what is a computer

Computers, commonly known as computers, are modern electronic computing machines used for high-speed calculations. They can perform numerical calculations and logical calculations, and also have storage and memory functions. They can run according to programs and perform automatic and high-speed processing. Modern intelligent electronic equipment with massive data; it is composed of hardware system and software system. A computer without any software installed is called a bare metal computer; it can be divided into five categories: supercomputer, industrial control computer, network computer, personal computer and embedded computer. Advanced computers include biological computers, photon computers, quantum computers, etc.

#The operating environment of this tutorial: Windows 10 system, Dell G3 computer.

What is a computer?

Electronic computing machine used for high-speed calculations.

Computer, commonly known as computer, is a modern electronic computing machine used for high-speed calculations. It can perform numerical calculations, logical calculations, and also has storage and memory functions. It is a modern intelligent electronic device that can run according to the program and process massive data automatically and at high speed.

It is composed of a hardware system and a software system. A computer without any software installed is called a bare metal computer. It can be divided into five categories: supercomputer, industrial control computer, network computer, personal computer, and embedded computer. The more advanced computers include biological computers, photon computers, quantum computers, etc.

Computer inventor John von Neumann. The computer is one of the most advanced scientific and technological inventions in the 20th century. It has had an extremely important impact on human production activities and social activities, and is developing rapidly with strong vitality. Its application fields have expanded from its initial application in military scientific research to various fields of society. It has formed a huge computer industry, driven technological progress on a global scale, and triggered profound social changes. Computers have been used in general schools and enterprises. Public institutions have entered the homes of ordinary people and become an indispensable tool in the information society.

Computer applications are becoming more and more common in China. After the reform and opening up, the number of Chinese computer users continues to rise, and the application level continues to improve. In particular, applications in the Internet, communications, multimedia and other fields have achieved good results. From 1996 to 2009, the number of computer users increased from 6.3 million to 67.1 million, and the number of networked computers increased from 29,000 to 59.4 million. Internet users have reached 316 million, and wireless Internet users have 670 million mobile users, including 117 million mobile Internet users, ranking first in the world.

Main features

Fast operation speed

The computer is composed of internal circuits, which can complete various arithmetic operations at high speed and accurately. The computing speed of today's computer systems has reached trillions of operations per second, and microcomputers can also reach more than 100 million operations per second, enabling a large number of complex scientific computing problems to be solved. For example: the calculation of satellite orbits, calculations of large dams, and 24-hour weather calculations take years or even decades, but in modern society, they can be completed in just a few minutes using computers.

High calculation accuracy

The development of science and technology, especially the development of cutting-edge science and technology, requires highly accurate calculations. The reason why computer-controlled missiles can accurately hit the predetermined target is inseparable from the precise calculation of the computer. A general computer can have more than a dozen or even dozens of (binary) significant digits, and the calculation accuracy can range from a few thousandths to a few millionths, which is beyond the reach of any computing tool.

Strong logical operation ability

Computers can not only perform precise calculations, but also have logical operation functions and can compare and judge information. The computer can save the data, programs, intermediate results and final results involved in the calculation, and can automatically execute the next instruction based on the judgment result for the user to call at any time.

Large storage capacity

The memory inside the computer has memory characteristics and can store a large amount of information. This information includes not only various types of data information, but also programs for processing these data.

High degree of automation

Because computers have the ability to store memory and logical judgment, people can incorporate pre-programmed program groups into computer memory. Under program control, the computer can continuously and automatically It works independently without human intervention.

High cost performance

Almost every household will have a computer, which is becoming more and more common and popular. In the 21st century, computers will surely become one of the indispensable electrical appliances for every household. Computers are developing rapidly, including desktops and notebooks.

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