Internet and Networking

Computers have been used to coordinate information between multiple locations since the 1950s. The U.S. military's SAGE system was the first large-scale example of such a system, which led to a number of special-purpose commercial systems like Sabre.

In the 1970s, computer engineers at research institutions throughout the United States began to link their computers together using telecommunications technology. This effort was funded by ARPA (now DARPA), and the computer network that it produced was called the ARPANET.The technologies that made the Arpanet possible spread and evolved.

In time, the network spread beyond academic and military institutions and became known as the Internet. The emergence of networking involved a redefinition of the nature and boundaries of the computer. Computer operating systems and applications were modified to include the ability to define and access the resources of other computers on the network, such as peripheral devices, stored information, and the like, as extensions of the resources of an individual computer. Initially these facilities were available primarily to people working in high-tech environments, but in the 1990s the spread of applications like e-mail and the World Wide Web, combined with the development of cheap, fast networking technologies like Ethernet and ADSL saw computer networking become almost ubiquitous. In fact, the number of computers that are networked is growing phenomenally. A very large proportion of personal computers regularly connect to the Internet to communicate and receive information. "Wireless" networking, often utilizing mobile phone networks, has meant networking is becoming increasingly ubiquitous even in mobile computing environments.

History of a Computer

Abacus:
The earliest device that qualifies as a computer is the abacus. The abacus was invented 5000 years ago in Asia Minor and is still in use today. This device allows user to calculate by sliding beads arranged on a rack.

John Napier (1550-1617):
John Napier was a Scottish mathematician. He made the first manual calculating device after abacus. It was called John Napier's bone or cardboard multiplication calculator. In addition to multiplication this machine was also used to square roots and cube roots.

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662):
In 1642 Blaise Pascal, the 18 year old son of a French tax collector invented a numerical wheel calculator to help his father in calculation. The device was known as "Pascaline" and was only able to add two numbers.

Barron Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz (1646-1716):
In 1694, a German Philosopher and mathematician Barron Gottfried made some improvements in Pascal's machine. He added the future of multiplication and division. The machine was able to perform these operations by using repeated additions and subtractions. Leibniz's mechanical multiplier worked by a system of gears and dials.

Charles Xavier Thomas De Clomar (1785-1870):
Charles Xavier a Frenchman invented a machine in 1820 that could perform the four basic arithmetic functions. This machine was called as Arithmometer.

Charles Babbage (1791-1871):
An English mathematician Professor Charles Babbage made a "Difference Engine" in 1833, which was powered by steam to solve mathematical equations. After 10 years, in1842 he made a general purpose computer named "Analytical engine". This machine could add, subtract, multiply and divide in automatic sequence at a rate of 60 additions per second.

Joseph Marie Jacquard (1752-1834):
In 1801 a French silk weaver and inventor Joseph Marie invented the Jacquard loom. Jacquard's loom was controlled by the recorded patterns of holes in a string of cards.

Lady Ada Augusta Lovelace (1816-1852):
Lady Ada Augusta was a English woman. Charles Babbage was her ideal. She was called a first programmer because of her suggestions that punched cards could be prepared to instruct Babbage's Engine to repeat certain operations.

George Boole (1815-1864):
George Boole clarified the binary system of the Algebra, that any mathematical equation could be stated either true or false.

Herman Hollerith (1862-1929):
In 1890, an American inventor Herman Hollerith applied the idea of punch boards in the form of punch cards in computers for input and output. He invented a punched card and tabulating machine.

Dr. John V. Atanasoff and Clifford E. Berry(1903-1995):
In 1939 Dr. John, a professor at Iowa State University and his graduate student Clifford assembled a prototype of ABC (Atanasoff and Berry Computer) to save time for calculation. A working model of ABC was finished in 1942. He made an electronic computer that applied Boolean algebra to computer circuitry.

Characteristics of a Computer

Following are the important characteristics of a computer:

• Speed
  
• Accuracy
  
• Data storage
  
• Efficiency
  
• Automation

Speed: Computer is a very fast speed device. The speed of a computer is normally measured in milliseconds, microseconds, nanoseconds and pico seconds. Computer can do the amount of work in a few seconds that a human being does in an entire year.

Accuracy: Performing a task exactly as it was instructed is called accuracy. The accuracy of a computer is always high and the degree of accuracy of a particular computer depends upon its design. But for a particular computer, each and every calculation is performed with the same accuracy.

Data Storage: As human being acquire new knowledge, the brain subconsciously selects what it feels to be important and worth retaining in its memory and relegates unimportant details to the back of the mind or just forgets them

Efficiency: Efficiency is one of the most wonderful things about the computer. Computer can perform multiple tasks simultaneously. For example preparation of the result of examination, communicating on network and retrieval of information etc.

Automation: Computer can repeat any operation for more than once with a single instruction. Once instruction set is fed, then it can work automatically without the intervention of human being e.g ATM, which is used in banking for deposits and withdrawal of cash

Uses of a computer

There are some uses of computer which are as follows:

• We can store data in a computer and retrieve stored data when we needed.
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  We can send messages to our friends, relatives and family anywhere in the world by connecting computer with internet.
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  Defense department of a country relies heavily on computer technologies such as surveillance, firing of missiles etc.
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  Computer technology can be used in performing different routine tasks in offices.
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  Computer can play a vital role in the advancement of science and technology.
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  Computers are very helpful in academic and vocational trainings.
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  Students can prepare their projects, assignments and research thesis by using this device.
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  Computer aided learning cannot replace the teacher but it helps the students to get training whenever and wherever they want.
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  Medical Sciences and biotechnology are using computers to diagnose the diseases of patients in hospitals.
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  Computers can be used for recreational purposes such as playing games etc.
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  Marketing applications help managers to analyze and develop strategies.
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  Computerized banking provides several benefits such as save the time and convenience for customer.

What is Computer?

Definitions:
The "Computer" is derived from the word "Compute", which means to calculate. So a computer is normally considered to be a calculating device that can perform arithmetic and logical operations at a very fast speed.ORA Computer is an electronic device that can accept data, process it and give results after that processing and which can also communicate with the outer world.
Explanation:
The computer revolution is transforming the way we communicate, do business and learn. This technological revolution is having a profound impact on the business community and on our private and professional lives. Businessman is now relying on computer to keep the documents in soft form. In this way he is very comfortable to keep them where ever he go and confident on the reliability of documents. Document management systems are widely implemented in many multinational organizations to have a paperless environment. It lowers down the cost of doing business activities in the form of paper based files.