The computer of tomorrow
THE COMPUTERS OF TOMORROW
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UNIVACI
The history of computers and computer technoling stretches back more than half a century to the first primitive computing machines. These machines were huge and complicated affairs, consisting of row upon row of vacuum tubes and wires, often encompassing several rooms to fit it all in. By today's standards their computing speeds was very low and the number of operations they could perform was very small and limited and they were designed for some specific purpones. They consumed huge amounts of energy and were very expensive. In 1950, The UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer), the first commercial multipurpose computer, cost about $1 million to build, weighed 13 lens and consumed about 120 kilowatts of power. The machine was 25 fret by 50 feet in length, contained vacuu 5,600 tubes, 18,000 crystal diodes, and 300 relays. It had an internal storage capacity 1,000 words or 12,000 characters. Its reported processing speed was 0.325 milliseconds for anthmetic functions, 2.15 milliseconds for multiplication and 3.9 Milloconds for division.
Over these years the size of computers has been reduced sharply even as the speed and computing power of these machines has increased at an exponential rate. Today computers can make a billion calculations in a fraction of a second. And their use has become dersified and almost unussal, Computers are now used in every field of human activity including industry, business, education, defence, scientific research. communication, entertainment. And most importantly, the cont of computers has come down enormously, so much that many households now owns not only one, but two, three or even more. PC Computers known as laptops or notebooks have become sa comman. And today's computers consume just a small fraction of the energy consumed try the earlier computers.
The world of computers and computer technology is still evolving and changing. Many people, from science fiction writers and futurists to computer workers and ordinary users, have wondered what the future holds for the computer and related technologies. Many things have been imagined, from robots in the form of household servants to computers so small they can fit in a pocket. Indeed, some of these predicted inventions have already come to pass, with the introduction of robotic vacuum cleaners and Personal Digital Devices (PDA's), also called palmtops, or hand held computers or pocket computers. In the coming years you may have a computer of the size of a pen with a virtual monitor and keyboard.
In addition to these innovations, however, there are likely to be many, many more. One of t most important areas of research in the world of computers is that of artificial intelligend When many people think of artificial intelligence, they may imagine machines that can thiru feel and behave like human beings. Even though success in this form of artificial intellign is still far away, artificial intelligence technology is already in place and already serving th needs of human beings everywhere.
One of the most powerful uses of artificial intelligence the far is in the world of speech recognition. This technology already in place in call centres, banks, insurance companie and other businesses throughout the world. While speec recognition is still imperfect, it has improved greatly recent years, and in the future many routine, and eve non-routine, phone calls and telephone inquiries may b handled completely by computers.
Robot technology has also come a long way. Robots in the future may not resemble human beings, except in a few specialized applications. Instead, robots are likely to do a great deal of work that is simply too dangerous for humans to accomplish From spaceflight applications to search and rescue, robots are likely to continue to evolve and provide valuable services for a fraction of the cost of today's robots.
Quantum computers are also likely to transform the computing experience, for both business and home users. These powerful machines are already on the drawing board, and they are likely to be introduced in the near future. The quantum computer is expected to be a giant leap forward in computing technology, with exciting implications for everything from scientibe research to stock market predictions.
Nanotechnology is another important feature of the future of computers, expected to have a profound Impact on people around the globe. Nanotechnology is the process whereby matter is manipulated at the atomic level. providing the ability to "build" objects from their most basic parts, atoms or molecules. Like robotics and artificial intelligence, nanotechnology is already in use in many places, providing everything from stain resistant clothing to better suntan lotion. These advances in nanotechnology are likely to continue in the future, making this one of the most powerful aspects of future compating
However, some of the most powerful advances in the world of computers and computer technology are likely to be completely unforeseen. After all, some of the most powerful technologies of the past have taken us by surprise.