. A machine that has done all this and more now exists in nearly every business in the US and one out of every two households (Hall, 156). This incredible invention is the