The computer has only existed for 80 years, yet most of us can’t imagine life without this miracle technology. What used to occupy entire floors of buildings and was operated manually, now is able to fit on your desk, in your pocket, and even on your wrist! Computers facilitate most, if not all, of our daily activities – from work, to school, to even entertainment.
It’s almost surprising to think about how fast we adopted computers and adapted our lives to working with these machines. Without further ado, let’s take a look at how computers have changed the world:
From Wartime to Now
In our blog post about the History of Computers, we learned that the first computers were used by Alan Turing, working with the UK military, to decipher encrypted messages sent between German Nazi naval forces during World War II. Soon after, they were integrated into the business field. Technology, specifically hardware, including transistors, was rapidly changing over the years – computers shrank in size, yet increased exponentially in speed and functionality, known as Moore’s Law. By 1981, IBM had released a computer for both home and office use, and computers have become evermore personal since. Additionally, computers have allowed for shared knowledge, sparking technological innovations and advancements in medicine at unimaginable rates.
The Advent of the Internet
Similar to the initial use of computers, the Internet was invented by the U.S. Department of Defense. Known as ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), the goal was to facilitate communication between computer systems at universities and research labs. The Internet, or should I say, the World Wide Web, was invented by Tim Berners-Lee, and it connected – and continues to do so – anyone with an Internet connection to the entire contents of the web, as well as allows instant communication between two or more people.
Divisive Technology
With the Internet complementing the computer, communication with people across the world had finally been achieved. Social networks came about in the early 2000s, which created different platforms (e.g., MySpace, Facebook) for people to connect and chat – for free, nonetheless! However connected the world may be now, some would argue that social networks are, ironically, actually creating divides among people, especially with the most recent presidential election. You see it on Facebook, people arguing with other people whom they’ve never met before, and neither party comes to an accord. Let’s not dwell on these matters, though. Just be thankful to be living in the era of advanced technological growth.
It’s amazing to think how much our lives have been changed by this fairly recent technology. We are excited about the further advancements in technology awaiting humanity. What do you think will be the next technological breakthrough? Let us know! For all your tech needs, comments, questions, and concerns, contact M&H Consulting by phone at 1-(866)-964-8324.
Categorised in: computer, Digital Age, History