When Selling Used Servers And Technology Assets - Avoid These Costly Mistakes
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Stan_Travers]Stan Travers
Selling used servers and technology assets is an excellent way to raise cash and free up
storage space. However, many companies make mistakes that can be very costly and time consuming.
To achieve the highest payout for your technology hardware make sure that you work with an asset recovery firm that has a well established network. It is no secret
that the company that buys your equipment only profits when the technology is resold.
Therefore only technology buyers that have extensive business relationships can offer the highest payout for your assets, due to their many resale options.
Not all asset recovery companies have the cash reserves to purchase your assets. Verify that your technology buyer has been in business for at least 5 years and is capable of making large technology hardware acquisitions.
Improper data destruction can result in a multitude of problems. Corporate data left behind is at the very least embarrassing and at worst can lead to legal action. Make sure that the asset recovery firm that you work with has a formal data destruction and wiping methodology. Ideally you should wipe the data from all hard drives before releasing the equipment. However, the technology buyer that acquires your assets should offer this service as a part of the technology asset acquisition program.
Inevitably some portion of your asset mix will have no residual value. Monitors, computers and servers contain hazardous material. If improperly disposed these heavy metals and toxic materials can get into ground water. Make sure you work with an asset recovery firm that has adopted EPA standards for proper waste disposal.
Finally don’t procrastinate selling your used servers and technology equipment. Your technology assets decrease in value very rapidly. To maximize your profits, contact an asset recovery firm sooner than later. [http://www.minfotech.com]Asset Recovery - Maximum payout for technology assets We are interested in purchasing any surplus technology assets. Maximum payout for your
used servers and technology equipment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stan_Travers http://EzineArticles.com/?When-Selling-Used-Servers-And-Technology-Assets----Avoid-These-Costly-Mistakes&id=613294
Thursday, July 23, 2009
How To Keep Up To Date On Computers And Technology With Articles
How To Keep Up To Date On Computers And Technology With Articles
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Cottier]Michael Cottier
Reading articles online, written by people who know what they are talking about, is perhaps the best way to stay up to date on any subject, especially computers and new technology.
With computer components getting faster and more demanding everyday, it's a wonder that anybody ever has an up to date computer. And technology as a whole is moving at such incredible speeds, every day is literally the most advanced human beings have ever been.
So with this in mind, you probably wonder how you can stay completely up to date on it all, while still learning about current technology. The fact is, basically in the field of technology you have to learn and practice at the same time.
How to Find Great Articles on Computers
Using the search engines to find information is something just about everybody does, but usually a search returns somewhat old information and pages with the information you are looking for scattered all over.
The best way to find high quality articles and article directories that have very informative information is to put the word "articles" along with your search term. This way the search results that you get back will most likely be just articles and article directories that have related information to the rest of your search term.
Staying up to Date on Current Technology
While you can use the same method as I stated above to find computer information and articles, you can do the same with technology information. The problem with that though is you can never really be sure the author knows what they are talking about.
Usually at the end of an article there is a resource box with a link to the author's website, but even then it is still hard to tell who knows what they are talking about.
What I do is usually one of two things. I double check what I am reading by searching for the same words on the search engines, and see if other authors say the same thing or not.
You can also use highly popular, but also ever changing, social voting news websites, like Digg or StumbleUpon. Do a search for those websites, and when you visit them you will see that other members like you can vote on information and articles that they know or believe to be true.
While sometimes people can be deceived and false information gets posted, it is much less often then regular websites owned and operated by Joe Anonymous.
So in a nutshell, the best way to stay up to date on computers and technology is to use the search engines, and continue to use websites that you know to be truthful, at least for the most part.
If you are looking for a great article directory, that has a lot of up to date and accurate information on computers and technology, please visit the Computer Customizing Guide article directory to subscribe too our RSS feeds and read or submit new articles.
You can visit our article directory at http://www.computer-customizing-guide.com/articles
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Cottier http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Keep-Up-To-Date-On-Computers-And-Technology-With-Articles&id=853896
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Cottier]Michael Cottier
Reading articles online, written by people who know what they are talking about, is perhaps the best way to stay up to date on any subject, especially computers and new technology.
With computer components getting faster and more demanding everyday, it's a wonder that anybody ever has an up to date computer. And technology as a whole is moving at such incredible speeds, every day is literally the most advanced human beings have ever been.
So with this in mind, you probably wonder how you can stay completely up to date on it all, while still learning about current technology. The fact is, basically in the field of technology you have to learn and practice at the same time.
How to Find Great Articles on Computers
Using the search engines to find information is something just about everybody does, but usually a search returns somewhat old information and pages with the information you are looking for scattered all over.
The best way to find high quality articles and article directories that have very informative information is to put the word "articles" along with your search term. This way the search results that you get back will most likely be just articles and article directories that have related information to the rest of your search term.
