INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

The word "Computer" is derived from the word "compute" which means to calculate. In the past, the computer was normally considered to be a calculating device used to perform artihmetic operations. But today, computer is used in every field of daily life to solve problems of different kinks. So computer can be defined as:

Computer is modern electronic machine that is used to solve different kinds of problems according to a set of instructions given to it.

OR
A computer is an electronic machine that operates under the control of instructions, that accepts the input data, processes or manipulates the given data according to the predefined instructions and stores the result for future use. It can also retrieve the stored results as and when required again.

A computer can store, process and retrieve data as and when desired. The computer processes data with very high speed. In addition to being very fast, computer is also very accurate in calculations. These are the main capabilities of the computer.

Features of computer:

As computer is an intelligent amplifier that performs the above-mentioned operations in a faster, accurate and efficient way, it creates extra leisure time which can be used in matters involving creativity & judgment. Some of the common characteristics possessed by computers are as follows:

• A computer can perform tasks at very high speed. The speed, with which computers carry out these operations, varies from a few microseconds (10^-6 of a second or millionth of a second) to nanoseconds (10^-9 of a second or billionth of a second).
• It can store a large amount of data in its memory forever
• It gives 100% accurate outputs unless the wrong data and instructions are entered.
• Once the data and instructions are given, it caries out its operation automatically to produce the desired output.
• It can perform its tasks repetitively with same speed, efficiency and accuracy, without being affected by traits of tiredness and lack of concentration.
• It is versatile in a sense that it can perform from simple tasks, such as Desktop Publishing, to advanced tasks, such as controlling of automatic weapons, satellite launching, etc.

Limitations of Computers:

• Since computer does not have its own intelligence, it should be given instructions to carry out its tasks. However, the fifth generation is supposed to have own intelligence.
• An important data can be lost sometimes due to the breakdown of storage media in machine.
• However there are various systems to protect data, but there is always fear of data piracy.
• Computer is a very expensive to install and maintain that it would be difficult to afford it for everybody. But, with the ever-increasing advances being made in the state of the art, the cost of computer equipment has dropped drastically over the years. Hardware costs have been decreasing at an estimated annual rate of 25%.
• Computers cannot store data unless they are given instructions.