Computers

Computers

Computers are devices used to process information or data according to a set of instructions or programme. They are a ubiquitous device and come in shapes and sizes ranging from handheld and laptops through to large ‘supercomputers’ which fill a whole room. What is noticeable is that over time, computers have gradually got smaller and smaller.

Mid way through the 20th Century, a computer would have been the size of a small room, operated by a small group of white coated experts. Then, complicated programming procedures would have taken place which could only be performed by this elite group. In today’s society, computers are operated by anyone: whether a very young child using an e-learning programme at school through to an elderly person using the Internet as a means of discovering more about their family tree.

Many people today own or have access to a personal computer. Many developments have taken place which has resulted in computers being easier to use though they are still far from perfect. The type of person or user who interacts with a computer has moved from an expert to a novice. The explosive growth in computer usage can be linked to the arrival of the World Wide Web which has opened up the ‘virtual world’ to a whole new audience. Computers can be used on the move, at work, at home or, as some have predicted, will be embedded into our environment and even ourselves.