Staying up to Date on Current Technology
While you can use the same method as I stated above to find computer information and articles, you can do the same with technology information. The problem with that though is you can never really be sure the author knows what they are talking about.
Usually at the end of an article there is a resource box with a link to the author's website, but even then it is still hard to tell who knows what they are talking about.
What I do is usually one of two things. I double check what I am reading by searching for the same words on the search engines, and see if other authors say the same thing or not.
You can also use highly popular, but also ever changing, social voting news websites, like Digg or StumbleUpon. Do a search for those websites, and when you visit them you will see that other members like you can vote on information and articles that they know or believe to be true.
While sometimes people can be deceived and false information gets posted, it is much less often then regular websites owned and operated by Joe Anonymous.
So in a nutshell, the best way to stay up to date on computers and technology is to use the search engines, and continue to use websites that you know to be truthful, at least for the most part.
If you are looking for a great article directory, that has a lot of up to date and accurate information on computers and technology, please visit the Computer Customizing Guide article directory to subscribe too our RSS feeds and read or submit new articles.
You can visit our article directory at http://www.computer-customizing-guide.com/articles
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Cottier http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Keep-Up-To-Date-On-Computers-And-Technology-With-Articles&id=853896
Seven Easy Ways to Save Money on Computers and Electronics
Seven Easy Ways to Save Money on Computers and Electronics
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Jefferson]Jamie Jefferson
Nearly every home in the United States is also home to a variety of technological devices. From televisions to computers, to gaming systems and surround sound, not to mention our digital cameras, DVD recorders and mp3 players - technology adds a lot to our lives. And you can save money on these big ticket items just by knowing where and when to shop.
Here are seven strategies for saving money on computers and electronics.
1. Whether you are buying online or offline, the first step is to research the new item and determine exactly which features you want and need. Go to the Internet first and read product reviews and recommendations.
Do an Internet search and check out each piece of equipment to see what others have said about it. Is it highly recommended or riddled with problems? Read about the particular item on various electronics forums. People on the forums will be more honest than someone who is paid to write a review.
2. Find out what might be available locally by going to various retail stores and their websites. Many of the electronics big box stores (including Best Buy and Circuit City) have a program in which you choose and purchase your item online, and then it's ready for you to pick it up in the store - sometimes in less than an hour. If you are buying online and having it shipped to your home or office, you'll want to pay special attention to your shipping costs especially on those larger items, such as TVs and computers.
3. Before you buy, go to your favorite electronics retailer and ask to see "open box items," which are items that have been opened and returned. Generally, the full warranty still applies on these items, but you may be able to find what you want at a reduced rate because the box has been opened. If the price hasn't been reduced, ask the manager if she can come down on the price.
4. If you can't find the item you want as an "open box item," Go back to your original search and do some comparisons. Find out which store has the lowest normal prices and then check out their sales.
5. Even though you would love to get the latest and greatest, consider purchasing the item that was replaced by the latest and greatest. There shouldn't be that many changes that you can't do without, and that little sacrifice can save you a lot of money.
6. Another way to save money is to wait until right before school starts and take advantage of the "tax-free" holidays. Not having to pay sales tax on the item can save you a pretty penny. Of course, there are also sales prior to major holidays. Don't forget to take advantage of the rebates that often come with new electronics, as well, as they sometimes provide quite a savings.
7. If you find the item online, make sure to check for coupon codes and free shipping offers that can save you even more. The Internet makes it so easy to find the very best deals.
Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com and Susies-Coupons.com, where she shares the web's best coupons for [http://www.susies-coupons.com/categories/electronics-computers.htm]discount computers and [http://www.momscape.com/coupon-codes/circuit.htm]discount electronics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Jefferson http://EzineArticles.com/?Seven-Easy-Ways-to-Save-Money-on-Computers-and-Electronics&id=1055789
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Jefferson]Jamie Jefferson
Nearly every home in the United States is also home to a variety of technological devices. From televisions to computers, to gaming systems and surround sound, not to mention our digital cameras, DVD recorders and mp3 players - technology adds a lot to our lives. And you can save money on these big ticket items just by knowing where and when to shop.
Here are seven strategies for saving money on computers and electronics.
1. Whether you are buying online or offline, the first step is to research the new item and determine exactly which features you want and need. Go to the Internet first and read product reviews and recommendations.
Do an Internet search and check out each piece of equipment to see what others have said about it. Is it highly recommended or riddled with problems? Read about the particular item on various electronics forums. People on the forums will be more honest than someone who is paid to write a review.
2. Find out what might be available locally by going to various retail stores and their websites. Many of the electronics big box stores (including Best Buy and Circuit City) have a program in which you choose and purchase your item online, and then it's ready for you to pick it up in the store - sometimes in less than an hour. If you are buying online and having it shipped to your home or office, you'll want to pay special attention to your shipping costs especially on those larger items, such as TVs and computers.
