Computers and Technology

Computers today are currently overpriced and still in an experimental phase well out of reach of the typical consumer. Computers seem to be designed to waste our time by unnecessary loading redundant data and shockingly slow components made by improvement of archaic concepts. This is standard on most computers. On the other hand, computers today are much more user friendly. Most computers will run virtually their entire productive lives without needing any regular maintenance at all. Computers are not like cars,which need oil changes, tune-ups, and similar maintenance work.
The problems which do crop up with computers are almost always software-based, and those are the very problems which it's virtually impossible for a maintenance technician to fix.

Computer

Computers were never built to control us even though that is how it appears. The ones we know and love have not been around all that long. They are small, fast, reliable, and extremely useful. Did you know that in 1983 there were approximately 2 million personal computers in use in the United States. The first home personal computer was not sold until 1977. A typical computer contains numerous types of memory including RAM, ROM, virtual, cache, and various long-term storage devices. Each type of computer memory serves a specific function and purpose. RAM,or random-access memory unlike ROM works only when the computers turned on. This memory is vital to the computer because it controls the moment by moment processes of the computer. Unlike today's computers, early personal computer only needed about 64K of RAM. RAM and ROM may be very important parts of the computer; however, without storage devices like hard drives and disk drives your computer would not be near as useful.

The most common forms of Storage Devices found on your home computer are floppydisk or floppy Hard disk(the drive) or HDA round plastic surface that is coated with magnetic film. The hard drives function is to store all the files, and software the computer will ever use. If someone had to find the brains of the computer they would most likely say its the microprocessor. The processor is the one part of the computer that is most important tot he computer. To a great extent a computer is defined by the power of its microprocessor.

Output and Input is important but equally important is the ability to read what the computer is doing. The computer output devices are used to serve the user. However most computer come with speakers and a printer which are excellent output devices. Input devices can be built into the computer, like the keyboard in a laptop, or it can be connected to the computer by a cable. The computer is nothing more than a logic machine which can do no more than its programmer programs it to do. It cannot make independent decisions or do anything that a person couldn't do. The computer's speed in solving problems of logic, however, has made the "impractical" practical and the "impossible" possible.

Programming a computer means establishing an algorithm, which is nothing more than a combination of logical steps that represent a solution to a particular problem. This generally means putting those steps into one of the computer languages, such as FORTRAN, COBOL or Microsoft BASIC. A lot of home computer advertising has led people to believe that they can program a computer but unless you are qualified to do this, I would leave it to someone that is. Users can expand the functionality of their computers by adding memory, networking, multimedia, security and wireless modules. In the process of giving us incredible capabilities, computers also made us jump through hoops in order to use those capabilities. Before embarking on any expensive outlay for equipment, "you should get some exposure to computers. NOTE: Sometimes, I think the computer spoils today's generation because it's so easy--at least physically.