Before going on this we must know that what it stands for
C = Common
O = Operating
M = Machine
P = Particularly
U = Used for
T = Technical
E = Education
R = Research purpose
A computer is an electronic machine that performs a specific operation according to user requirements. It takes input from the user, stores, retrieves, processes, and gives output to the user by output screen. It is called acomputer.
A computer is composed of hardware and software. You may be surprised to know that a computer cannot perform any task without you. The computer needs to be instructed on exactly what it has to do. it exists in a variety of sizes and configurations.
The word computer is derived from the word compute. Compute means to calculate. It could solve complex arithmetic and scientific problems at a very high speed. But nowadays in addition to handling complex arithmetic computations, computers perform many other tasks like accepting, sorting, selecting, moving, comparing various types of information. They also perform arithmetic and logical operations on alphabetic, numeric, and other types of information. This information provided by the user to the computer is data. The information in one form which is presented to the computer is the input information or input data.
To begin with, you must understand the impact of computers in today's world.Computersare affecting our lives in one way or the other and directly or indirectly. Airline and railways reservations, telephone and electricity bills, banking, medical, e-commerce, diagnoses, weather, forecasts, etc. The list of services using computers is almost endless there is no end. You would have probably noticed that some applications of computers have made life much easier for you like your air ticket is now issued in a matter of minutes and your credit card is processed very fast.
In everyday life activities, we process any type of data or encounter cases of data processing. A typical example of data processing is the generation of the statement of student result from the marks score in an examination and continuous assessment. It is essential to know that information is as good as the data from which it is derived, and the transformation process to which they are subjected. Meaningless data or inappropriate processing produces wrong information. Thus computer gives you results corresponding to what data you supply and how you process it. Summarily, the intelligent performance of a computer depends on the correctness of input data(whats raw data is inputted)and the intelligence performance of the human being that drives it.
People use computers in many ways - A business computers are used to track inventories with bar codes and scanners, check the credit status of customers, measure records of buying and selling of goods, and transfer funds electronically, homes, tiny computersembedded in the electronic circuitry of most appliances control the indoor temperature, operate home security systems, tell the time, and turn video cassette recorders (VCRs) on and off, automobiles regulate the flow of fuel, thereby increasing gas mileage, they also entertain, creating digitized sound on stereo systems or computer-animated features from a digitally encoded laserdisc..
Computer programs, or applications, exist to aid every level of education, from programs that teach simple addition or sentence construction to programs that teach advanced calculus. Educators use computers to track grades and communicate with students, with computer-controlled projection units, they can add graphics, sound, and animation to their communications.Computersare used extensively in scientific research to solve mathematical problems, investigate complicated data, or model systems that are too costly or impractical to build, such as testing the airflow around the next generation of aircraft. The military employs computers in sophisticated communications to encode and unscramble messages and to keep track of personnel and supplies.
Speed: Computers work at very high speeds and are much faster than humans. The human equivalent of an average computer would be one million mathematicians working 24 hours a day.
Accuracy: Computers rarely make mistakes. Most computer errors are caused by human faults.
Diligence: Unlike humans, computers simply do not get bored or tired. The monotony of repetitive work does not affect computers.
Storage: Computers can store a large amount of data. It can store any type of data such as audio, video, image, text, etc.
Versatility: Computer can carry out wide(different types) range works.
However, computers cannot take over all activities simply because they are less flexible than humans. They have to be explicitly told what to do. They cannot perform anything outside the defined scope. In an unanticipated situation, computers will either produce erroneous results or abandon the task altogether. They do not have the potential to work out an alternative solution.
Health risks :- Prolonged use of the computer might lead to disorder of injuries of the wrist, neck, back, and eyes.
Violation of privacy:- When using the internet on thecomputerwe are at high risk of leaking our private information.
Violation of privacy :- When using the internet on computer we are on high risk of leaking our private information.
No intelligence :-Computers have to be explicitly told what to do. It cannot perform anything outside the defined scope.
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