3. Before you buy, go to your favorite electronics retailer and ask to see "open box items," which are items that have been opened and returned. Generally, the full warranty still applies on these items, but you may be able to find what you want at a reduced rate because the box has been opened. If the price hasn't been reduced, ask the manager if she can come down on the price.
4. If you can't find the item you want as an "open box item," Go back to your original search and do some comparisons. Find out which store has the lowest normal prices and then check out their sales.
5. Even though you would love to get the latest and greatest, consider purchasing the item that was replaced by the latest and greatest. There shouldn't be that many changes that you can't do without, and that little sacrifice can save you a lot of money.
6. Another way to save money is to wait until right before school starts and take advantage of the "tax-free" holidays. Not having to pay sales tax on the item can save you a pretty penny. Of course, there are also sales prior to major holidays. Don't forget to take advantage of the rebates that often come with new electronics, as well, as they sometimes provide quite a savings.
7. If you find the item online, make sure to check for coupon codes and free shipping offers that can save you even more. The Internet makes it so easy to find the very best deals.
Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com and Susies-Coupons.com, where she shares the web's best coupons for [http://www.susies-coupons.com/categories/electronics-computers.htm]discount computers and [http://www.momscape.com/coupon-codes/circuit.htm]discount electronics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Jefferson http://EzineArticles.com/?Seven-Easy-Ways-to-Save-Money-on-Computers-and-Electronics&id=1055789
OnAir GT Hybridizes Computers And TV's
OnAir GT Hybridizes Computers And TV's
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Julia_Hall]Julia Hall
Many people in the computer industry believe that TV- at least in the traditional sense- is dead. While this may be somewhat of an extreme view, it's certainly becoming more common to get TV programming and movies from online sources than it used to be. It's also far more common to watch TV programming, both TV shows and movies, on devices other than a traditional TV (or an HDTV) in the living room. Computers and portable devices, including even some types of mobile phones, are increasingly being used to watch video.
Because of the increase in popularity of watching TV on mobile devices, a whole new genre of gadgets has cropped up that can be plugged into lap top computers and home computers that will allow them to receive TV broadcasts over the air and for their users to watch that programming on their computer screens. One of these gadgets is called the OnAir GT and it's made by AutumnWave.
The OnAir GT has a whole bunch of features that make it, and the computer that it's plugged into, extremely versatile for watching TV. The device itself is pretty much a phenomenally compact USB device that can plug into a Windows based computer and, along with special software that comes with the OnAir GT, display the TV programming on the screen. The OnAir GT can receive both analog and digital programming over the air, and even be used to watch HDTV programming. (Although you presumably need an High Definition computer screen on your computer in order to get the most out of the HDTV programming.)
The device can provide video resolutions ranging from standard definition television all the way up to High Definition resolutions as high as one thousand and eighty horizontal lines of resolution. In addition to getting video from over the air programming, the OnAir GT can also be plugged into a cable jack to receive unencrypted cable TV. As another additional feature, the software that comes with this gadget is capable of turning a computer into a digital video recorder and then playing back the recordings at some point in the future when over the air TV isn't available.
One disadvantage of the OnAir GT is that it's only compatible with Windows based computers. Users of Apple computers and people who insist on using the Linux operating system are pretty much out of luck. That said, this device has an advantage over other similar devices in that it doesn't require that the computer have as much power. For example, the OnAir GT will work with computers with as little as 128 megabytes of RAM and processor speeds as low as 800 megahertz (if it's the right kind of processor). Of course, significantly faster processors and 256 megabytes of RAM are recommended.
The OnAir GT also has variety of user friendly features. For example, it allows you to watch TV as the wallpaper of your computer desktop or capture images from video to use as wallpaper. It's also based on USB technology, so it's compact to transport, easy to plug in, and is completely powered off of the computer that it's plugged into. It also comes with a remote control, so you don't have to be a foot away from the screen to use it.
In all the OnAir GT can add a lot of value to your computer in a location that can receive over the air TV signals.
A pioneer in [http://www.newgadgettechnology.com]technology reporting, Julia Hall has published articles about the latest digital devices and [http://www.newgadgettechnology.com]gadgets for over ten years. After graduating from MIT with a degree in electrical engineering, Julia turned down huge salaries from some of the most recognized fortune 500 companies in the world to pursue her dream of becoming a leading consumer advocate. Julia uses her expertise to cut through the too good to be true deals offered by high tech companies to reveal the real steals and the real duds that we're bombarded with daily. If you enjoy staying on the cutting edge of technology about newest [http://www.newgadgettechnology.com]gadgets whether for business or pleasure, but find yourself occasionally confused by the overwhelming and convoluted information out there let
Julia show you the way.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_Hall http://EzineArticles.com/?OnAir-GT-Hybridizes-Computers-And-TVs&id=480233
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Julia_Hall]Julia Hall
Many people in the computer industry believe that TV- at least in the traditional sense- is dead. While this may be somewhat of an extreme view, it's certainly becoming more common to get TV programming and movies from online sources than it used to be. It's also far more common to watch TV programming, both TV shows and movies, on devices other than a traditional TV (or an HDTV) in the living room. Computers and portable devices, including even some types of mobile phones, are increasingly being used to watch video.
