Computers

  
Compact Disc 
Internet 
Modem 

 
Intel 
Leader in PC CPU production. 
Microsoft 
Makers of Windows Operating Systems. 
Apple 
Makers of the MacIntosh Computer. 
How Thinks Work: Computers 
Answers to common questions by University of Virginia Physics Professor Lous A. Bloomfield.

binary 

abacus 

Computer History 
Computers come in many different types. While modern computing developments began in the 1600’s, the first true computer was the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer) developed in 1946 at the University of Pennsylvania. This machine was primitive by today’s standards. In the 50’s transistors replaced vacuum tubes. This efficient and reliable technology is still used today. In the 60’s the Integrated Circuit was developed, allowing many transistors to run on a tiny piece of silicone, with additional advancements made with the microprocessor in the mid-’70’s. Large mainframe computers from technology giant IBM (International Business Machines), and others like DEC (Digital Equipment Corp.) jump-started the electronic revolution for businesses and government agencies in the ‘60s and ‘70s, while personal computers, or PC’s, introduced in 1981 by IBM, have become a common desktop tool in businesses, and increasingly in the home environment. Today, computers are found for almost every possible application, from cars to factories to banks, with increasing connectivity thanks to the Internet. 

Personal Computer 
A standard computer system, such as a PC, consist of two basic components: hardware and software. 

Any item of the computer you can touch is called hardware, which can receive, manipulate, and display binary information. There are three types of hardware: input units, such as a keyboard, mouse, or scanner  allow information to enter the computer for manipulation. This data is managed by processing devices, found inside the system unit (box filled with computer chips and wires). Once processed, the information can be displayed to the user through output devices, such as a monitor or display (similar to a television), or a printer. 

To make the various hardware components work, the computer requires instructions. This is done through software, referred to as a program, or application, which exists electronically within the computer. The information is stored on a disc, such as a hard drive located inside the system unit or a floppy disc, which you can slip into your pocket and carry with you. Computers require a basic set of software instructions, called an operating system, which controls the hardware and enables other software applications to run on the computer. Some popular operating systems are Apple System for the Macintosh, and MS-DOS (Microsoft Disc Operating System), Microsoft Windows, IBM OS/2, and Sun’s UNIX for the IBM-compatible PC platform. Common applications that run on these operating systems are word processors, databases, and spreadsheets (often found in an "Office Suite" like MS Office) that allow you to record, store, and manage information, particularly for a business. Other software has become standard on new systems, such as Internet applications, and of course, games. Every piece of software is referred to by a named "file". Software is written in a programming language. Many exist, such as BASIC, FORTRAN, C++, and the newest, JAVA. 

Current operating systems make computers easy to use by displaying the information in a GUI (Graphical User Interface) format. Generally, programs can be launched by clicking your mouse’s cursor on a tiny representational picture called an icon. Pictures, sounds, and animations are incorporated alongside the text. Files are organized intuitively into folders or directories. 

'The PC History 
The two main operating systems today are Apple’s System, and the most commonly used, Microsoft’s Windows platform. Microsoft’s O/S cornered the market with Windows 3.1, but today you’ll find the easy to use Windows ‘95 version on most new systems, or the sophisticated Windows NT O/S. Both have an interface which is very similar to Apple’s System. 

The first PC operating system was MS-DOS. When IBM began building its Personal Computer, a young man named Bill Gates approached the company about supplying the operating system. IBM agreed, and Microsoft was formed, creating software to support the IBM PC platform. Soon, other companies began copying IBM’s computer system, and were referred to as "100% IBM Compatible PC Clones". Since IBM didn’t own the PC’s operating system, Microsoft could sell DOS to these companies too. But there was a competitor to the PC platform. A company called Apple was creating a computer too, called the Macintosh. This system had a GUI Operating System. It was based on research from the Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Centre). Xerox thought the GUI computer concept wouldn’t succeed, so they didn’t market it. It was superior to IBM systems, but Apple kept the technology to itself, so it didn’t succeed. Eventually, Microsoft came up with its own GUI, called Windows. Today Windows is on millions of PC’s everywhere, and that young Bill Gates is the richest individual businessperson on earth. 

Running a PC 
To use the computer, you boot (start up) the computer. The computer will look at its ROM (Read Only Memory), which will tell it how to start your operating system and all of the various parts of the computer. Then open a program. (For this example we’ll use a word processor). The program will "execute", loading all of its instructions from the hard disc into the RAM (Random Access Memory). The hard drive stores information on a magnetic disc. The RAM stores information in electronic form. This is much faster than the hard drive, but when you shut your computer off all information in the RAM is erased. The program will appear, with toolbars and option menus that allow you to do many things with your information. You can create a new document file, or open one previously saved to disc, and type your information in with the keyboard. (If you have a scanner, it can interpret a typed paper document into editable text, or you can use a voice-recognition system to say the words into a microphone and watch them appear as text on the screen). Using the various commands from the menus and graphical toolbars, you can easily change the colour and look of the font, or run a spell-check to pick up any mistakes. When you are finished, you can save the file to your disc, print it on paper using a printer, or attach it to an e-mail message to send to another person over the Internet. 

The key component of your computer is the CPU. This microchip receives all of the information from the input devices, sorts it out, and directs it to the output devices. Usually, it has to perform mathematical and logical operations, and often passes this processing on to other parts of the computer, such as a video graphics accelerator card or audio card, which can handle their respective operations more efficiently. Today, most IBM-compatible PC’s run on a CPU made my Intel, such as the 486 and Pentium lines. Their newest processor is the Pentium II, operating at up to 300Mhz and handles a special set of multimedia software instructions called MMX. 

The Future 
The biggest news in computing in the ‘90s is the Internet. Almost every new PC comes with a modem, ready to connect to the Internet, the world’s largest network of computers. The many services available on the Internet, such as e-mail, chatting, video-conferencing, and the graphical information of the World Wide Web are revamping communication - and society - in ways never seen before.