Essays

"Computer is not a magical device. It possesses no I.Q. or intelligence of its own. Its I. Q. is zero. It has to be told what to perform and in what sequence. Hence only the user can determine what task a computer will perform. A computer can't take any decision at its own until it is programmed to do so. These are some mechanical efficiency of the computers, but in addition to these technical flaws, the invention of computer has adversely affected the human function, the social economic fabric of the nations."

Today hardly any comer of our life is left unaffected by the computers. In [ schools, banks, shops, hospitals, restaurants, post offices, government offices. railway or bus reservation counters, travel companies and all such utility service departments, we find the computers working everywhere.

For the last two decades, the world seems to have undergone a computer revolution. Initially, computers were designed to solve the complicated scientific problems, but now-a-days, computers are becoming indispensable day-by-day. Necessity is the mother of invention, the saying holds true for computers, as it was initially invented for fast and accurate calculations. The word computer comes from the word "Compute", that means to calculate. So a computer was normally considered to be a calculating device that can perform arithmetic calculations at an enormous speed and with perfect accuracy. But now-a-days more than 80% of the work done by computers is of non-mathematical or non-numerical nature. Hence to define a computer merely a calculating machine does not hold good in present day situation. To be correct and more precise, a computer may be defined as a device that operates upon information or data. The fact that the computers process data is so fundamental that many people have started calling it a data processor. The name data processor is more comprehensive as it covers not only the computing work but also performs other functions with the data like, processing, merging, sorting, printing etc.

Today the computer has become cornerstone of our industrial and scientific development. The computers have shrank the world into a room. In all walks of life from manufacturing of a small item, to exploration of ocean and space, computers are being used extensively. Robots are being used in study of volcanoes in space research, in medical science, remotely commanded by the computers. This omnipotent device has taken entry into such diverse areas like sports, agriculture, medicine, business, space, ocean that has become an indispensable gadget.   

Is computer a boon or a bane ?

No works of an or any great scripture or the Shakespearean tragedies have had so spasmodic effect on human society than the computer, making the present world totally dependent on it. Rightly said by someone that since the existence of human earth, it has never encountered anything as complex and ingeniously design, as computer. ^Computer is a person, unable to walk, but its mind transcend the barriers of space", retorted Dr. Stephen. It is indeed an example of the excellence of human mind, which had done wonders and made the creator himself slave to a great extent.

 Characteristics of Computers :

SPEED:- Computer is such a fast working device, that can perform in record the amount of work that a human being can't think of doing it manually. A computer does in one minute, what a man cannot even imagine. A powerful computer is capable of performing about 3 to 4 million simple arithmetic operations per second. While talking about the speed of a computer, the unit of speed are not the seconds or the milliseconds but microseconds (10'") or nanoseconds (10') or the picoseconds (10-12)

ACCURACY :- The accuracy of the computers is unparalleled or unchallengeable. Each calculation is performed with same accuracy. Error may occur in a computer, but errors are not due to wrong calculations done by the computer but due wrong instruction given by the user.

DILIGENCE: - Unlike human being, a computer is totally free from monotony tiredness, lack of concentration, boredom etc. So a computer can work regularly for any longer period of time, without creating any error and without feeling boredom or monotonousness. Due to this characteristic, a computer surely score over beings in doing outline jobs with accuracy and speed. What man or any good numbers of persons can't do in years altogether with such accuracy and without getting bore can be done by a computer in minutes.

VERSATILITY :- Versatility is one of the most wonderful characteristics a computer. At one moment it is preparing electricity bills the next movement it can generate result of university and the next moment it can trace an important file. All that is required to give appropriate instruction to the computer. A computer is capable, provided the task should be reduced to a series of logical steps.

MEMORY :- As soon as a human being acquires new knowledge, the brain subconsciously selects what he feels to be important and worth retaining in him memory and relegates unimportant details to the back of the mind or just thrown that out of memory. While such is not a case with computer. It can store and recall any amount of information because of its secondary storage capability. Every piece of information can be retained as long as desired by the user and can be recalled as and when required. Even after several years the information recalled will be as accurate as on the day it was fed into the computer.