Because of the increase in popularity of watching TV on mobile devices, a whole new genre of gadgets has cropped up that can be plugged into lap top computers and home computers that will allow them to receive TV broadcasts over the air and for their users to watch that programming on their computer screens. One of these gadgets is called the OnAir GT and it's made by AutumnWave.
The OnAir GT has a whole bunch of features that make it, and the computer that it's plugged into, extremely versatile for watching TV. The device itself is pretty much a phenomenally compact USB device that can plug into a Windows based computer and, along with special software that comes with the OnAir GT, display the TV programming on the screen. The OnAir GT can receive both analog and digital programming over the air, and even be used to watch HDTV programming. (Although you presumably need an High Definition computer screen on your computer in order to get the most out of the HDTV programming.)
The device can provide video resolutions ranging from standard definition television all the way up to High Definition resolutions as high as one thousand and eighty horizontal lines of resolution. In addition to getting video from over the air programming, the OnAir GT can also be plugged into a cable jack to receive unencrypted cable TV. As another additional feature, the software that comes with this gadget is capable of turning a computer into a digital video recorder and then playing back the recordings at some point in the future when over the air TV isn't available.
One disadvantage of the OnAir GT is that it's only compatible with Windows based computers. Users of Apple computers and people who insist on using the Linux operating system are pretty much out of luck. That said, this device has an advantage over other similar devices in that it doesn't require that the computer have as much power. For example, the OnAir GT will work with computers with as little as 128 megabytes of RAM and processor speeds as low as 800 megahertz (if it's the right kind of processor). Of course, significantly faster processors and 256 megabytes of RAM are recommended.
The OnAir GT also has variety of user friendly features. For example, it allows you to watch TV as the wallpaper of your computer desktop or capture images from video to use as wallpaper. It's also based on USB technology, so it's compact to transport, easy to plug in, and is completely powered off of the computer that it's plugged into. It also comes with a remote control, so you don't have to be a foot away from the screen to use it.
In all the OnAir GT can add a lot of value to your computer in a location that can receive over the air TV signals.
A pioneer in [http://www.newgadgettechnology.com]technology reporting, Julia Hall has published articles about the latest digital devices and [http://www.newgadgettechnology.com]gadgets for over ten years. After graduating from MIT with a degree in electrical engineering, Julia turned down huge salaries from some of the most recognized fortune 500 companies in the world to pursue her dream of becoming a leading consumer advocate. Julia uses her expertise to cut through the too good to be true deals offered by high tech companies to reveal the real steals and the real duds that we're bombarded with daily. If you enjoy staying on the cutting edge of technology about newest [http://www.newgadgettechnology.com]gadgets whether for business or pleasure, but find yourself occasionally confused by the overwhelming and convoluted information out there let
Julia show you the way.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_Hall http://EzineArticles.com/?OnAir-GT-Hybridizes-Computers-And-TVs&id=480233
The Commercialization of Virtual Reality Computers and Technology
The Commercialization of Virtual Reality Computers and Technology
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow]Lance Winslow
The rate or progress for Virtual Reality is indeed stunning. So too is the commercialization of products, services and potential applications. For instance researchers, teachers, politicians and innovators are always stacked with projects that need a Virtual Reality Technicians skill sets to the audience, customer or funding groups better visualize.
Of course as things move forward much faster standardization is also coming to a head. Many VR consultants and leading edge thinkers speak of granularity, verbs and software programming methodologies, but none are completely certain that is how things will work in the future in VR, yet we all see this is the push. It is amazing all the competing VR standards, theories and directions the market place is working with now. It is pretty insightful and although 4 years old now is pretty much on the money.
One of the reasons I make this statement is because someone mentioned in an article about the slicing of food on the kitchen in virtual reality and the sound of the knife in EOX (basically that is surround-a-sound) and the granularity (individual animated pixels) dividing the object and yes all that is good for action sequences, explosions, car crashes in video games, VR Life II type things and such, or simulators for training, but there is an issue with combinations of multiple scenarios, with AI and the size of the program, current bandwidth, storage devices, etc.
We can talk all about the future as the VR Technicians see it and we can discuss all the applications for Government, Military, Business, Healthcare, Earth Sciences, Space, Training, Psychology, Sports, Sex, Politics, Distance Learning, Sales or V-travel and yet in the end a standard is needed so that the theories, methods and philosophies can all be on the same page to move the ball down the field and attract the capital needed to bring the VR World into a blurred reality with the real world and to make a profit in doing so. ROI is what the real world is about.
We must never forget that as we create the future Utopia in Virtual Reality. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.
