The Importance of the Computer

Computers are tremendously important in a variety of ways. For example, they simplify many difficult or time-consuming tasks to an extraordinary degree. They provide businesses, governments, individuals and institutions with the efficient way to manage large amounts of information. Computers also help people to understand things better by allowing them to make models and test theories.

The value of computers lies in their ability to perform certain basic tasks extremely quickly and accurately. These tasks include (1) solving numerical problems, (2) storing and retrieving information, and (3) creating and displaying documents and pictures.

The efficiency with which computers store and retrieve information makes them valuable in a wide range of professions. For example, scientists use computers to store and quickly find results of experiments. Libraries use computer catalogues to hold information about their collections. Hospitals use computers to maintain records about their patients.

All kinds of business rely on computer to store large quantities of information about their employees, customers and products. Banks maintain many kinds of records on computers, such as account balances and credit card information.

Computers can help solve many complicated problems that do not involve numerical equations. Doctors, for example, investigate illnesses, decide on diagnoses, and prescribe treatments.

Computers also can be used to communicate information over long distances. They can send information to each other over telephone lines. As a result, computers keep banks, newspapers, and other institutions supplied with up-to-the-minute information.

Computers also can be used in teaching. Programs that perform computer-aided instruction (CAI) are designed to help students of all levels, from elementary school through the university level. The student sits at computer terminal. The terminal’s screen displays a question for the student to answer, if the answer is wrong or incomplete, the computer may ask the student to try again. It then may supply the correct answer and an explanation. CAI also is used in some adult education programs and as part of the employee-training programs of some corporations.

to simplify – упрощать

to manage – управлять, руководить

to test – проверять

efficiency – эффективность, производительность

to retrieve – извлекать

equation [′kwe3(ə)n] – уравнение

elementary school – начальная школа

Дата добавления: 2015-07-21