Advantages And Disadvantages of Computers That You Should Know!

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Consider being assigned a task that requires you to locate the population of a particular country, say India. You would need to compile the results, but there is no such thing as a computer. That may seem impossible, but it was one of the issues that the world faced in the past. Simple problems require a great deal of time and storage space to solve. Then what occurred? The computer was invented to make human life easier.

Charles Babbage invented the components for the modern computer in 1833. However, it was not until 120 years later that the first 'modern' computer was invented. ENIAC was the first digital computer to be programmable, electronic, and general-purpose. It made its world debut on 15th February 1946. It had a floor area of 1,800 square feet and weighed 30 tons! The transition from such bulky devices to slim laptops took time, but it has significantly altered human life in the modern world.

What Is A Computer?

The word computer is derived from the Latin word 'computare', which means to calculate. Thus, a computer is defined as a programmable electronic device capable of retrieving, storing, and processing data.

A computer is a device that can be programmed to perform specific tasks. It consists of hardware and software. Hardware includes the processor, memory, hard drive, keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, printer, etc. The software includes applications, operating systems, browsers, games, etc.

Computers are of three types. These include:

1. Analog Computer
2. Digital Computer
3. Hybrid Computer

What Are The Advantages Of Computers?

The computer has become a necessity in our lives. It is the best way to communicate with people all around the world. We can easily access information from anywhere at any time. The computer also helps us to learn new things. Below listed are the major advantages of computers.

1. High Speed

One of the reasons for the improvement in the quality of life is the personal computer's speed. The modern computer offers great speed, helping us to do our tasks within a matter of seconds. Let's say you want to watch a video. You'll just go to YouTube and find the required video within seconds.

2. Accuracy

Humans make errors. Hence, while performing complex calculations, we check once with the calculator. The fact that computers are extremely accurate makes them quite reliable. You'll trust the information or answers that a calculator gives just due to its accuracy. 

3. Automation

A lot of tasks can be automated, saving a lot of time. For example, instead of manually calculating some values like the mean or median of a large dataset, we just use Excel. This saves a lot of time, ensuring 100% accuracy.

4. Storage

The storage capacity of computers is usually in Giga-Bytes (GBs) or more. We can store videos, images, games, etc., on our computers and access them easily after downloading them. 

5. Ease of Access

Let's say we have to search for a book in a library, and we don't know anything except the name of the book. It would be an arduous task. But, on a computer, just type the name of the file, and voila! This ease of access provided by our personal computer contributes towards saving our time and efforts.

6. Multitasking

Multitasking means working on multiple tasks simultaneously. Suppose you read an article online and you need to write down the meanings of the words that are unfamiliar. You can search on Google, note down the meaning on a Word file, and continue reading the article. This is one example of multitasking offered by computers.

7. Better understanding of data

A computer supports a lot of tools for data analysis and mining. Organizations make use of the benefit of computers to support data analysis and visualization helpful for decision making.

8. Reduced Cost for Online Ventures

Affordable computers and laptops with internet connectivity are a boon for start-ups that function online. It lowers the cost by reducing infrastructure, inventory, and rent expenses. All that they need is a team with laptops and internet connectivity, along with a software license relevant to their industry. 

Did You Know?

1. The first electronic computer weighed more than 27 tons.
2. The first computer mouse was made up of wood.
3. The typewriter is the longest word you can type using only one of the rows of a computer's keyboard.
4. Popularly known as Windows, it was earlier called "Interface Manager".
5. The first 1GB hard disk drive weighed about 550 pounds and had a price tag of $40,000.
6. The first hard drive could only hold 5MB of data.
7. Computer viruses were originally used to protect research information.
8. ENIAC was the first electronic computer.
9. Along with HTML and CSS, JavaScript is one of the three primary web development languages used on computers.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Computers?

Computers are great tools, but they have their disadvantages too. They can be slow, unreliable, and expensive. They also require constant maintenance and upgrades.

1. Online Cyber-Crimes

As with any device, cyber crimes occur on computers. Data stealing is one of the major threats in the world of computers. It may occur online or via an offline removable device like a USB.

2. Health-Issues

Prolonged use of personal computers results in many health-related issues. Eye strain, headache, back pain, etc. are some of them.

3. Fake News

Computers enable a wide array of data-sharing options. But, this becomes a medium for the spread of spurious news. Many cases are there when fake news is shared among people using messaging apps.

4. E-waste

The use of computers is nothing but a form of e-waste. They contribute negatively by releasing harmful toxic materials. Additionally, computers are not easy to dispose of. 

5. Lack of Concentration and Irritation

Multitasking makes our lives easier, but it comes with its disadvantages. We try to focus on multiple tasks and notifications. This leads to a decrease in attention span and a lack of concentration on one particular task. Also, addictive games played on the computer contribute to irritability when not allowed to play.

Application Of Computers

A computer has a processor, memory, storage devices, input/output devices, and other components that allow it to perform these functions. The machine has its presence in every domain. Be it Finance, IT, Healthcare, or Gaming, a computer is ubiquitous. 

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