"Lance Winslow" - Online [http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/]Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; [http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/]http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Commercialization-of-Virtual-Reality-Computers-and-Technology&id=466445
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow]Lance Winslow
The rate or progress for Virtual Reality is indeed stunning. So too is the commercialization of products, services and potential applications. For instance researchers, teachers, politicians and innovators are always stacked with projects that need a Virtual Reality Technicians skill sets to the audience, customer or funding groups better visualize.
Of course as things move forward much faster standardization is also coming to a head. Many VR consultants and leading edge thinkers speak of granularity, verbs and software programming methodologies, but none are completely certain that is how things will work in the future in VR, yet we all see this is the push. It is amazing all the competing VR standards, theories and directions the market place is working with now. It is pretty insightful and although 4 years old now is pretty much on the money.
One of the reasons I make this statement is because someone mentioned in an article about the slicing of food on the kitchen in virtual reality and the sound of the knife in EOX (basically that is surround-a-sound) and the granularity (individual animated pixels) dividing the object and yes all that is good for action sequences, explosions, car crashes in video games, VR Life II type things and such, or simulators for training, but there is an issue with combinations of multiple scenarios, with AI and the size of the program, current bandwidth, storage devices, etc.
We can talk all about the future as the VR Technicians see it and we can discuss all the applications for Government, Military, Business, Healthcare, Earth Sciences, Space, Training, Psychology, Sports, Sex, Politics, Distance Learning, Sales or V-travel and yet in the end a standard is needed so that the theories, methods and philosophies can all be on the same page to move the ball down the field and attract the capital needed to bring the VR World into a blurred reality with the real world and to make a profit in doing so. ROI is what the real world is about.
We must never forget that as we create the future Utopia in Virtual Reality. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.
"Lance Winslow" - Online [http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/]Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; [http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/]http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Commercialization-of-Virtual-Reality-Computers-and-Technology&id=466445
History of the Computer - Computers and Technology
History of the Computer - Computers and Technology
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Cooper]Michael Cooper
The volume and use of computers in the world are so great, they have become difficult to ignore anymore. Computers appear to us in so many ways that many times, we fail to see them as they actually are. People associated with a computer when they purchased their morning coffee at the vending machine. As they drove themselves to work, the traffic lights that so often hampered us are controlled by computers in an attempt to speed the journey. Accept it or not, the computer has invaded our life.
The origins and roots of computers started out as many other inventions and technologies have in the past. They evolved from a relatively simple idea or plan designed to help perform functions easier and quicker. The first basic type of computers were designed to do just that; compute!. They performed basic math functions such as multiplication and division and displayed the results in a variety of methods. Some computers displayed results in a binary representation of electronic lamps. Binary denotes using only ones and zeros thus, lit lamps represented ones and unlit lamps represented zeros. The irony of this is that people needed to perform another mathematical function to translate binary to decimal to make it readable to the user.
One of the first computers was called ENIAC. It was a huge, monstrous size nearly that of a standard railroad car. It contained electronic tubes, heavy gauge wiring, angle-iron, and knife switches just to name a few of the components. It has become difficult to believe that computers have evolved into suitcase sized micro-computers of the 1990's.
Computers eventually evolved into less archaic looking devices near the end of the 1960's. Their size had been reduced to that of a small automobile and they were processing segments of information at faster rates than older models. Most computers at this time were termed "mainframes" due to the fact that many computers were linked together to perform a given function. The primary user of these types of computers were military agencies and large corporations such as Bell, AT&T, General Electric, and Boeing. Organizations such as these had the funds to afford such technologies. However, operation of these computers required extensive intelligence and manpower resources. The average person could not have fathomed trying to operate and use these million dollar processors.
The United States was attributed the title of pioneering the computer. It was not until the early 1970's that nations such as Japan and the United Kingdom started utilizing technology of their own for the development of the computer. This resulted in newer components and smaller sized computers. The use and operation of computers had developed into a form that people of average intelligence could handle and manipulate without to much ado. When the economies of other nations started to compete with the United States, the computer industry expanded at a great rate. Prices dropped dramatically and computers became more affordable to the average household.
Like the invention of the wheel, the computer is here to stay.The operation and use of computers in our present era of the 1990's has become so easy and simple that perhaps we may have taken too much for granted. Almost everything of use in society requires some form of training or education. Many people say that the predecessor to the computer was the typewriter. The typewriter definitely required training and experience in order to operate it at a usable and efficient level. Children are being taught basic computer skills in the classroom in order to prepare them for the future evolution of the computer age.
The history of computers started out about 2000 years ago, at the birth of the abacus, a wooden rack holding two horizontal wires with beads strung on them. When these beads are moved around, according to programming rules memorized by the user, all regular arithmetic problems can be done. Another important invention around the same time was the Astrolabe, used for navigation.
Blaise Pascal is usually credited for building the first digital computer in 1642. It added numbers entered with dials and was made to help his father, a tax collector. In 1671, Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented a computer that was built in 1694. It could add, and, after changing some things around, multiply. Leibnitz invented a special stopped gear mechanism for introducing the addend digits, and this is still being used.
