1.1.1 Definition, characteristics and application of computer

 

Fig: Computer

1.1.1 Definition , characteristics and applications of computer

• The word “Computer” is derived from the Latin word “Computare” which means to calculate.

• Definition of Computer: - An electronic device which accepts raw data from users and processes it to give meaningful results and store the important data for future use is called Computer.

• Data: - The raw facts about anything are called data. Examples: Students data are name, address, class, roll no. etc.

• Instruction: - Instruction is specifying what must be done to the data.   For examples: SP = 1000 and CP = 700 are data. To find profit (SP>CP) = SP-CP =1000-700= 300

• Information: - The processed data which gives meaningful results is called information. Example: 300 is profit.

• Hardware: - All the physical parts of the computer which we can touch and feel are called hardware. Example: Mouse, Monitor, Keyboard etc.

• Software: - A set of programs written in a programming language for a computer to perform a particular task is called Software.

• Firmware: - The information written in ROM permanently by the manufactures is called firmware. Many computer manufacturing companies make essential software, required for start up of the computer and available in ROM chips. The best example of firmware is BIOS (Basic input output system).

• Program: - A sequence of instructions that perform certain tasks is called Program.

• User: - The person who uses the computer is called user.

• Peripheral: - The input, output and storage devices which can be connected to the system cabinet are called Computer Peripherals or peripheral devices. Examples: Printer, Scanner, Card reader etc.

Characteristics of a computer:

1. Speed

2. Accuracy

3. Diligence

4. Reliability

5. Versatility

6. Automatic

7. Storage Capacity

1. Speed: - Computers can perform billions of calculations within fractions of a second. Actually most modern computers perform a task in a Picoseconds. The processing speed of a computer is measured in the unit of Hertz (Hz).

2. Accuracy: - Accuracy means correctness. Computer works on the GIGO (Garbage input and garbage output) principle. It means the computer provides the correct result if the inputs are correct.

3. Diligence: - The computers never feel tired and bored to do the same task repeatedly. The computer can perform the same task with the same speed and accuracy for a long time if it is provided the suitable environment and correct instruction.

4. Reliability: Computers are designed in such a way that their every individual part has a very high life span.

5. Versatile: - Modern computers perform various types of job efficiently. Same computer can be used in banks, offices, school, cyber etc for doing different types of tasks. Some computers play movies and music in it, others use it as a server computer etc.

6. Automatic: Computer is an automatic machine because a task has started; a computer can proceed on its own till its completion. A computer can be programmed to perform a number of tasks with the help of a program.

7. Storage Capacity: - A computer has high storage capacity. It has a data storage area called memory. Any data stored in the memory can be retrieved at any time and at very speed.

Limitation/ Disadvantages of computer

1. Computer is an automatic device, even though it requires an operator to operate the computer.

2. Computers are very expensive in comparison to other electronic devices, so every person cannot afford them.

3. Computer cannot think itself to make decisions.

4. Computers require a technical person for maintenance if it does not work properly.

Application of Computer

Although, the early computers were mainly used for mathematical calculations to predict impacts of bombs, path of artillery shells, calculate some other numerical values etc. With the development of technology, modern computers have played an important role in society. In modern days, computer are used in different fields, some of them are as follows:

1. Education
   Computers have been used in education to help the students in their study and the teachers to organize and prepare their teaching materials and collect required information from the internet. Due to the availability of eBooks in CD, DVD and on the internet, computers have been a very helpful and essential device for students and teachers for their better education.

2. Offices
   Modern computers are very necessary and useful resources in the office. In offices, computers are used in preparing the reports, letters, notice, salary sheet, income and expenditure reports etc. So that efficiency and work speed of the employees will be improved. Generally Microsoft Office and accounting packages are used in an office to handle the daily works.

3. Health and Medical field
   Computers have played a vital role in the medical field as it has been used in hospitals to help doctors, nurses and technicians to diagnose disease, getting information about patients, disease and drugs. Similarly, many computerized equipment such as CT scan machines, eye testing machines and many computerized machines are used for experiment and disease diagnosis. Surgeons also use the computerized device to get the information about the condition of the patient.

4. HomeNowadays computers are used in home to store personal records, photos, videos, playing games, listening music, watching, watching movies etc. It can be used even to connect the internet and use services like email, chatting, online TV streaming, downloading songs and movies etc.

5. Bank
   Computerized technology has brought revolution in the bank. Unlike in the manual system, deposit and withdrawal became quickly in computerized banks. A computer is also used to maintain ledger, to provide the online service to the customers who need services from their home, to transfer amounts etc. For these purposes, there is a central computer called server. In banks, mostly in head offices, this stores all the necessary information centrally so that it can be accessed from any branch office of the bank. Because of this, a customer can get services from any branch of the bank.
   Due to the computer with network facility, nowadays banks also provide ATM service to customers so that a customer with an ATM card can perform a cash transaction immediately with the ATM machine at any time and from any place. 

6. Industries
   Computers have been used in industries for various purposes such as keeping the employees record, income and expenditure record, salary sheet, measurement and display of physical quality, quality control of production etc. The different tasks which are risky for human beings are being done by computerized robots in industries so that human life will not be at risk.

7. Science and technology
   Since the invention of early computers, it has been a great aid for the mathematician and scientist for doing fast and correct calculation. Scientific and technological research work involves complex and massive calculations.
   In many cases, simulation is also required. Such massive calculation and simulation are not possible in paper or by hand calculations. Modern computers are best for scientific research for the analysis of data.

8. Recording and film studio|
   The modern computer can also be used for recording songs, movies and dialog. It is also used in film studies to do animation and movie production. It is used to make the movie more interesting, more popular and more attractive.
   Nowadays, the music and songs can be recorded at different tracks, time and place. Similarly, movie editing also has been very easy due to the computerized system.

9. Weather forecasting
   Weather forecasting is not an easy task as it is done after the analysis of the images, temperature, wind speed, humidity etc. of different places, which is sent by the satellite. The analysis of these large data is not possible without the use of computers. Computers analyze the direction of the wind, cloud structure, past data and many other factors to forecast the weather. Due to the use of specific computers, we can see that BBC, CNN and other news channels predict the weather forecasting.

10. Reservation
    By using the computer with internet facilities, the reservation for the air ticket, train ticket, bus ticket etc. becomes possible. It also stores information regarding passengers such as name, address, age, destination, data etc. Due to the credit card and debit card facility the passengers can reserve and purchase the tickets even from their own home computer.

11. Military
    Since the past, computers have been used by the armed forces for testing and development of military devices like missiles, tanks and bullets etc. The pilotless fighter planes can carry missiles and drop at the pin-point area by the use of the computerized system. It also plays an important role in military communication.

12. Communication
    Due to the invention of the internet, modern computers are massively used for fast, reliable and cheap communication all around the world. Text, photo, animation, email, voice etc can be uncharged between two computers through the internet.

13. Library
    We can use computers in the library also to keep the records of books, magazines, reports, newspapers and other documents. We can keep also records of the library members with which books they have borrowed with detailed information.
    Nowadays, many books are available in the digital format in the form of CDs and DVDs too. Similarly, many e-books are kept on the internet as e-library to read such e-books also, we need computers.

14. Desktop publishing house Desktop publishing house is the place where the design and publication of different materials like books, magazines, journals etc take place.  Before publishing these materials, they should be designed properly. Nowadays, there are many computerized software for desktop designing and publishing which makes it very easy and efficient. Some of the desktop publishing software such as MS-Word, Adobe PageMaker and others, which is used to manipulate computer systems.