Growth and Influence of Computers and Computing

by smartass123 (student)

Over a very short period of time computers have changed a massive deal, from being the size of a classroom to being able to fit in our back pockets. The change in computers has ultimately changed the effect they have on our day to day lives. The word computer however, does not only apply to laptops and PCs, but also to iPods, cameras and mobile phones. So in most middle class families, I can guarantee all the members of the family will use at least one 'computer' every day!

It is not just the size of computer that has changed; there have been many other magnificent changes to create the computers we know today. The earliest known computer was made around 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, the abacus, which is still in use today. You may not consider the abacus as a computer but the definition of a computer only says a device to help in calculations, it does not need to be electronic. The abacus has been used by most of the prolific policy empires in history, but is best connected with Asia, most commonly china. However, the first form of electronic computer was built in America between 1939 and 1945. It used vacuum tubes for power and magnetic drums for memory. It was enormous, used lots of power and wasn't very reliable. It was called the Atanasoff Berry Computer. But this computer was not for business, playing games or finding information, it was just a calculating device. Between those two inventions, many other computers were created like the Sky Disk of Nebra, the Antikythera Device, the slide rule and various other mechanical calculators.

To get from the Atanasoff Berry Computer to the computers we have nowadays, it took lots of hard work, sums and a huge advancement in technology. Firstly between 1942 and 1974, computers had got smaller, faster, cheaper and more reliable as well as the first universal computer language being created and the computer chip made. But still, those computers only ran at 2MHz and only had 64kb of RAM whereas the computers now run at 4GHz with over 1,000,000 of RAM. But in 1979 a revolutionary product was introduced, VisiCalc. VisiCalc was the first ever spreadsheet software. It was very basic but it played the vital role in transforming computers from being handy to enthusiasts to a real weapon to in the business sector. This revolutionized the way computers were looked at and the way they were acknowledged of. For the first time, entrepreneurs believed that there was a real sustainable market for electronic computers. This meant that the prices for computers went down as more and more companies emerged and fought for business. After a few more years, there was a tough fight between the companies for the hunt to become the leaders of the computer market, Apple and IBM. At this point, computers had changed from a calculating device to a business tool.

The biggest advance in programs for computers without a doubt was the internet. Research into internet first began in the 1960’s when the internet was commercialised allowing anybody with a computer to use it. The internet transformed the way people looked at computers all over again, it became a tool for leisure, research and it just became a world of mystery only a very small percentage of the world’s population would understand. The way we use internet currently was unimaginable to most of the population at the time of the release of the internet. No one could have imagined that ...

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During the invention of VisiCalc, the internet and other products like Microsoft Office, computers continued to get faster and smaller. Technologies like iPods, digital cameras and smart phones were all created to make sure humans couldn’t imagine life without computers.

The influence of computers has been massive; it has shaped our society enormously. Jobs have been created that weren’t possible 40 years ago such as web designers and video game creators. But even jobs that were around before computers have been shaped around computers to improve efficiency like accounting and teaching. It is not just jobs that have been prospered at the hands of computers; we must not forget how much the medical world has changed because of computers. Illnesses can now be discovered and prevented quicker. Also, new forms of surgery can be done using computers as doctors can see things in more detail and the tools they use are more precise allowing them to operate on smaller tumours etc. It has also aided the increase of high exam results as this new generation is growing with computers which allow us to be able to grasp the wonders and the help they hold for future studies. That is why it is so important to have computer suites at schools as knowing how to use a computer properly will become one of the most important things in their future. This is not only because it will help them in their future studies whether it be research or creating a PowerPoint using Microsoft but also to help to help them in the near future as many jobs nowadays revolve around computers. This means that it will be almost impossible to get a well paid job if you do not have any qualifications based around computers.

But with fridges that can order milk, iPods that can buy cars and phones that talk to you and recognise your face, what else could the future possibly hold for the computing industry?

So what can we do from here? Well, there have been many trends in the computing market created over time. One thing for sure, is that computers will continually get smaller, lighter and thinner as well as much faster and more efficient but it is extremely difficult to predict what the future holds for the computing technology. For example, battery lives may not get much better for a while as it will be replaced for a sleeker, thinner looking device. So until a new type of battery is invented or created, there is no guarantee that the average battery life will be improved. As well as proceeding into the future, some companies might look at ‘vintage’ type computers meaning that the old type writers might be introduced but obviously much more advanced and developed. For example, the new iPhone 5 is set to be released soon yet only a few know what it will resemble to. Some may think that it will have a flip out keyboard or many new features but few know what the future holds for such technologies.

From this we can learn that the future can hold anything in the world of computers. In the next decade we could have fully working robots or even hover cars. But by then we could have equally created multiple computers for better and for worse purposes. Whether it is a device of world destruction or something that could change the world once again, we must not forget that all development in computers are not good things. So there is no way of telling the future for computers because changes in society will change this and the demand for them will change too.

By Vino Suresh 10M

Sources

My book and magazines/newspapers