The prototypes made by Pascal and Leibnitz were not used in many places, and considered weird until a little more than a century later, when Thomas of Colmar (A.K.A. Charles Xavier Thomas) created the first successful mechanical calculator that could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. A lot of improved desktop calculators by many inventors followed, so that by about 1890, the range of improvements included: Accumulation of partial results, storage and automatic reentry of past results (A memory function), and printing of the results. Each of these required manual installation. These improvements were mainly made for commercial users, and not for the needs of science.
While Thomas of Colmar was developing the desktop calculator, a series of very interesting developments in computers was started in Cambridge, England, by Charles Babbage (of which the computer store "Babbages" is named), a mathematics professor. In 1812, Babbage realized that many long calculations, especially those needed to make mathematical tables, were really a series of predictable actions that were constantly repeated. From this he suspected that it should be possible to do these automatically. He began to design an automatic mechanical calculating machine, which he called a difference engine. By 1822, he had a working model to demonstrate. Financial help from the British Government was attained and Babbage started fabrication of a difference engine in 1823. It was intended to be steam powered and fully automatic, including the printing of the resulting tables, and commanded by a fixed instruction program.
The difference engine, although having limited adaptability and applicability, was really a great advance. Babbage continued to work on it for the next 10 years, but in 1833 he lost interest because he thought he had a better idea; the construction of what would now be called a general purpose, fully program-controlled, automatic mechanical digital computer. Babbage called this idea an Analytical Engine. The ideas of this design showed a lot of foresight, although this couldn't be appreciated until a full century later.
The plans for this engine required an identical decimal computer operating on numbers of 50 decimal digits (or words) and having a storage capacity (memory) of 1,000 such digits. The built-in operations were supposed to include everything that a modern general - purpose computer would need, even the all important Conditional Control Transfer Capability that would allow commands to be executed in any order, not just the order in which they were programmed.
As people can see, it took quite a large amount of intelligence and fortitude to come to the 1990's style and use of computers. People have assumed that computers are a natural development in society and take them for granted. Just as people have learned to drive an automobile, it also takes skill and learning to utilize a computer.
Computers in society have become difficult to understand. Exactly what they consisted of and what actions they performed were highly dependent upon the type of computer. To say a person had a typical computer doesn't necessarily narrow down just what the capabilities of that computer was. Computer styles and types covered so many different functions and actions, that it was difficult to name them all. The original computers of the 1940's were easy to define their purpose when they were first invented. They primarily performed mathematical functions many times faster than any person could have calculated. However, the evolution of the computer had created many styles and types that were greatly dependent on a well defined purpose.
The computers of the 1990's roughly fell into three groups consisting of mainframes, networking units, and personal computers. Mainframe computers were extremely large sized modules and had the capabilities of processing and storing massive amounts of data in the form of numbers and words. Mainframes were the first types of computers developed in the 1940's. Users of these types of computers ranged from banking firms, large corporations and government agencies. They usually were very expensive in cost but designed to last at least five to ten years. They also required well educated and experienced manpower to be operated and maintained. Larry Wulforst, in his book Breakthrough to the Computer Age, describes the old mainframes of the 1940's compared to those of the 1990's by speculating, "...the contrast to the sound of the sputtering motor powering the first flights of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk and the roar of the mighty engines on a Cape Canaveral launching pad". End of part one.
Works Cited
Wulforst, Harry. Breakthrough to the Computer Age. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1982.
Palferman, Jon and Doron Swade. The Dream Machine. London: BBC Books, 1991.
Campbell-Kelly, Martin and William Aspray. Computer, A History of the Information Machine. New York: BasicBooks, 1996.
You may visit http://www.TermPaperAdvisor.com and http://www.TermPapersMadeEasy.com for instant access to over 45,000 plus term papers and essays. You may have all of these quality papers for only $19.95.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Cooper http://EzineArticles.com/?History-of-the-Computer---Computers-and-Technology&id=84994
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Cooper]Michael Cooper
The volume and use of computers in the world are so great, they have become difficult to ignore anymore. Computers appear to us in so many ways that many times, we fail to see them as they actually are. People associated with a computer when they purchased their morning coffee at the vending machine. As they drove themselves to work, the traffic lights that so often hampered us are controlled by computers in an attempt to speed the journey. Accept it or not, the computer has invaded our life.
The origins and roots of computers started out as many other inventions and technologies have in the past. They evolved from a relatively simple idea or plan designed to help perform functions easier and quicker. The first basic type of computers were designed to do just that; compute!. They performed basic math functions such as multiplication and division and displayed the results in a variety of methods. Some computers displayed results in a binary representation of electronic lamps. Binary denotes using only ones and zeros thus, lit lamps represented ones and unlit lamps represented zeros. The irony of this is that people needed to perform another mathematical function to translate binary to decimal to make it readable to the user.
