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Michael Neff
Mrs. Dunbar
Senior Project Paper
9/17/14
Computers


Computers have affected society in a multitude of different ways throughout the years
since they were invented. A primary example of this feat would be the modern day cell phones
that are on the market; full internet connection, ability to do complex math equations, as well as
being able to keep track of a persons daily schedule and remind them when a certain event is
coming up. Computers are something its hard to go more than a couple feet without seeing, even
smartphones are considered a computer, although so widely placed not many people know
exactly where, who, and why computers have made such a large impact in the daily life of
individuals. Understanding how to remove and install components properly is a very important
aspect of computer technology.
The word computer as everyone knows it today evolved from the original early 20th
century word computer, meaning a person who could solve complicated mathematical equations.
The first actual computers invented were used just to solve mathematical equations that would
have taken people forever to figure out by hand due to time restraints [UDayton, 1]. Such
examples of mathematical equations that would have taken forever to figure out would be the
quadratic equation dealing with numbers in the tens to hundreds of thousands for every value
inside it. In 1820, Shortly after the first mass-produced calculator Charles Babbage began a quest
to invite a machine that could be programed. He didnt quite achieve his quest, although he did
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manage to invent the difference engine[UDayton, 1]. A difference engine is an automatic
mechanical calculator designed to tabulate polynomial functions. Or in other words arrange them
in a table that is much simpler to read. With Babbages 1842 difference engine Ada Lovelace
mechanically translated a short written work. As a result she is thought to be the first
programmer. [UDayton. 1]. Before the computer entered the office of the modern day business
there were three key office machines that occupied all businesses. These were the typewriter, a
filing system and an automated adding machine. To produce these mechanical office devices
four main suppliers came forward. In 1928 Remington Rand was the main business in the field
followed by National Cash Register (NCR), and then Burroughs Adding Machine Company. The
smallest company of the 4 major companies was IBM whose business was nearly one-third of
Remington Rand. Less than 5 years after the computer came into the market IBM surpases all 3
other companys to such a degree that the previous past 2 years for the other 3 companies net
profits added together still sat them a staggering distance behind IBM. Since the mid 1930s IBM
has had nearly no major competition in the computer processor market, until the last 10 years in
which AMD has come home strong and outed IBM more than once, although IBM always takes
back the roll of the #1 processor creator . [Harris, 1] During the next 20 years IBM along with
other developing companies developed newer and faster forms of the processor.
On September 9th, 1945, Grace Hopper recorded the first actual computer bug a
moth stuck between the relays on the Harvard Mark 2. This is how the term bug came to be
used with describing something was going wrong with a computer [UDayton, 1]. Computer
bugs, especially back then; were dangerous and could potentially be fatal for the computer. In the
1950s Little technology was used in schools, primarily TV. The development of computers
allowed teachers to teach about a wider range of subjects as well as cover subjects they already
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had to teach in much more of an in depth covering. The baby boom begins with resulting
increases in class size; first-generation Univac computer delivered to the US census bureau.
[CSulb, 1] With this development came the incorporation of technology in schools.
In 1963 the Vocational Education Act passed. Which added new money supporting the
use of technology in schools; however, the mainframe and minicomputers in use at this time are
using batch processing methods that do not fit well with the single teacher-as-manager-of-
learning methods in use in most schools; BASIC, a simple high-level programming language is
developed, mostly for use in universities to train programmers; IBM 360 family of computers is
developed; most computers still using host methods with punched cards as the primary input
device; line printers are still the primary output device; the Cold War and the competitive space
exploration effort continues with President Kennedy's call for the science to be developed that
could put a man on the moon. [CSulb, 1] With President Kennedy urging so hard for America to
put a person on the moon that millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of hours were
invested in anything they thought would allow them to increase the power of the computer. In
1965 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act brings new money into schools for
technology. Mainframes and minicomputers are put into place in some schools, but most are
used for administration or for school counseling (databases for information about and for
students); the cold war continues as President Johnson expands the war, with 125,000 American
troops in Vietnam; high-tech weapons are used in bombings of North Vietnam; 50,000
Americans killed in traffic accidents. [CSulb, 1] By 1984, 31 states are using nearly 13,000 PCs
for career guidance, but their are still relatively few computers in the actual classrooms. The
Apple Macintosh computer is developed; computer- based tutorials and learning games are
developed by commercial software manufacturers, to allow people to manipulate the computer
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more in the ways that they want [CSulb, 1]. The Macintosh computer that would soon rival PC
for nearly 20 years was only a work in progress, but Mac had already made a statement proving
that they would be a healthy competitor to go up against.
Steve Jobs, the man who is often credited with the invention of MAC computers is not
the one who is widely recognized as the inventor in the computer world. He is more of a Co-
creator along side of Steve Wozniak; who ended up putting the majority of the work and time
researching and coding for the MAC computers [Harris, 1]. In 1986 nearly 25% of high schools
use computers for college and career guidance, K-8 schools buying mostly Apple II and
Macintosh computers, high schools buying mostly DOS-based clones. [CSulb, 1] Meaning that
MAC basically had a monopoly when it came to K-8 schools where other computer businesses
crushed them when it came to higher levels of education, which is where the real money could be
made.
