A computer is a machine with an int

A computer is a machine with an intricate network of electronic circuits that operate
switches or magnetize tiny metal cores. The I switches, like the cores, are capable of being in one
of two possible I states, that is, on or off; magnetized or demagnetized. The machine is capable of
storing and manipulating numbers, letters, and characters.The basic idea of a computer is that we
can make the machine do what we want by inputting signals that turn certain switches on and turn
others off, or that magnetize or do not magnetize the cores.
The basic job of computers is the processing of information. For this reason, computer can
be defined as devices which accept information in the form of instructions called a program and
characters called data, perform mathematical and/or logical operations on the information, and
then supply results of these operations. The program, or part of it, which tells the computers what
to do and the data, which provide the information needed to solve the problem, are kept inside the
computer in a place called memory.
Computers are thought to have many remarkable powers. However, most computers,
whether large or small have three basic capabilities. First, computers have circuits for performing
arithmetic operations, such as: addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and exponentiation.
Second, computers have a means of communicating with the user. After all, if we couldn't feed
information in and get results back, these machines wouldn't be of much use. However,. certain
computers (commonly minicomputers and microcomputers) are used to control directly things
such as robots, aircraft navigation systems, medical instruments, etc.
Some of the most common methods of inputting information are to use punched cards,
magnetic tape, disks, and terminals. The computer's input device (which might be a card reader, a
tape drive or disk drive, depending on the medium used in inputting information) reads
theinformation into the computer.
For outputting infonnation, two common devices used are a printer which prints the new
information on paper, or a CRT display screen which shows the results on a TV-like screen.
Third, computers have circuits which can make decisions. The kinds of decisions which
computer circuits can make are not of the type: "Who would win a war between two countries?"
or "Who is the richest person in the world?" Unfortunately, the computer can only decide three
things, named: Is one number less than another? Are two numbers equal? and, Is one number
greater than another?
A computer can solve a series of problems and make hundreds, even thousands, of logical
decisions without becoming tired or bored. It can find the solution to a problem in a fraction of the
time it takes a human being to do the job. A computer can replace people in dull, routine tasks, but
it has no originality; it works according to the instructions given to it and cannot exercise any
value judgements. There are times when a computer seems to operate like a mechanical "brain",
but its achievements are limited by the minds of human beings. A computer cannot do anything
unless a person tells it what to do and gives it the appropriate infonnation; but because electric
pulses can move at the speed of light, a computer can carry out vast numbers of arithmeticlogical
operations almost instantaneously. A person can do everything a computer can do, but in many
cases that person would be dead long before the job was finished.