One of the first computers was called ENIAC. It was a huge, monstrous size nearly that of a standard railroad car. It contained electronic tubes, heavy gauge wiring, angle-iron, and knife switches just to name a few of the components. It has become difficult to believe that computers have evolved into suitcase sized micro-computers of the 1990's.
Computers eventually evolved into less archaic looking devices near the end of the 1960's. Their size had been reduced to that of a small automobile and they were processing segments of information at faster rates than older models. Most computers at this time were termed "mainframes" due to the fact that many computers were linked together to perform a given function. The primary user of these types of computers were military agencies and large corporations such as Bell, AT&T, General Electric, and Boeing. Organizations such as these had the funds to afford such technologies. However, operation of these computers required extensive intelligence and manpower resources. The average person could not have fathomed trying to operate and use these million dollar processors.
The United States was attributed the title of pioneering the computer. It was not until the early 1970's that nations such as Japan and the United Kingdom started utilizing technology of their own for the development of the computer. This resulted in newer components and smaller sized computers. The use and operation of computers had developed into a form that people of average intelligence could handle and manipulate without to much ado. When the economies of other nations started to compete with the United States, the computer industry expanded at a great rate. Prices dropped dramatically and computers became more affordable to the average household.
Like the invention of the wheel, the computer is here to stay.The operation and use of computers in our present era of the 1990's has become so easy and simple that perhaps we may have taken too much for granted. Almost everything of use in society requires some form of training or education. Many people say that the predecessor to the computer was the typewriter. The typewriter definitely required training and experience in order to operate it at a usable and efficient level. Children are being taught basic computer skills in the classroom in order to prepare them for the future evolution of the computer age.
The history of computers started out about 2000 years ago, at the birth of the abacus, a wooden rack holding two horizontal wires with beads strung on them. When these beads are moved around, according to programming rules memorized by the user, all regular arithmetic problems can be done. Another important invention around the same time was the Astrolabe, used for navigation.
Blaise Pascal is usually credited for building the first digital computer in 1642. It added numbers entered with dials and was made to help his father, a tax collector. In 1671, Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented a computer that was built in 1694. It could add, and, after changing some things around, multiply. Leibnitz invented a special stopped gear mechanism for introducing the addend digits, and this is still being used.
The prototypes made by Pascal and Leibnitz were not used in many places, and considered weird until a little more than a century later, when Thomas of Colmar (A.K.A. Charles Xavier Thomas) created the first successful mechanical calculator that could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. A lot of improved desktop calculators by many inventors followed, so that by about 1890, the range of improvements included: Accumulation of partial results, storage and automatic reentry of past results (A memory function), and printing of the results. Each of these required manual installation. These improvements were mainly made for commercial users, and not for the needs of science.
While Thomas of Colmar was developing the desktop calculator, a series of very interesting developments in computers was started in Cambridge, England, by Charles Babbage (of which the computer store "Babbages" is named), a mathematics professor. In 1812, Babbage realized that many long calculations, especially those needed to make mathematical tables, were really a series of predictable actions that were constantly repeated. From this he suspected that it should be possible to do these automatically. He began to design an automatic mechanical calculating machine, which he called a difference engine. By 1822, he had a working model to demonstrate. Financial help from the British Government was attained and Babbage started fabrication of a difference engine in 1823. It was intended to be steam powered and fully automatic, including the printing of the resulting tables, and commanded by a fixed instruction program.
The difference engine, although having limited adaptability and applicability, was really a great advance. Babbage continued to work on it for the next 10 years, but in 1833 he lost interest because he thought he had a better idea; the construction of what would now be called a general purpose, fully program-controlled, automatic mechanical digital computer. Babbage called this idea an Analytical Engine. The ideas of this design showed a lot of foresight, although this couldn't be appreciated until a full century later.
The plans for this engine required an identical decimal computer operating on numbers of 50 decimal digits (or words) and having a storage capacity (memory) of 1,000 such digits. The built-in operations were supposed to include everything that a modern general - purpose computer would need, even the all important Conditional Control Transfer Capability that would allow commands to be executed in any order, not just the order in which they were programmed.
As people can see, it took quite a large amount of intelligence and fortitude to come to the 1990's style and use of computers. People have assumed that computers are a natural development in society and take them for granted. Just as people have learned to drive an automobile, it also takes skill and learning to utilize a computer.
Computers in society have become difficult to understand. Exactly what they consisted of and what actions they performed were highly dependent upon the type of computer. To say a person had a typical computer doesn't necessarily narrow down just what the capabilities of that computer was. Computer styles and types covered so many different functions and actions, that it was difficult to name them all. The original computers of the 1940's were easy to define their purpose when they were first invented. They primarily performed mathematical functions many times faster than any person could have calculated. However, the evolution of the computer had created many styles and types that were greatly dependent on a well defined purpose.
