Computers

A computer is a machine that can be programmed to receive, manipulate and transform data into a format that can be made useful.  Much to the disbelief of some, a computer does not need to be electric or even have a processor or a hard drive.  The basic definition of a computer is something that can transform information in a useful way.  That being said, most computers that have been used throughout history are, in fact, mechanical. 
Electronic computers were invented in the 1940s.  They were quite large in size often consuming the better part of a large room.  Charles Baggage (December 1791 – October 1871) is considered the inventor of the mechanical computer whose designs led to more complex designs years later. Although many of his designs he did not complete himself, were completed using his original plans which were considered quite complex for his time.
Connecting to the internet is one of the most common uses of a computer today.  Whether using your computer for business or pleasure, it’s likely that you will want/need to access the internet.  Larger companies often have a company intranet site that contains information for employees about the company, human resources, departmental news, etc.  The intranet is an internal website that can only be accessed by employees or authorized personnel.    This is different than the internet as anyone can access the internet as long as they have a computer.
Desktop computers are personal computers that are meant for using at the same location on a regular basis.  These computers can be moved, but not very easily.  More popular today are portable or laptop computers.  These can be transported in a backpack type case from one destination to another rather easily.  These are quite popular now with students as well as the working person.  Laptop computers are used for many things today and not just for work.  People maintain their personal calendars as well as their work calendars on them as well as being able to access email for both personal and professional reasons.  Not having access to a computer today is quite uncommon; however, most libraries offer computers for personal or professional use for those that don’t have one of their own.
Computers have become a large part of our daily life.  However, we tend to only realize this when there is a problem with them.  When your computer won’t turn on or one of the much needed applications you are trying to access isn’t working, is when we think about how we probably should have it looked at when is was performing slowly or different a few days ago.  Just like a car, a computer needs to maintained every so often in order for it to function properly.  Hard drives need to be cleaned, data should be backed up regularly, and the amount of remaining memory needs to be checked on a regular basis (depending on how much you use it) to ensure it will continue to function properly and you aren’t caught off guard by an unexpected problem.