With such important and wonderful characteristic computers has ushered in all aspects of business, science, research and daily routine of a man. Sitting here one is able to communicate with one's kith and kin sitting millions mile away. Computers regarded as a work of its own and within. The most complicated medical operations, the most complexes scientific calculations, has become very easy with the invention of computers. The discovery of new planets, stars, man's approach to Saturn, Mars, Moon and exploration of hitherto hidden secrets of space, have become possible with the help of computers.

Short comings:

But every invention has its merits and demerits, and so the computer is no exception. Computer is a device having no feelings. It is devoid of emotions and instincts as it is simply a machine, have no soul or heart. Computer can't make any judgment at its own. The judgment is based on the instructions given to it by the user. Although man has succeeded in building a memory for the computer but no computer possesses the equivalent of a human heart. A computer can't judge good or bad effects of its decision.

Moreover computer is not a magical device. It processes no I.Q. or intelligence of its own. Its I.Q. is zero. It has to be told what to perform and in what sequence. Hence only the user can determine what task a computer will perform. A computer can't take any decision at its own unless it is programmed to do so. These are some mechanical deficiency of the computers, but in addition to these technical flaws, the invention of computer has adversely affected the human life, the social economic fabric of the nations.

As already mentioned, a computer can perform the work with such accuracy and speed any any person can't perform even in years. The problem of unemployment faced by so many countries including India is further worsened by the use of computers in various offices and departments where one side the requirement of manpower is decreased with the use computers, the IT industry has generated a good number of employment opportunities on the other.

 The invention of nuclear weapons, most destructive in nature, warships, space ships have been made possible with the invention of computers. Had there been no computers, the world of today would not have been on the climax of destruction. Push of one button can destroy any country and is sufficient to destroy the millions and billions of innocent people. Today the so called developed countries are using the computers, busy in inventing newer technology of modem war fare. The use of missiles, dropping of nuclear bombs, destroying the basic amenities, communication system of any nation has become so easy that they have started using them for their aggrandizement of their imperialistic motives.

Yes. indeed, the computers on the one side helped the mankind to solve many crucial problems, on the other side it has put the world at the verge of destruction spite of that it is not at all the fault of the computers itself. It is a machine which obeys of the orders of the user, therefore, fault lies with the user not with the computer

Summarily computers has solved most challenging problems like energy crisis a cancer research, water purification, and helped man to explore the space, ocean and other hidden secrets of the universe. The computer is a boon or a bane depends, on its use. If used for the evil purpose benefits of the mankind it is a boon, if used for it is a bane. Remember the story of Alladin and genie, genie obeys order of Alladin whether wrong or right, good or bad, in the same way, the computer obeys the orders and instructions of its user.

Vocabulary

1. deficiency—inadequacy, insufficiency. 2. comprehensive—fullness, including all everything. 3. cornerstone—basis, foundation, the Fundamental assumptions underlying an explanation. 4, exploration—geographic expedition, a careful systematic sea 5. omnipotent—almighty, all-powerful. 6. spasmodic—convulsive, fitful. Spas 7. transcends—exceeds, oversteps, surpasses. 8. boredom—the feeling of being by something tedious, ennui, tedium. 9. versatility—skillfulness, having a wide van of skills. 10. relegates—refer to another, banishes, kicks downstairs.11. invention conception, innovation. 12. conclude—bring to a close, reason.13. weapons—a ma of persuading or arguing, artilleries.14. sufficient—of a quantity that can fulfill a if or requirement but without being abundant. 15. aggrandizement—elevation 16. destruction—an event that destroys something, demolition, devastation 17. purification—cleaning by getting rid of impurities, cleansing, purge.18. mankind all of the inhabitants of the earth, human beings, humanity.