A computer is a machine for manipulating data according to a list of instructions known as a program.
Computers are extremely versatile. In fact, they are universal information-processing machines.
Computers take numerous physical forms. Early electronic computers were the size of a large room, while entire modern embedded computers may be smaller than a deck of playing cards. Even today, enormous computing facilities still exist for specialized scientific computation and for the transaction processing requirements of large organizations. Smaller computers designed for individual use are called personal computers. Along with its portable equivalent, the laptop computer, the personal computer is the ubiquitous information processing and communication tool, and is usually what is meant by "a computer". However, the most common form of computer in use today is the embedded computer. Embedded computers are usually relatively simple and physically small computers used to control another device. They may control machines from fighter aircraft to industrial robots to digital cameras.
2006-09-22 20:34:36
·
answer #1
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
The word "computer" was first used to describe large mechanical apparatus that performed mathematical calculations. The name came from the verb "to compute" which is a synonim of "calculate". The name stuck with scientists and researchers for a long time, even though the underlying technology changed from mechanical to electronical, then digital electronics. The first computers were gigantic, took entire departments to take care of them, lots of space, lots of money and lots of research. A phenomenon called "miniaturization", trying to come up with smaller and smaller machines has led to the appearance of PDAs and Pocket PCs, which are very powerful computers the size of your address book.
Nowadays, the word computer is used by most non-technical people and refers to desktop/laptop personal computers - meaning any machine that has these key elements: a system board(with lots of integrated circuits and data paths), RAM(random access memory - a very fast way to store information on the fly), ROM(essential data that can't be altered or deleted), a processor(a chip that processes data - meaning it performs many, many calculations very fast), and a hard disk drive(that stores data in digital form) - and all these elements work together to take large, complex calculations and perform them very fast. Of course, that's not all it takes to have a computer, but' it's pretty close.
If you would like to know more about the computer, go visit the links below!
2006-09-22 21:14:07
·
answer #2
·
answered by H4x0rchix0r 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
RAM - Random get entry to memory the adaptation between your confusing rigidity and your RAM is RAM is quick and detrimental at the same time as the HDD is truly sluggish and everlasting. RAM is a memory for all the advice you're at the moment making use of, the game you're playing, the rfile you're making use of , the operating gadget. RAM is amazingly quick and has no transferring parts. the turn away is that once the means is switched off the advice disappears. The HDD shops all the advice on your workstation. once you decide on to get entry to at least some thing, (a pastime, rfile etc) the HDD plenty the advice into the RAM so the processor can see and use it immediately and efficently. The HDD doesnt remember on means although and once you've a powercut or unplug the workstation the advice is secure. HDD can fail although, precision transferring parts transferring at severe speeds continually run the potential of failure.
2016-11-23 16:44:23
·
answer #3
·
answered by ? 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
A computer is a machine that stores knowledge in its memory, and does automated calculations on that knowledge. Automated calculation means that if the machine is given some input, it will produce some output. People can use computers to do jobs, or just to have fun.
2006-09-22 20:35:40
·
answer #4
·
answered by spidey_boy_14 1
·
0⤊
0⤋
I guess computer comes from the word compute which means to calculate, so probably computer refers to something that calculates.
2006-09-22 20:34:57
·
answer #5
·
answered by dilemmic 1
·
0⤊
0⤋
a computer is an electronic device capable of executing instructions, developed based on algorithms stored in it's memory, to process data fed to it and produced the required results faster than human beings.
an algorithms expressed in a programming langguage is called a COMPUTER PROGRAM
2006-09-22 21:25:53
·
answer #6
·
answered by (*) nicole tiffany (*) 1
·
0⤊
0⤋
compute
2006-09-23 18:28:14
·
answer #7
·
answered by PRIYANKA B 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
A computer is a programmable and electronical device that can store, retrieve and process data.
2006-09-22 20:34:08
·
answer #8
·
answered by iyiogrenci 6
·
0⤊
0⤋
Computer is an electronic device which can manipulate and process data.
2006-09-22 20:46:21
·
answer #9
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
calculation analyser
2006-09-22 20:32:54
·
answer #10
·
answered by Pradyumn 1
·
0⤊
0⤋