In 1995 the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) began to catch on as businesses,
schools, and individuals create web pages; most CAI is delivered on CD-ROM disks and is
growing in popularity [CSulb, 1]. In late 1996 the Internet starts to be widely discussed as
businesses begin to provide services and advertising using web pages. New graphics and
multimedia tools are developed for the delivery of information and instruction using the Internet;
many schools are rewiring for Internet access; a few schools install web servers and provide
faculty with a way to create instructional web pages. The growth of the internet expands far
faster than most predicted. It soon becomes the world's largest database of information, graphics,
and streaming video making it an invaluable resource for educators; but marketing-oriented web
pages, computer viruses hidden within downloadable programs and/or graphics, and spam
(widely disseminated email-based sales pitches) threaten its usefulness. Search engines such as
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Google and Yahoo constantly develop new ways to find information within the ever-growing
number of web pages. Web sites that offer individuals a place to put personal information
become popular, as does internet-based publishing and discussion forums. Voice recognition
slowly enters the computing mainstream, but its development is slowed by an unacceptable
frequency of errors. Some computers incorporate TV input, but it is not as common as many
predicted. Educational software becomes more useful and interesting to students as graphics and
video are incorporated. Larger computer storage capacity and the growing prevalence of CD-
ROM and DVD drives in personal computers make it easier for educators to store large graphic
and video and sound files for educational applications [CSulb, 1].
As computers became easier to afford and more widely seen in everyday households they
also became more prevalent in schools. The use of computers as a research tool enabled students
to develop independent research skills, [Teaching With Technology, 1]. Allowing students a
little more freedom but still keeping them on track reinforces their abilities to succeed once
they're out of school. Students having easy access to information, pictures, graphics, and music,
which can add depth and creativity to the product they are working on [Teaching With
Technology, 1]. Aswell as broadening the students learning on the subject theyre studying at the
moment. Computers have opened many doors for students generally enjoy using computers, so
they will be motivated to work on the activity you are asking them to do [Teaching With
Technology, 1]. As students become more interested in what they're studying or how their
studying they enjoy it more and more and actually learn the subject better than if they were just
reading off of a piece of paper. Students can share information with each other and with their
teacher online, even outside classroom times. This can assist in the building and development of
a collaborative classroom community [Teaching With Technology, 1].
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In today's world, computer skills are essential for students to succeed in education and the
workplace. By implementing computer activities in a class, the instructor is reinforcing and
enhancing valuable skills that the students will need on an ongoing basis [Teaching With
Technology, 1]. Attempting to go into the workforce without any computer skills and expecting
anything above a minimum wage job is mostly a death sentence. Even low level entry jobs
require at least basic knowledge of how to use a typing program. In today's world, computer
skills are essential for students to succeed in education and the workplace. By implementing
computer activities in the class, you are reinforcing and enhancing valuable skills that your
students will need on an on going basis [Teaching With Technology, 1].
There are hundreds of important things one should know before they decide to crack open
a computer case and try to change out the parts that are inside it. Some of the most common
errors people make is unplugging the computer, therefore ungrounding the computer. Then when
they go to pull out the part they cause static electricity that frys their motherboard or another
critical component.. The Number One most common mistake is not grounding the device when
working with it; whether it be with a grounding bracelet, or through the grounding plug in the
systems power supply, Its a critical thing that one should never want to forget. Speaking of
power supplies another error a surprising amount of people make is they try to bypass the power
supply and connect the computer straight to the outlet without the buffer in between them. This
is a very bad idea because computers run off of DC (direct current) power, the wall outlets in all
houses provide you with AC (alternating current) power, this is the reason that computers need a
power supply unit in them to convert the power from AC to DC [Gilster, 1]. What that means is
that the computer receives power but doesn't send it back to the outlet, that is the critical reason a
power supply is required in a computer, otherwise you would overload the computer with too
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much electricity and fry all of the components and would be left with a mess that most don't
know what to do with.
Improper disposal of computer components is a major source of pollution. This is the
reason that by law several PC components require special handling as well as they have special
disposal procedures. [Gilster, 1]. A few of the major things to look for when disposing of
computer hardware is the CRT tubes in old monitors / televisions as they can contain up to and
more than 4 pounds of lead and have an environmental law saying they must be properly
disposed of. CRT tubes are typically in the monitors and not in the actual computer tower, the
components that are typically located in the tower and should be disposed of properly would
include the motherboard, which contains silicon and copper. And the Hard Drive are made out
of a spindle and 2 disks on the spindle with a reading arm that reads the disks the same way as
a record player reads a record. [Gilster, 1]. Both disks as well as the reading arm can be
dangerous for the environment if not disposed of properly.
As most would assume; installing parts into a computer sounds harder than it really it, a
good portion of computer parts just clip in or slide into the proper port that it belongs in. One
example of an easy to add component if you've got the slot on your motherboard would be RAM,
Although you want to be cautious with how much ram you actually add. A computer will always
benefit from adding more RAM but you run into a problem called diminishing returns, where
you might gain a 10% improvement from the first RAM set you add but only gain 5% from the
second set [Gilster, 1]. There are multiple parts of a computer that you will get diminishing
returns are you upgrade higher and higher, these include RAM, GPU, CPU and its chipset.
Deciding that you want to upgrade computer parts yourself can sometimes be a difficult process,
but in the end its always worth it.