Today s generation could never ever imagine in their wildest dreams about the worl

d, ages before, when there were no computers or any other technologies. So much
we have advanced that now every information is just a click away and is in your
hands 24/7. All this advancement was possible only with the introduction of a sm
all device called the Computer .

Basically, computer is a device that accepts the message by the imputer and proc
esses this message and stores the information at the storage devices and later g
ives an output of the message through the output devices.
A simple explanation of the computer. Normally, a computer consists of a process
ing unit called the Central Processing Unit or the CPU and a form of memory. In
the years between 1940 and 1945 were the first electronic digital computers deve
loped. The initial sizes were as big as a room and consumed power as much as tod
ay s personal computers.
Initially, computer was related to a person who carries out calculations or comp
utations and as such the word computer was evolved in 1613 and continued till th
e end of 19th century. Later it as re-described as a machine that carries comput
ations.
The early computers were limited in their functions. It was the fusion of automa
tic calculation and programmability that produced the first computers that were
recognized in 1837. Charles Babbage in 1837 was the first to introduce and desig
n a fully programmed mechanical computer, his analytical engine. Due to limited
finances and inability of resisting tinkering with the design, he could not comp
lete his work and it was later completed by his son Henry Babbage who made it in
to a simplified version of the analytical engine s computing unit.

The original objective of inventing a computer was to create a fast calculating

machine. During the World War II, it became very essential to understand and loc
ate the direction and speed of the enemy weapons. Calculations had to be done ac
curately and mathematically and without an advanced machine it would not be poss
ible. To defend the enemy , the front line soldiers required firing tables and o
nly a computer could produce such firing tables with speed and accuracy at that
time.
To produce the technology then, high sums of money and brain power was required.
The first computer was produced by the Moore School of Engineering called the E
NIAC, on behalf of the US Army which was in 1946. The ENIAC was able to produce
the firing tables, by carrying out large number of calculations accurately.
Over a period of time computers have evolved and toady with the Artificial Intel
ligence technology, we use the most advanced kind of computers that have helped
man in every sectors of life. At every generations of the computers or in fact d
uring the evolution, each time computers are being launched that are lighter, sm
aller, speedier and more powerful. The computers have been a dominating factor s
ince the 1970`s and today it has conquered almost all walks of life.
Computers are being used for various purposes today like weather forecasting, ma
chinery operations, guidance of spacecraft and technology. Apart from these in t
he medical sector, it provides a great helping hand in storing information that
could be referred later, in space technology, automation in banks, ticket bookin
g through the net, traffic control, and even games could be played in computers

on and many more. All these are possible only because of the characteristics tha
t a computer posses like speedy, accuracy, reliability and integrity. It could e
xecutive over a billion instructions per second without committing any mistakes
is completely reliable. The memory of the computer is so vast that it could hold
in a large amount of data.

To run a computer, it is the programming that decides and

computer. Programming is defined as a set of instructions
er that accepts it in order to solve a problem. There are
es that are being used to program a computer. Some of the
OBOL, C, C++, JAVA are a few to name.

it should be run in a
allotted to the comput
many different languag
languages are BASIC, C

With the introduction of computers, attaining information has become a lot more
easier. Computers have become the backbone of Information Technology and a major
application in this sector is the Internet. With the Internet, nothing is impos
sible today. Apart from acquiring information, one could stay connected to frien
ds and family, a great platform for business expansions, purchasing, studying an
d the list just goes on, it is endless.
Computerization in almost all sectors, have created job opening for thousands. C
omputer education has been introduced at school levels and in primary classes, a
s such is the importance of acquiring the knowledge of computers. Every year the
re are thousands of students step out from universities and colleges across the
globe into the world of computer technology and this youth is what is tomorrow s a
ssets in getting technology into the next level of advancement.
The computer has proved in all roles that it has been assigned. A great helping
hand, in every sector that has been applied with computers. Telecommunication an
d satellite imagery are also computer based, which is added to the long list of
applications computer holds in other fields.

With every positive, there is a negative and the same is applicable with compute
rs also. With all the positives that one could acquire and seize, the negative s
ide is also large. The increase in Cyber crime, pornographic websites, false ide
ntity leading to trapping of youngsters and many more. Yet , the advantages are
more outnumbered and there are many preventive measures also introduced to stop
the negative aspects.
The world would not have been what it is today, had there not been an entry to t
his great machine even though in the crude form, ages before us. Computer has a
great future and we just have to keep a watch and mark the changes coming to it.