What is a computer?

The term computer is used to describe a device made up of a combination of electronic and electromechanical (part electronic and part mechanical) components. Computer has no intelligence by itself and is referred to as hardware. A computer system is a combination of five elements:

* Hardware

* Software

* People

* Procedures

* Data/information

When one computer system is set up to communicate with another computer system, connectivity becomes the sixth system element. In other words, the manner in which the various individual systems are connected -- for example, by phone lines, microwave transmission, or satellite -- is an element of the total computer system.

Software is the term used to describe the instructions that tell the hardware how to perform a task. Without software instructions, the hardware doesn't know what to do. People, however, are the most important component of the computer system: they create the computer software instructions and respond to the procedures that those instructions present.

The basic job of the computer is the processing of information. Computers accept information in the form of instruction called a program and characters called data to perform mathematical and logical operations, and then give the results. The data is raw material while information is organized, processed, refined and useful for decision making. Computer is used to convert data into information. Computer is also used to store information in the digital form.

Computer uses

An electronic computer is one of the greatest achievements of the man. Today computers play chess, compose music, translate from and into foreign languages, help to solve many important problems in science, engineering and business. They save a lot of time and energy, operate at great speed, store large quantities of information, carry out long and complex operations.

The business segment of computer application is one of the largest. Computers process a large volume of data in a short period of time.  No, man can do 500,000 sums per second, but computer can.

In science and engineering, computers do calculations, draw diagrams, process the results of experiments, keep records.

In medicine databases, diagnostic devices, monitoring systems helps doctors in their work, in medical and laboratory research.

Computers are an obvious part of technology that reaches into most people’s lives. Computer answer telephones, retrieve information instantly, read and answer letters. It can classify, report and edit data, information that is put in.

At home most often people use personal computers to play video games or for education. Computers serve as wordprocessors, electronic message centres and personal finance devices.