The computers of the 1990's roughly fell into three groups consisting of mainframes, networking units, and personal computers. Mainframe computers were extremely large sized modules and had the capabilities of processing and storing massive amounts of data in the form of numbers and words. Mainframes were the first types of computers developed in the 1940's. Users of these types of computers ranged from banking firms, large corporations and government agencies. They usually were very expensive in cost but designed to last at least five to ten years. They also required well educated and experienced manpower to be operated and maintained. Larry Wulforst, in his book Breakthrough to the Computer Age, describes the old mainframes of the 1940's compared to those of the 1990's by speculating, "...the contrast to the sound of the sputtering motor powering the first flights of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk and the roar of the mighty engines on a Cape Canaveral launching pad". End of part one.
Works Cited
Wulforst, Harry. Breakthrough to the Computer Age. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1982.
Palferman, Jon and Doron Swade. The Dream Machine. London: BBC Books, 1991.
Campbell-Kelly, Martin and William Aspray. Computer, A History of the Information Machine. New York: BasicBooks, 1996.
You may visit http://www.TermPaperAdvisor.com and http://www.TermPapersMadeEasy.com for instant access to over 45,000 plus term papers and essays. You may have all of these quality papers for only $19.95.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Cooper http://EzineArticles.com/?History-of-the-Computer---Computers-and-Technology&id=84994
Computers and Technology: Shop for Insurance Responsibly
Computers and Technology: Shop for Insurance Responsibly
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Newberry]Elizabeth Newberry
Today's advancements in computers and technology make many tasks easier than they were years ago. Computers and technology aid us in our personal lives as well as professional lives. Most young people probably can’t imagine a world without computers and technology, and most older people probably can’t imagine going back to that world. Thanks to computers and technology, we work online, we play online – we do just about everything online!
A popular trend today is the act of purchasing insurance policies online. Health insurance, life insurance, automobile insurance – you name an insurance, and it can probably be purchased online thanks to computers and technology. This is a great convenience for some folks. Think about it: who wants to make a detour on their commute home from a long day of work to talk with an insurance agent about purchasing an insurance policy? Wouldn’t most people rather go home to spend time with their families and relax before the next day begins?
While computers and technology make it much easier to spend more time enjoying these kinds of leisurely activities, they also make it much easier for us to lose connection with real people. By purchasing insurance online, you’re saving time and effort, but you’re also losing the important, yet overlooked, benefit of speaking with an insurance agent one-on-one, face-to-face. At the very most, the only human interaction you’re going to have by purchasing insurance online is speaking with a representative over the phone.
This isn’t to say that you should avoid the perks of today’s computers and technology, such as purchasing insurance online; however, you should make sure you have the chance to get some one-on-one time with an insurance agent – even if that one-on-one time is only over the phone. Rather than the conversation consisting solely of a brief synopsis of the coverage and your credit card number, ask specific questions, and make sure to get thoroughly detailed answers. [http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/]Home Owners Insurance Wisconsin [http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/]Instant Home Owner Insurance Quote [http://www.ezquoteguide.com/health/]Travel Health Insurance
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Newberry http://EzineArticles.com/?Computers-and-Technology:-Shop-for-Insurance-Responsibly&id=323181
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Newberry]Elizabeth Newberry
Today's advancements in computers and technology make many tasks easier than they were years ago. Computers and technology aid us in our personal lives as well as professional lives. Most young people probably can’t imagine a world without computers and technology, and most older people probably can’t imagine going back to that world. Thanks to computers and technology, we work online, we play online – we do just about everything online!
A popular trend today is the act of purchasing insurance policies online. Health insurance, life insurance, automobile insurance – you name an insurance, and it can probably be purchased online thanks to computers and technology. This is a great convenience for some folks. Think about it: who wants to make a detour on their commute home from a long day of work to talk with an insurance agent about purchasing an insurance policy? Wouldn’t most people rather go home to spend time with their families and relax before the next day begins?
While computers and technology make it much easier to spend more time enjoying these kinds of leisurely activities, they also make it much easier for us to lose connection with real people. By purchasing insurance online, you’re saving time and effort, but you’re also losing the important, yet overlooked, benefit of speaking with an insurance agent one-on-one, face-to-face. At the very most, the only human interaction you’re going to have by purchasing insurance online is speaking with a representative over the phone.
This isn’t to say that you should avoid the perks of today’s computers and technology, such as purchasing insurance online; however, you should make sure you have the chance to get some one-on-one time with an insurance agent – even if that one-on-one time is only over the phone. Rather than the conversation consisting solely of a brief synopsis of the coverage and your credit card number, ask specific questions, and make sure to get thoroughly detailed answers. [http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/]Home Owners Insurance Wisconsin [http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/]Instant Home Owner Insurance Quote [http://www.ezquoteguide.com/health/]Travel Health Insurance
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Newberry http://EzineArticles.com/?Computers-and-Technology:-Shop-for-Insurance-Responsibly&id=323181
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)