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The Impact of Computers

Computers are commonly used items in many areas. It is an important thing to people, especially the people who run organizations, industry, etc. . . Almost anything you know is run or made by computers. Cars and jets were designed on computers, traffic signals are run by computers, most medical equipment use computers and space exploration was started with computers. Most of the jobs today require the use of computers. These 'mechanical brains' made a huge impact on our society. It would be hard if we didn't have the computer around.




Let's visualize for a minute. Let's visualize a world without computers. People in the medical field wouldn't have have found a lot of cures to diseases, since most cures were found with the help of computers. Movies like Jurassic Park, Toy Story, A Bug's Life or Godzilla would never have been made without computers because they used computer graphics and animation in them. Pharmacies would have a hard time keeping track with what medications to give to patience. Counting votes would be impossible without computers and most importantly, space exploration wouldn't be possible without the help of computers. It's a pretty tough life without computers. Some may not agree and say, "Well, we don't need computers to live on." They maybe right but mostly, they are wrong. Computers help in curing diseases, make entertainment a lot better, keep track of important records, etc. . . Without computers, all this wouldn't be possible.

History of the Computer

Computers weren't as technological and complex like the ones we know. Early computers didn't use chips or monitors. They weren't as small nor big like the ones today. Back in the early 1600 to 1800s, people had theories,plans, or ideas of making a device that could do complex problems and mathematics so that they wouldn't keep writing down problems and solve them manually. They wanted a device that could add and subtract. Many of them started building such a device. They called this device the calculator or computer, since it calculates. The first digital calculator which could add and subtract was made by Blaise Pascal, a famous mathematican. Many more people had their own versions of the calculator as well. Pretty soon, many calculators/computers were being made.


As years passed by, newer calculators or computers were being invented one after the other. In 1671, Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibnitz invented a small computer, not the advanced technolical ones, that could add and multiply. Soon after, Charles Xavier Thomas built a newer calculator that could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. His invention was the first to become commercially succesful. Most inventions and their inventors were inspirations to other people and wanted to continue their work and improve the calculator/computer their way. To the right is Gottfried Wilheim von Leibnitz, one of the great inventors of the first calculator that could add and multiply. Image came from http://www.maxmon.com/1670ad.htm.



Probably one of the first complex computer that was an important part of the computer's history was ENIAC, Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer/Calculator. This computer was big. It took a large room to fit this big computer in. ENIAC could do thousands of calculations, which it was made for. It was made by Presper Eckert, John W. Maulchy, and their associates. ENIAC was made during World War II so it was also used to calculate movement and strategies for the military during the war. It was very helpful for the Allied forces, especially America, during WWII. Computers have a long history to explain. Many scientists, inventors and computer technicians worked hard to make the computer and that hard work paid off. All the people who helped make the computer went down in history for doing so. The computer helped out the world a lot. You will see how in the next section.


The Major Impact

Computers changed the world a lot. It helped man step forward into the future. Thanks to computers, space exploraation came true, new designs of vehicles and other trasportaion were made, entertainment became more entertaining, medical science made more cures for diseases, etc. . . The computers impacted our lives in many ways. You may not notice it but they did make life a lot easier. Without computers, the world would be a harder place to live in. Thanks to the computers, everyday life is easier for us. Some people may disagree but most wouldn't. Some people say that computers are taking away man power. That maybe true but computers did make the impossible possible.

Computers impacted many items in today's society. One area the computer impacted on is the business area. Business uses computers for keeping track of accounts, money, or items that they need. You may notice business people using computers a lot, especially the laptop computers, portable computers that can be taken to your work area. You may see people use things like pie-charts and graphs when they present information to other business people in meetings. Most of those charts were made by computers. The business field uses the computers a lot for their companies and organizations.


Another area computers impacted on is the entertainment area. Most of the people out there like science fiction or action movies, especially the ones with the neat looking effects. Well, those graphics were mostly made by computers. Most of the movies today use computer graphics to make things more realistic but not real. Computer graphics are mostly used on spaceships, aliens, monsters, and special effects. To the left is a picture from the movie "Godzilla." Godzilla was created by computer animation, texturing, and graphics to make him more realistic then the older version when they used a man in a costume to play godzilla. This wasn't the only movie made with computers. Movies like Jurassic Park, Wing Commander, Starship Troopers, Star Wars SE, and the latest Star Trek Movies used computers to make them look more interesting and realistic. There are even movies completely made by computers like Toy Story and A Bugs' Life.


