Uses of Computers
What are the practical applications of a computer? Whether they are used for communication, financial transactions, gathering of information, complex calculations and transportation - these are the times when we definitely cannot subsist without them.
Computers can be used in many ways. Below is a list of several ways where computers are used.
1. Computers are used for communication. The internet is one of the greatest inventions. The increasing bandwidth and overall telecommunications infrastructure is being harnessed by computers nowadays. There are many great communication tools on the computer like VOIP or voice over internet protocol, IM or instant messaging, and the classic e-mail or electronic mail. All your mobile phones also run on complex microprocessors. Whenever you make a call to another person using your mobile phone, you are using a tiny handheld computer.
2. Computers are used for financial transactions. E-commerce has been a critical success factor in businesses today. The "e-tailer" giants like Ebay and Amazon have made the most out of the e-commerce capabilities of the internet. They have made big money selling and trading all kinds of goods over the internet. Traditional companies are also using the e-commerce capabilities of the internet today. You can go online shopping at classic clothing companies like Ralph Lauren on their website.
www.polo.com, shopping at the Ralph Lauren website is like shopping at one of their actual retail outlets. You will be able to see the clothes right on your screen.
3. Computers are used to find answers. If you want to know anything then all you have to do is use a search engine like Yahoo or Google. Simply type in what you want to learn and a list of results will come out. Online encyclopedias like Wikipedia are also a great source of information. Users update the information on this encyclopedia so you are guaranteed that the information is always up to date. If you would like to get your hands on CD ROMs or DVD ROMs that have multimedia features then you can get a copy of Microsoft Encarta.
4. Computers are used for leisure and recreation. There are so many computer games out there. In fact, the computer game industry is making a lot more money than the movie industry already. Gaming titles like Halo and Warcraft are sweeping the entertainment industry by storm. If you love games then you should certainly invest in a high powered computer. All the appliances that you use to entertain yourselves like your television, your stereo system, and your DVD players run on a computer. The popular iPod by Apple runs on a computer too. If you want to keep yourself amused then you should have computers around you.
5. Computers are used for complex calculations. In large multinational corporations, it is already impossible to do all the calculations by hand. If you want to calculate how much was spent on transportation, representation, etcetera for a company that operates in forty cities worldwide, then you may be overwhelmed without a computer. Computers are needed to make these calculations. In scientific laboratories, using a computer to calculate the age of rocks or the age of a fossil is necessary.
6. Computers are used for transportation. If you are wondering what keeps the airplanes in order or the traffic lights synchronized then the answer is the computer and the administrators. The control tower in an airport does many of the complex calculations when it decides which planes should land and which planes should take off. Computers in cars are also very important. Mercedes-Benz vehicles run on computers.
www.mercedes-benz.com, You can take a look at many of the high tech vehicles produced by Mercedes-Benz on their official company website. Owning a high tech vehicle is certainly one of the great pleasures in life nowadays.
7. Computers are used for discovery. Space is a frontier that man has to conquer. All the satellites and rockets that are launched into space are run by humans that are using complex computers. It would be very difficult to set the correct path from earth to Pluto. If you have a computer then things become much simpler. The space station that is orbiting earth now has many complex computers that are used for research, navigation, and life support.
8. Computers are used in medicine. In order to find cures for complex sicknesses like cancer and AIDS, computers have to be used. Doctors use complex equipment such as lasers and ultrasound to cure their patients. Without computers, many sicknesses will be able to take away the lives of human beings. Come to think of it, computers actually save lives.
9. Computers are used in promoting justice and safety. In certain criminal cases, computers have to be used to solve crimes. Using computers to match fingerprints with suspects or using computers to analyze evidence are crucial in several criminal investigations. Computers are also used to fight crime and terrorism. The central intelligence agencies are using computers to make sure all the information critical to national and international safety is utilized.
10. Computers are used in politics and governance. In an election, in order to count the number of votes nationwide, electronic counters are needed. Computers are also used to calculate the odds of winning or losing against certain parties. If you want to use the computer to manage a city in terms of residential, commercial, and industrial zoning then you can do that too.
11. Computers are used in war. Several generals believe that knowledge is power. With computers, you make your knowledge much better. You calculate odds of winning faster. You manage your resources smarter. You deploy your troops efficiently. You target the weakest points of your opponent. You edge in winning a war are made better with the use of computers.
There are many more uses of computers. Can you think of more uses aside from those mentioned here?
