Computers Technology Essay, Research Paper

English

Computer Technology

A computer is an electronic device that can receive a set of instructions

or program and the carry out this program by performing calculations on

numerical data or by compiling and correlating other forms of information.

(?Computer? Encarta). It also performs calculations and processes information

with astonishing speed and precision. Computer Technology has improved our

lives. It will continue to affect our future which will lead to an easier,

less complicated lifestyle, with more job opportunities and their benefits.

(?Computer.? America On-line).

The modern world of high technology could not have come about

except for the development of the computer. (Astle 1). Different types and

sizes of

computers find uses throughout society in the storage and handling of data,

from

secret government files to banking transactions to private household

accounts.

(?Computer? Encarta). Research and development in the computer world moves

simultaneously along two-paths hardware designs and software innovations work

in

each are alternately influences the other.(?The Future Of Computers? America

On-line)

Computers help people in many different ways, but many people prefer to use

paper and pencil to write and to use folders and file cabinets to organize

there papers. (?The Future of Computers.? America On-line.) Many people in

the world use computers to make their lives easier. Such advances computer

technology will benefit us all. People use computers for research,

organization, writing, communication for personal or business matters and

even to look up stock updates. (Astle 786). Whether it is personal or

business, computers can help make our daily life easier. Typing is quicker

and easier and its also a lot neater than hand writing. When you type on a

computer you can look at them and open them a lot faster than having a folder

of papers you have to carry around where ever you go. (Masters 654).

Computers can also help with editing a paper, they can even check spelling

and grammar. Typing on a computer today is probably the most common way

people write there research papers, reports and other documents for school

and business.(?How Computers Make Your Life Easier? America On-line).

Families can use computers to keep in touch with each other through E-mail.

They help people talk with others all around the world, using different

services and methods. (?Information Superhighway.? America On-line). Since

computers are used all over the world for research, almost all libraries and

museums are based on computers. (?How Computers Make Your Life Easier?

America On-line). The computers in such places as libraries are used for the

card catalogs and for museum sites. Computers enable people to search for

different topics in books located all over the world they can help look for

in formation in encyclopedias and different archives. Computers today help do

research so quickly and dependably that in the future they will be used in

all libraries, museums and schools. (?The History Of Computers During My

Lifetime The 1990?s.? America On-line).

Computers today are so much easier to use for many jobs that had been done

manually. In industry Computers have opened a new era in manufacturing and

consumer product development. (Asimov 627). Programs help people plan complex

production schedules, keep track of inventories and accounts, run automated

assembly lines and control robots. Government agencies are the largest users

of mainframes and super computers. (Masters 654). The United States

Department of Defense uses computers for hundreds of tasks, including

research, breaking codes, interpreting data from spy satellites and targeting

missiles. (Asimov 627)

Computers in education have proved to be valuable education tools.

Educational aids, such as some. Encyclopedias and other major reference works

are available to personal computer users. (?Computer.? Encarta ). In arts

painting and drawing programs enable artists to create realistic images and

animated displays much more easily than they could with more traditional

tools. (?Computer Science.? Encarta). As in entertainment musicians can use

computers to create multiple-voice compositions and to play back music with

hundreds of variations. (Asimov 627).Speech processors even give a computer

the ability to talk and sing. (Asimov 627).

The development of virtual reality and computer animation technology will

change this form of historical reconstruction to a reliance on computers.

Architectural and art historians could use this technology in order to create

models for study and presentations. Military historians could apply it to

reproduce of famous battles or to illustrate tactical maneuvers from a

certain viewpoint. (Asimov 627)

As libraries become more automated, there will be a greater tendency to

create database which can be searched. Presently, the Mcmaster University

libraries catalogues are accessible through the Internet. (?Future Uses Of

Computers In History? America On-line). This direction will continue with a

greater examination of resources as more archives become automated. The

?Fifth-Generation? computer effort to develop computers that can solve

computer problems in what might eventually be called creative ways is another

direction in computer development, the ideal goal being true artificial

intelligence. (?Computer? Encarta). Parallel processing may in time be able

to duplicate to some degree the mixed feedback, approximating and calculating

approximately functions of human thought. (?Computer? Encarta). Another

ongoing trend is the increase in computer networking, which now also employs

satellites to link computers globally. (?Computer? Encarta).

Computer jobs are among the most rapidly growing employment segments in

the United States. Choosing a computer field will benefit many in the long

run since its going to be the number one thing in use. Economic studies

project that computer equipment will represent about one- fifth of all

capital expenditures by business in the 1990?s. (?Careers In The Computer

Field? America On-line). Hundreds of thousands of people will be needed to

manufacture, operate, program and manage new equipment. The most sought after

computer specialists will probably be system analyst, programmers and

operators. (?Careers In The Computer Field.? America On-line). Computer

security specialists will be in great demand to help protect the integrity of

the huge information banks being developed by business and the government.

(Asimov 627). Programmers write the software that transforms a machine into a

personal tool. (?Careers In The Computer Field? America On-line).

Applications programmers write commercial programs to be used by

businesses, in science centers and in the home. (?Careers In The Computer

Field?

America On-line). Systems programmers write the complex programs that control

the inner-workings of the computer. (Asimov 627) Many specialty areas exist

within these two large groups such as database and telecommunication

programmers. (?Computer Science.? America On-line). Other important careers

are

hardware designers, microchip and peripheral equipment design, and

information

collections develop by businesses or data banks. (?Careers In The Computer

Field?

America On-line). Various support careers also exist. Technical writers,

computer

based training specialists, and operations managers do not need very

technical

backgrounds to work in their original fields, a learning of computers and a

desire

to share their knowledge with others. (?Careers In The Computer Field?

America

On-line).

Computer development is rapidly advancing. (?Computer? America

On line). This development which will permit people in all professions to use

a

computer quickly and easily, promises to lead to a rebellion in the way

humans

communicate and the transfer information. (?Computer? America On-line). As

computers get faster as engineers arrange new methods of parallel processing

and

as widespread memory systems and perfected, consciousness the final step to

intelligence is no longer unbelievable. (?Artificial Intelligence and Expert

Systems?

America On-line).

Communications will remain an integral part of the historical research. As

more of the world gets on-line, the uses of e-mail will increase. (?Future

Uses Of Computers In History.? America On-line). At Mcmaster University there

is already a video conference system between other universities in the

province. It is a reasonable to expect this means of communication to

develop. (?Future Uses Of Computers In History? America On-line ). At this

rate in the future computers will be used for doing just about everything.

Currently, historians reconstruct ancient civilizations by using models and

mannequins. (?Future Uses Of Computers In History? America On-line).

Tomorrow?s computers will be increasingly powerful. Computer researchers

continue to seek ways to develop faster and more powerful machines and

software. Must software research focuses on the further development of

artificial intelligence which is intended to help computers make decisions

rather than simply to manipulate data. (?Computer? 922). Computer Technology

will keep affecting our lives in many ways. Such technological advances will

be better than others. But it will all affect us in one way or another. Also

such advances in technology will revolutionize the future.