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What is a Computer

A computer is a device that aids in computations, with modern electronic computers performing operations at high speed, accuracy, and efficiency. They can execute repetitive tasks, store large amounts of data, and make logical decisions based on programmed instructions. However, computers cannot generate information independently or correct erroneous instructions, relying on human input for accuracy.

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12 views2 pages

What is a Computer

A computer is a device that aids in computations, with modern electronic computers performing operations at high speed, accuracy, and efficiency. They can execute repetitive tasks, store large amounts of data, and make logical decisions based on programmed instructions. However, computers cannot generate information independently or correct erroneous instructions, relying on human input for accuracy.

Uploaded by

marilyn monfero
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is a Computer?

In its most basic form a computer is any device which aids humans in performing various
kinds of computations or calculations. In that respect the earliest computer was the abacus,
used to perform basic arithmetic operations.

Every computer supports some form of input, processing, and output. This is less obvious on
a primitive device such as the abacus where input, output and processing are simply the act
of moving the pebbles into new positions, seeing the changed positions, and counting.
Regardless, this is what computing is all about, in a nutshell. We input information, the
computer processes it according to its basic logic or the program currently running, and
outputs the results.

Modern computers do this electronically, which enables them to perform a vastly greater
number of calculations or computations in less time. Despite the fact that we currently use
computers to process images, sound, text and other non-numerical forms of data, all of it
depends on nothing more than basic numerical calculations. Graphics, sound etc. are merely
abstractions of the numbers being crunched within the machine; in digital computers these
are the ones and zeros, representing electrical on and off states, and endless combinations
of those. In other words every image, every sound, and every word have a corresponding
binary code.

While abacus may have technically been the first computer most people today associate the
word “computer” with electronic computers which were invented in the last century, and
have evolved into modern computers we know of today.

Capabilities of A Computer

These are the following capabilities of a computer:

1. Speed. With a speed reaching up to fifty million operations per second, a computer
canprocess data faster than any other machine designed to perform a similar task. That is,
adding two numbers is considered as one operation.

2. Repetitiveness. A computer can perform the same operation a million times in exactly
the same way. The various operations are executed automatically by way of stored
computer programs.

3. Accuracy. High-speed processing by a computer is accompanied by high-accuracy


results. A computer can be considered 100% accurate. The electronic circuitry of computers
is such that, when the machines are fed with correctinstructions or data and when the
incoming data is error-free, the accuracy of the output is relatively assured.
4. Logical operations. The computer can make a decision based onalternative courses of
action. The decisions of a computer are, however, dependent on the programs prepared for
it by the programmer. A decision consists of two steps, namely:

a. Determining if a certain statement is true or false.

b. Based on the result of the first step, choosing one or the other course of action out of the
alternatives provided in the computer program.

5. Compact Storage. A computer has the ability to store large amounts of data in compact
and easily retrievable form. It can store data at a very high speed.

6. Discipline. Discipline means that a computer can self-check and self-operate. A


computer self-checks when it verifies the accuracy of its won work by means of a parity
check. In a parity check, the computer counts the number of characters it has stored to
make sure that there will be no loss of data during processing. In self-operation, a computer
is capable of executing instructions on its own, without human intervention, once the
program and the data re fed into the computer's memory.

Limitations of Computer

The computer has the following limitations:

1. A computer cannot generate information on its own. While it is true that a computer has
the capacity to put together information from many sources, it can only do this if it has been
programmed by man to do so.

2. A computer cannot correct wrong instruction. If a computer is fed with


incorrect instructions or data, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it does not have the
capability to detect mistakes and correct them. In computer language, this is known as GIGO
(garbage in garbage out). This means that a computer that has been fed with a wrong set
of instructions or data will similarly produce wrong information and wrong decisions.
Therefore, any corrections must be done by the programmer.

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