Computer as a boon

Gone are the days when things used to be written manually. Now everything is done with a click. One of the greatest advances in modern technology has been the invention of computers. Today the computer has become the cornerstone of our industrial and scientific development. Now there is hardly any sphere of human life where computers have not been pressed in to service of man. We are heading fast towards the day when a computer will be as much part of man’s daily life as a telephone or a calculator. Initially, when computers were invented, they were looked upon as something that would reduce dependence on humans and make things easy and fast for everyone. But instead of reducing dependence on humans, we have shifted the dependence on computers.

Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches. They can solve the most complex mathematical problems or put thousands of unrelated facts in order. The computer is not a magical device. It possesses no IQ or intelligence of its own. Only the user can determine what task a computer will perform. A computer can’t take any decision on its own until it is programmed to do so. The whole process by which machines can be used to work for us has been called ‘ automation ’. In the future, automation may enable humans to experience more leisure than they do today. Some years ago, an expert on automation, Sir Lein Bagrit, pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that these machines could ‘think’. There is no possibility that human beings will be ‘controlled by machines’. They can never lead lives or ‘rule the world’ by making decisions on their own.

Characteristics of computers:

• SPEED:- Computer is a fast working device. While talking about the speed of a computer, the unit of speed is not the seconds or milliseconds but microseconds or nanoseconds.
• ACCURACY:- The accuracy of computers is unparalleled or unchallengeable. Each calculation is performed with the same accuracy.
• DILIGENCE:- 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.
• VERSATILITY:- Versatility is one of the most wonderful characteristics of a computer. All that is required to give appropriate instruction to the computer. A computer is capable of performing almost any task without getting irritated, provided the task should be reduced to a series of logical steps.
• MEMORY:- 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 characteristics, computers have ushered in all aspects of business, science, research, and the daily routine of a man. The most complicated medical operations, the most complex scientific calculations, have 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, has become possible with the help of computers.
• Shortcomings: But every invention has its merits and demerits, and the computer is no exception. The computer can’t make any judgment on its own. The judge Element is based on the instructions given to it by the user. Although man has succeeded in building a memory for the computer no computer possesses the equivalent o a human heart. A computer can’t judge the good or bad effects of its decision. As already mentioned, a computer can perform the work with such accuracy and speed 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 of computers, the IT industry has generated a good number of employment opportunities on the other.

There’s a prediction that computers would be developed which would be small enough to carry in the pocket. Computers could be plugged into a national network and be used like radios. It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people who do not share a common language to talk to each other without any difficulty. It is because of computers and the internet, that today we can book our travel tickets and pay our bills from the comfort of our home rather than standing in long queues and wasting time. Everything related to education is found easily on the internet. By utilizing the computer we can know various things about education and other things. So in the education field computers help people to spend cozy life. Computers have solved the most challenging problems like energy crisis, cancer research, water purification, and helped man to explore space, ocean…There is so much information available on the internet and there are so many ways a computer can be used. There is no dearth for learning. But how many of us try to learn new things on the computer each day?

Yes, indeed, computers helped mankind to solve many crucial problems, on the other side, it has put the world on the verge of destruction. Despite that, it is not at all the fault of the computers themselves. It is a machine that obeys the orders of the user, therefore, the fault lies with the user. Hence, it is not wrong to say that computer as a technology is not a bad thing. But it is up to us humans, who use it, to make the best possible use of it. If we are going to derive knowledge out of it, we will get the same, but if we choose to derive negative things out of it, that is what we will get.