define computer?

Answer 1

A programmable machine. The two principal characteristics of a computer are:
It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner.
It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program).
Modern computers are electronic and digital. The actual machinery -- wires, transistors, and circuits -- is called hardware; the instructions and data are called software.

Answer 2

A computer is a device or machine for making calculations or controlling operations that are expressible in numerical or logical terms. Computers are made from components that perform simple well-defined functions. The complex interactions of these components endow computers with the ability to process information. If correctly configured (usually by programming) a computer can be made to represent some aspect of a problem or part of a system.

Answer 3

A device that receives, processes, and presents information. The two basic types of computers are analog and digital. Although generally not regarded as such, the most prevalent computer is the simple mechanical analog computer, in which gears, levers, ratchets, and pawls perform mathematical operations—for example, the speedometer and the watt-hour meter (used to measure accumulated electrical usage). The general public has become much more aware of the digital computer with the rapid proliferation of the hand-held calculator and a large variety of intelligent devices and especially with exposure to the Internet and the World Wide Web. See also Calculators; Internet; World Wide Web.

An analog computer uses inputs that are proportional to the instantaneous value of variable quantities, combines these inputs in a predetermined way, and produces outputs that are a continuously varying function of the inputs and the processing. These outputs are then displayed or connected to another device to cause action, as in the case of a speed governor or other control device. Small electronic analog computers are frequently used as components in control systems. If the analog computer is built solely for one purpose, it is termed a special-purpose electronic analog computer. In any analog computer the key concepts involve special versus general-purpose computer designs, and the technology utilized to construct the computer itself, mechanical or electronic.

In contrast, a digital computer uses symbolic representations of its variables. The arithmetic unit is constructed to follow the rules of one (or more) number systems. Further, the digital computer uses individual discrete states to represent the digits of the number system chosen. A digital computer can easily store and manipulate numbers, letters, images, sounds, or graphical information represented by a symbolic code. Through the use of the stored program, the digital computer achieves a degree of flexibility unequaled by any other computing or data-processing device.

Answer 4

machine for manipulating data according to a list of instructions.

Computers take numerous physical forms. Early electronic computers were the size of a large room, using as much power as several hundred modern computers. [1] Today, computers can be made small enough to fit into a wrist watch and be powered from a watch battery. Society has come to recognize personal computers and their portable equivalent, the laptop computer, as icons of the information age; they are what most people think of as "a computer". However, the most common form of computer in use today is by far the embedded computer. Embedded computers are small, simple devices that are often used to control other devices—for example, they may be found in machines ranging from fighter aircraft to industrial robots, digital cameras, and even children's toys.

Answer 5

Modern Definition: A Computer is an electronic device which can perform any kind of operation.

Classical information: The name COMPUTER comes from the abbrevation of Common Oriented Machine Perticularly Used for Trade, Education, Research. It is not derived as many think it is from the english word, compute (to count).

It's taken a considerable time of my research to find out these two lines. email me if you find a better answer.

Answer 6

hello. in order to properly define a computer, you must understand the concept of an algorithm. an algorithm a a fixed series of mathematical or operational procedures that leads to a given result by performing operations on input data. a device is said to be programmable when it can be interfaced with various algorithms, and various data values can be passed into the algorithms to produced unique results. a computer is an electronic device which is capable of processing data into information using embedded algorithms. this is one of the best definitions of the computer, since devices which process data without algorithms and are thus not programmable, are not computers.

Answer 7

A fast electronic data-processing machine, which can take in our instructions(input), and give back results(output) according to our instruction. Instructions are written in any programming language like C, C++, Visual Basic with certain syntax. It is then translated to its native language (machine language/binary code) using seperate programs called compilers/interpretters. The basic Operations that a computer can perform, regardless of its size or speciality in usage are: INPUT, STORE, PROCESS and OUTPUT. It is common to all types of computers in the world!!!

Answer 8

An electronic or mechanical device that accept some input, makes a decision based on that data, and generates an output based on that decision.
This would include your wall thermostat, your pc, a lot of things in your car including an automatic transmission, an answering machine; an endless list.

Answer 9

Though we dont have one acceptable definition for computer, most definitions will include the following keywords:
1. electronic
2. input (data)
3. process
4. output (information)

Thus computer in this sense is an electronic device that accepts data, processes the data and gives out infromation.

Answer 10

I would say any piece of hardware with some software(instruction) written into it that produces an action or some form of output. So your microwave, phone, thermostat, are all a computer.