Skip to main content

Computers

Computers 

Past, present, & future

The beginning

Computers have changed the way we live. They connect us by sending electrical signals through a network to convey different messages.

At first the speed and extent of that process was limited by less advanced technology. It took more hardware to complete certain tasks. For example, DSL wires would get congested but now that there are many towers built we have wireless connections that speed things up for us. Or things like fiber that communicate information through light rays.

Modern Computers

Computers have now reached a point of ultimate sufficiency.

Non-volatile memory is able to store more gigabytes of data with smaller hardware than ever before. Just a simple flash drive will probably suffice for most people’s needs. And with things like cloud storage that host large databases for different networks, there is less of a need for physical components.

Volatile memory processes different bits of information faster than ever before.

Quantum computing will amplify that to unimaginable levels.

These processes pair with GPUs to display crystal clear images. Displays have improved to pack pixels more densely onto screens providing sharper images over time.

Virtual reality takes that to the next level with a dynamic visual interface that uses tracking technology to create an experience that simulates its own reality.

AI

While computers have been able to do complex tasks for a while now, like difficult math or storing large databases, AI takes their contributions to the next level.

AI makes it so computers can make make analyses on the fly using its knowledge to save users the time from having to. Not only can it help with analyses it is also able to handle manual labor as serious as surgical operations taking advantage of automative technology, minimizing the presence of human error.

The concepts of Information technology and computer science are the foundation of Artificial Intelligence.

Information technology refers to the managing of large amounts of information with technology. It is that large amount of information that AI uses to make decisions and answer questions. Computer science refers to the processes of coding that information into different technologies.

The basis of computer programming are the languages that coders use to guide the functioning of computers. Different languages are helpful for different purposes.

“The simplest human-readable computer language is called assembly language. It's a low-level programming language that interacts directly with the computer's hardware. Low-level means it doesn't use a compiler or interpreter, and is close to the hardware. Assembly language is closely related to binary machine language.” (TestOut, 2024).

SQL is great for databases, HTML is good for the layout of a page, and Python helps to create the desired interactive content that keeps users engaged with an app or website.

Throughout the years coding has become easier because of agreements reached on standard communication methods. Each language has its own style and syntax but concepts like arrays, if and then statements, while loops, Boolean functions, etc. are the basis of each of them.

AI can now code for us. It’s even able to get a sense of a coder’s style. It will continue to handle more coding responsibilities saving businesses time and money.

Coding

Programmers use different software to serve their goals. It’s all about the interface that someone is looking for. Functionality also varies based on the operating system.

For example, Apple is known for MacOS which is beginner-friendly and capable of doing many things. Microsoft has an operating system that is more personalized and has many accompanying apps that are great for business.

“Your computer's operating system (OS) manages all of the software and hardware on the computer. Most of the time, there are several different computer programs running at the same time, and they all need to access your computer's central processing unit (CPU), memory, and storage. The operating system coordinates all of this to make sure each program gets what it needs.”(GCFGlobal, n.d).

Aside from desktop operating systems, there are also mobile operating systems like Apple iOS and Google Android. Operating systems will adapt with modern business needs and also to the technical abilities of its users. So convenience, functionality, and creativity will lead lead the development of operating systems moving forward.

Network architecture

Most of what we do is done through the internet.

Network architecture is important because it dictates the speed and security of our online actions.

Intent-based networking is a valuable modern network architecture. “An intent-based network takes an organization's desired outcomes at a high level as input and sets up the network to achieve these objectives. It does so by automating operations extensively, analyzing network performance, pinpointing problematic areas, providing all-around security, and integrating with business processes.” (Cisco, 2025). Without consistent monitoring of your network, you are susceptible for things like cyber attacks that target your personal information. It is important to understand the information that appears on a network. The basic information like an understanding of your location indicator being your IP address help to better track the activity through a network.

References

Intent-based networking explained. (Cisco, 2025)Cisco. https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/topics/networking/what-is-network-architecture.html

Computer Basics: Understanding operating systems. (n.d.). GCFGlobal.org. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/understanding-operating-systems/1/

TestOut Corp. (2024). CertMaster Learn Tech+. http://www.testout.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular

Traveling Through a Network

The path for pinging the three websites all sent and received the same amount of packets without any loss. The path to Google was the quickest with an average roundtrip time of 85ms. The path to the Australian site, accountantsdaily.au, took the longest with an average round trip time of 285ms. The trace route to good took twenty four hops. For accountantsdaily.au it took twenty two. And the Chinese website that I chose, eggplantdigital.cn, was only sixteen hops. I noticed that the hops later in the route for each three site tended to be higher than the earlier ones. While Google had the highest amount of hops the average speed of those hops were faster than the other two sites. Eggplantdigital.cn had the lowest amount of hops with only sixteen. Geographic location is key to quicker routes. When pinging an IP address or domain that is far away it will take longer to complete. Pings and trace routes can help troubleshooting problems by pinpointing a location where communication is unabl...
Post a Comment
Read more

Network Security

Individuals need information security to protect their important personal information from being stolen. They need system security to prevent harmful cyber attacks that hurt application programming or operating systems. There are many ways that your information and system security can be threatened and also many ways to protect it. Malware is malicious software that runs on a computer causes it to do harmful things like running services that charge you or messing up your data. Ransomware is a type of malware that steals data and holds it requiring you to meet specific terms to regain access.  It is important to regularly scan your computer for any malware. There may be important updates that patch any vulnerabilities. It is also smart to have back up data and being prepared in case of malware infection. One of the best ways to keep your information secure is through the use of antivirus software.  “It primarily works by using a list of known virus patterns, called definitions ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Writing Efficient Programs

  Writing Better Programs: More Than Just “Making It Work” When I first started coding, my mindset was simple: if the program runs, I’m done. But after getting into data structures and algorithm design, I’ve realized that how a program works matters just as much as if it works. That’s where algorithmic design and data structures come in—they help you build programs that are not just correct, but efficient and well-structured. 🔹 Thinking Like a Programmer (Before You Code) One of the biggest changes I’ve made is slowing down before I start typing code. Instead of jumping straight into Java, I try to break the problem down into steps first. This is algorithmic design. For example, I’ll: Figure out what the program needs to do Write out the steps (kind of like pseudocode) Then translate that into actual code Doing this helps me avoid confusion and keeps my program organized from the start. 🔹 Are Some Algorithms and Data Structures Better? Yes—but not in a one-si...
Post a Comment
Read more