The Advancement Of Computers

Computers are one of the most important inventions ever. If computers had

not been invented, technology would not be developed to its current state.

Since the computers invention, society has changed drastically. Computer

technology is so helpful, that it is even used to create newer, better

computer equipment. Almost everything today is linked in some way, to

computers.

Before computers were invented, very little was known about outer space.

With the technology we have now, we are learning new things everyday.

Computers are used to follow the paths of asteroids and predict their future

movements. On 6 December 1997, a mile-wide asteroid was discovered by

astronomer Jim Scotti, a member in the University of Arizona's Spacewatch

group. He used a 77-year-old telescope along with an electric camera that

caught the asteroid on film. He then used a computer specially programmed

to look for objects moving against the background of fixed stars. The

computer worked so well that Scotti described the asteroid as "sticking out

like a sore thumb" (Jaroff 68). His information was relayed to Brian

Marsden, a Harvard

astronomer, to determine the course of the asteroid. After many

calculations, Marsden's computer showed the rock would pass Earth

approximately 600,000 miles away. This may not seem important, but if an

asteroid was on a line with Earth, the computer would show us and enable us

to deflect the projectile with nuclear power (Jaroff 69). Thus, computers

can even help save lives.

In "Spies in the Sky", Bill Sweetman writes about the use of satellites and

computers for spying on other countries. On 20 December 1996, three

computer operated satellites were released into orbit for use against Iraq.

Each one costs 800,000,000 dollars or more, most of which is spent on the

computer equipment needed to control them. When the radar data is received

from the satellite dish, it has low resolution and lacks clarity. Computer

texturing and imaging clear the pictures and even show objects that may be

hidden beneath sand, soil, or snow. When resolution was questioned by

critics, the American government produced a readable spy photo of a Russian

car's license plate (42-48).

Computers have also made communications easier than ever. Today, e-mail is

beginning to replace the ordinary post office and telephone as a way to keep

in touch. E-mail provides the best of both worlds; it is instantaneous and