computer history :: essays research papers

Every aspect of our life in this day and age involves technology. At the forefront of the trend is an advanced machine called the computer. Everywhere you turn, you see some facet of its work. Computers link together almost all government and economic fractions of our world with silicon chips and electrical signals. The list of tasks it can perform is amazing. With intricate parts and super fast circuitry, computers are a complex technological wonder. Its history is interesting but its evolution is amazing. From garage size monster machines to 5 pound 3 inch-thick laptops, the computer shapes today’s world. When you say the world â€Å"computer,† most people think of the desktop machine you can play games on and print out your favorite pictures. Early computers however were far different from today’s machines. They were first designed only for simple mathematical problems. Most five-dollar calculators at Wal-Mart could outperform any of the first computers. The first truly digital computer weighed 60,000 pounds. It contained 27,000 vacuum tubes, 4,000 of which had to be replaced every month. Computers since then have gotten smaller and more efficient, resulting in today’s machines. The evolution of computers has come a long way. Think of how important the Internet is. Everyday when you’re taking roll, you’re using the Internet to send your information to the main office. The government uses the Internet to keep in contact with its officials in Middle Eastern countries. Everyday thousands of business transactions are made on the Internet. E-mail has become a major form of communication. Millions of teenagers get online everyday to talk with each other. Kids can interactive with educational websites. All these simple things couldn’t be performed without the Internet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The future for computers has never looked brighter. Imagine a computer that could read your thought waves and respond to exactly what you thought at the exact time you thought it. Virtual reality computer systems could be used to train military pilots, soldiers, and officers. But on another note, an increase in technology would be just another asset on a terrorists list.