Not only movies used computer animations and graphics. Games on the latest game consoles like the PC, Playstation and Nintendo 64 used the computers to make the coolest games ever. Of course all of you heard of the game Final Fantasy VII. It was the first Final Fantasy game to have a 3D environment and neat computer animation. It was a big money-making seller. Games now and days use computer graphics and animations to make the coolest games. Computer games also have their share. Wing Commander Prophecy, Shogo and all the other new 3D games were made by really cool computer graphics. It would be really boring without all this wouldn't you think? That's how computers impacted today's entertainment.

Education was impacted by computers as well. Computers help out students in a lot of today's projects and essays. If a student were to do an essay on the planet Saturn, they could look in an electronic encyclopedia in the computer or they could look up their topic on the internet. They could also type their essays and reports on what's called a word-processing program. This program allows you to type anything out from a school essay to business papers. You can make your paper look very neat by adding images and neat looking text to impress your teacher. Now and days, typing out essays and reports are mandatory, especially in High School. Computers help students in any way they need, researching, typing, searching, etc. . . Teachers use computers as well. They use computers to keep track of grades, type out instruction for their students, and to let students use the computer for school purposes.

An important field computers impacted on is the medical field. The computers helped the hospitals out very much. In pharmacies, the pharmacists use computers to keep a record of what medication to give to a patient and the amount they need. Most computers in the hospital are used to keep data of patience and their status. Computers also keep track of equipment placement and status as well. Scientists need the help of computers to find cures for diseases that need cures like cancer and STDs. Without the computers help, cures for a lot of diseases woudn't have been found. Computer helped the medical area a lot and we are greatful for that since they keep track of our health. Other areas the computer impacted on is space exploration and designs of transportation.

Summary

Computers helped the world a lot and helped us take a large step into the future. Businesses and entertainment uses them to make profits, Education uses them to help educate students better, the Medical field uses computers in amny different ways, and other areas. Without the computers help, none of this would be possible. The world would be a dull and primitave place. No cures for diseases, ne good entertainment, less transportaion, etc. . . You see how the computers changed today's society? It changed society it a lot. You may think that the computer didn't impact you. If you play computer or playstation games, if you watch the latest movies like Wing Commander, or you did research on a topic for your school on computer, you were affected by the computer. Everyone was impacted by this remarkable device.



Annotated Bibliography

Primary Sources:
none
Secondary Sources:
-Nick Lemons. Computers Impact on Education, Business, Entertainment, history and future, and the Private Sector. [Online]. Site: http://english.ttu.edu/courses/1302/fall97/castner62/NKCHome.html This website explains a lot about the computers impact on different areas such as business, entertainment, education, etc. . . This is a great place to go to for information on my topic on computers. It also explains how the computer impacted my lifeand other people's lives in areas their interested in.

-Alfred Lewis. The New World of Computers. Dodd, Mead, and Company, New York, 1965. This book is a really good source. It explained lots of information about the computers impact on world on different areas like Space Exploration, traffic, etc. . . This book helped me gather information on my topic of the impact of computers on these areas.

-Roger C. Schank and Peter G. Childers. The Cognitive Computer. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Inc., Workingham, Berkshire, Amsterdam, Don Mills, Ontario Sydney, 1984. I wasn't able to get much out of this book but with the information I gathered, it's a pretty good source. It explains the computers impact on our lives from the past to today.

-Swanson, Robert. "Computers." Grolier Incorporated. Academic American Encyclopedia. Volume 5, Deluxe Library Edition. This encyclopedia, like all encyclopedias, is a good source to go to but not really on my topic. It mostly explains the history of the computer, not the impact of the computers. Only a bit is given.


Links

Computers Impact on Education, Business, Entertainment, history and future, and the private sector
The Inventors Hall of Fame
The NASA Office of Technology Transfer