Introduction to Computers

 

What is a Computer?

    A computer is a machine that can store and process information. Most computers rely on a binary system that uses variables, 0 and 1, to complete task such as storing data, calculating algorithms, and displaying information. Computers come in many different shapes and sizes, from handheld smartphones to smart computers weighing more than 300 tons.

Who invented the computer?

    Many people throughout history are credited with developing early prototypes that led to the modern computer. During World War 2, physicist John Mauchly, engineer J.Presper Eckret, Jr., and their colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania designed the first programmable digital computer , the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. [ EINAC ]

What is the most powerful computer in the world?

 As of June 2020 the most powerful computer in the world is the Japanese supercomputer  'Fugaku', developed by Riken and Fujitstu. It has been used to model COVID-19 simulations.

How do programming languages work? 

Popular modern programming languages, such as JavaScript and Python , work through multiple forms of programming paradigms. Functional programming , which uses mathematical functions to give outputs based on data input, is one of the more common ways code is used to provide instructions for a computer.

What can computers do?

The most powerful computers can perform extremely complex tasks, such as simulating nuclear weapon experiments and predicting the development of climatic changes. The development of quantum computers , machines that can handle a large number of calculations through quantum parallelism [ derived from superposition ] would be able to do even more complex tasks. 

Are computers conscious?

A computer's ability to gain consciousness is a widely debated topic. Some argue that consciousness depends on self-awareness and the ability to think , which means that computers are conscious because they recognize their environment and can process data. Others believe that human consciousness can never be replicated by physical processes.