The document discusses the history and widespread use of computers. It begins by describing how computers have become ubiquitous in modern life due to their ability to perform calculations quickly. While the first personal computers emerged in the 1970s, computers are now used for work, entertainment, communication and more. The document outlines how computers are used at home for tasks like entertainment, communication, and education. It also explains how computers are essential tools in modern business that improve efficiency. In conclusion, while computers provide many benefits, they also enable some disadvantages like risks to privacy and potential overuse.
1. Computers for the masses.
One of the most amazing inventions of the XX century is computer. Its appearance started the
electronic revolution and now computers are everywhere in our life.
First, let me say few words about the history of subject, then I’m going to discuss cases of using
computer in everyday life at home and in business and the last part will be about advantages
and disadvantages of using computer.
People always want to calculate faster. They invent new things, such as abacus (counter), but
only computer made the dream of humanity come true. The computer industry can trace its
beginning to 1906, when inventor Lee DeForest perfected the triode, three-element vacuum
tube. That device made it possible to use one electric current to control the flow of another.
However, fisrt personal computer appeared only in 1970s. Now $120-billion-a-year electronics
industry includes everything from laser beams for medicine and industry to guidance systems
for weapons and video games. This business is fastly becoming (if not already became) the
bedrock of the world economy.
Computers at home.Currently, only about 10 percent of all electronic-products sales are in
consumer, rather than business-oriented products. But the influence of this 10 percent is much
more important.Microelectronics is almost everywhere at home now, even if you don’t know
about it. Since the dorbell to the washing machine, little computers do their work silent and
precisely: they are regulating room temperatures, controlling ligths, activating security systems.
But the king of home is personal computer (or laptop, tablet, smartphone). This kind of device
can make vast numbers of things and attract the most attention of the modern man. It’s perfect
to work with information, read and write letters, read news, listen music, watch movies, talk with
friends and so on. Modern television is also became smart and digital, it could provide you any
kind of film by demand. Digital entertainment systems, such as PlayStation, can provide you
interesting video games to fit any taste.
“Who owns information – owns the world”. These words are metaphor of our time. Using global
network you can do almost everything, so the quality and speed of the access is particulary
important. The power of computer multiplied by the power of Internet open new capabilities at
home even in distant places. For example, you can distantly pay bills and buy goods using the
Internet.
And one more important thing that computer bring us is distant education. A lot of education
sites can provide you required information. For example, Wikipedia is the project to provide the
knowledge to everyone for free. Video conderences can help with education in far places or
even in local school or university for disabled people.
Computers at business. Computer in business now is one of the main tools.Everyone in the
office must know how to operate with computer. Computer made papework a little bit easier,
they help business to send mail, control money and work more efficiently. At the factories,
computers with robotic elements can do all manual labor instead of human.
Conclusion.Computer can help you do a lot of useful things – to work, to study, to entertain. At
the factories, computers do precise and hard work more efficiently – that is advantage. The
disadvantage is that some people couldn’t control their time when they using computer for
games. There is the most important for me. There are a lot of problems, important for society:
risks of privacy invasion, cyber cryme, that take away about $1 billion a year.
2. In spite of all problems, I believe that at the end of the centurycomputers will be ready to
become a part of us, or we will become the part of computer.
In colusion, I’d like to notice that this speech was prepared using the word processor in my
homecomputer.