Advancements in Computer Technology

Dear reader, you might be aware of the fact that the computer is affecting our lives in many ways. Almost everyday, you hear about the newest ways that a computer is being used for. So why not to call it a Computer Revolution. Computers have now become an important part of our lives with all these rapid developments taking place. Computers are now essential in many areas of life like modern banking, retail and information exchange among others. The 21st century saw the boom of the IT industry. Careers in IT, at home or outside the country.

Till now, you might have been using a typewriter for drafting your commercial correspondence, a calculator for performing lengthy calculations and files for maintaining records. Now, you can do all your correspondence, calculations and record maintenance on a computer at a much faster speed. Besides facilitating the office work, computers today are also playing a significant role in the fields of education and entertainment. As the use of computers steadily increase, so does the need for better understanding of its functions.

Computer is perhaps the most tool ever invented. The number of ways that computers affect human lives is uncountable. Computers can perform all those functions that a human being can do, to certain extent, but at a much faster speed and with greater accuracy.

Computers work in a very complex way. Computers are given a memory but to no brain. Computers are programmed to work and will do only those work for which it is programmed. The programs are entered in the Computer through the keyboard.

Your PC is really a collection of separate items working together as a team. Some of these components are essential, others simply make working more pleasant and efficient. Adding extra items expands the variety of tasks you can accomplish with your machine. Your Computer system is made of the following parts:

THE SYSTEM UNIT/MAIN COMPUTER

The System Unit controls and executes all your PC operations- for example, ensuring that the correct information is displayed on the monitor when you press a key on the keyboards. Connecting cables plug into the back of the System Unit, linking your keyboard, monitor, mouse, printer, etc with it. Moreover, the hard disk and floppy disk drive are also usually inside this Unit.

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT(CPU)

As the name denotes, the CPU is that portion of the PC where actual processing ,i.e. the mathematical as well as logical, takes place. Hence, the CPU is the brain behind all the operations. It is also referred as Microprocessor. The instructions written in the form of computer programs, are carried out by the CPU in sequence. And since CPU interacts with every part of the computer, a program instruction control the entire working of the PC. The power of CPU lies in its ability to carry out these actions rapidly and flawlessly. The processing capability of a PC is measured in terms of amount of data processed by the CPU in one operation.

Although CPU is the brain behind all the operations in your computer, it needs to be supplied with the data to be processed and the instructions to tell it what to do. Once the CPU has carried out each instruction, it needs somewhere to store the result. This storage space is provided by the computer?s memory.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

The main type of memory that your computer uses is called Ram in your PC depends on the number of memory chips installed.

THE KEYBOARD

The keyboard is the main means of issuing directions to your PC. A computer keyboard is quite similar to that of typewriter. But it has some additional keys which are described below:

 

* Arrows and other movement keys ( Home, PgUp,PgDn) * Function keys(F1 to F12) * Text editing keys ( Backspace,Del,Ins) * Modifier Keys( Shift, ctrl, Alt) * Enter

* Other special keys( Print screen, scroll lock and so on) * LED Status Indicators.

Storage Media ? the disk

When the PC is turned off, anything stored in the Ram is lost. Of course, a computer is little use if you lose the letter you just written or calculation you have made, every time you shut it down. The computer, in order to overcome this drawback, uses magnetic disks to store data permanently so that it won?t be affected when you turn off your computer. The amount of data, which can be stored on a disk, is measured in kilobytes or megabytes. There are basically two types of disks- Floppy disks and hard disks.

THE MONITOR

A PC?s monitor works like a television,displaying text characters and graphics in colours or in shades of grey. The image, you see on the screen, is made up of tiny dots called pixels. Whatever is typed on the keyboard gets displayed on the monitor screen. Also, whenever a program is executed, the information is displayed on the monitor.

THE MOUSE

A mouse is a hand-held pointing device, that allows you to control your computer without having to type in instructions at the keyboard. Modern programs provide menu options for various commands and a mouse is very useful and easy to choose specific options from the menu.

THE SCANNER

A scanner is a device that can transfer an image of a photograph or written information to the computer. It acts like a photocopy machine. Just instead of making another copy of it on to the paper, it stores it in the computer.

THE MODEM

A modem enables your computer to talk on the phone with another computer, if each has a compatible modem. Modems are used for sending or receiving data. They offer you a diverse range of features such as electronic mail, banking and travel reservations. Modems allow programs and data to be transmitted locally or around the world.Free Conference Calls

THE PRINTER

Printer is a device that produces written images (numbers, alphabets, graphs, etc) on the paper. After a document been created on a Computer, you can send it to a printer fro a hard copy , generally known as a print out.

Google yesterday opened a new front in its push into the mobile phone business with the launch of an online store to sell handsets and service from operators on both sides of the Atlantic.

However, it disappointed recent feverish anticipation that it was also about to launch the first purpose-built "Google phone" to compete head-on with Apple's ground-breaking iPhone.

Instead, it revealed a new device made by Taiwan manufacturer HTC which, while displaying the Google brand far more prominently than other handsets, does not break new ground.

The online Google phone store will sell the handset with service from Vodafone in the UK and Verizon Wireless in the US immediately, but will quickly be expanded to include more handsets, mobile operators and countries, Google executives said.

The early test countries, which also include Singapore and Hong Kong, are only the "first baby steps" in a global push, said Andy Rubin, head of the Google mobile software efforts.

Google's move into online retailing marks its latest attempt to change the ground rules in the mobile business and to stimulate mobile internet use to boost its search advertising business.

However, analysts questioned whether its online store would be a hit with consumers. Buyers usually want to try out a new phone before buying one, making online sales a small market, said Ken Dulaney, an analyst at Gartner.

But Google said it hoped to simplify the buying process for consumers and reduce costs for mobile companies. At present, most mobile phone marketing in the US is backed by expensive TV advertising, and this could be made more efficient if it moved online, Mr Rubin said.

The new HTC phone, known as Nexus One, includes new software enhancements and online applications that Google hopes will build demand for its technology and steal thunder from the iPhone. The features include voice-recognition software, so that users can dictate emails and other instructions without using the on-screen keyboard.

The launch led to talk that Google was set to release its own handset to compete with Apple, as well as groups such as Motorola that already sell their own handsets with versions of the Google software.

Repeating earlier statements that Google was not planning to get into the handset business, Mr Rubin said: "I said Google won't build hardware. We're software guys, we're internet guys."