Computer Application

Submitted by:
Muhammad Qasim
BCM05111014
B.Com- 6th Semester
Submitted To:
Miss Hamna
Date:
2-10-2012

THE UNIVERSITY OF LAHORE

Department of Commerce

Computer Advantages and Disadvantages

Introduction:
A computer is an electronic device that store, process and display
information and data in a form that is easily understood. The main characteristics of a
computer are the very high speed with which calculations and processes are carried out
and also the very large amount of information and data that may be stored in relatively
small spaces called memory.

COMPUTER ADVANTAGES:
1. Educational benefits of computers:
The most important benefit of computers is their practicability. A single machine allows
students to calculate, to write essays and to search for information while listening to
music. For example, Office package includes a spreadsheet program, a word processor
and a presentation program. What is more, it includes a grammar and spelling check,
which simplifies edition. At the same time, the student can listen to music, watch a video,
record a CD, or chat with friends. In short, any computer shares the characteristics of a
radio, a television, a telephone, a notebook, and a calculator together with tools for
organization, for multimedia presentations and for grammatical corrections.

2. Accuracy:
Computers give exact and accurate figures (even in decimal places) about any process.
Although there are some chances of errors yet it provides high degree of consistency
accuracy. Normally, errors come due to user mistakes not by computer. If a user
provides wrong information or unplanned processing method to computer, it will give
errors because computer cannot think as human being; it is totally dependent on given
instructions and materials.

3. Speed of computer:
One of the main advantages in using computers is the possibility that a task that may
take longer to do by hand may be done in a shorter period of time using a computer.
Computers are designed to do tasks much faster and more accurately than humans.
Numerical computations, creation and editing of documents, data organization and
presentation, graphics are examples of tasks that are done efficiently when computers
are used.

4. Efficiency and productivity

It is perhaps easy to explain the efficiency of computers in comparing documents
produced using a typewriter and a word processor (on a computer). Using a word
processing makes it easy to make changes to letters, words, chapters or entire
documents. There are possibilities to spell check words and therefore make changes.
Deleting and inserting letters, words and paragraphs is done without leaving a trace.
When all necessary changes are made, files may be saved, printed, edited as many
times as is necessary, sent by e-mail to someone else in another continent within
minutes. When using a typewriter, a simple typing error would be time consuming to
fix. Several recent studies have shown a substantial increase in productivity due to the
use of computers.

5. Data storage:
Computer storage or memory is measured in bytes. A byte corresponds to 8 bits (binary
digit). For example it takes 1 byte (or 8 bits) to represent (store) a character of the
alphabet. A page of a book with 80 characters per line and 40 lines per page would need
80 * 40 = 3200 bytes of storage or 3 Kilobytes (1 Kilobyte = 1024 bytes).

A book of 400 pages would need 400 * 3 Kilobytes = 1.2 Megabytes (1 megabyte = 1000
Kilobytes)

What does all this mean in practical terms?

Example 1: A CD has a storage capacity of 600 Megabytes and therefore can hold the
contents of 600 / 1.2 = 500. Yes 500 books in one CD!
Example 2: A DVD has a storage capacity of 4.7 Gigabytes (1 Gigabyte = 1000
Megabytes) and can therefore hold 4700 / 1.2 = 4000 (approximately) books.

COMPUTER DISADVANTAGES:
1. Computer is dangerous:
To our health. The monitors used to be dangerous for our eyesight. Nowadays due to
technological development they are very safe. But there are other threats to our health
than damaging our sight. Working with computer and permanent looking on the monitor
can cause epilepsy, especially with children. Very often parents want to have a rest and
dont draw enough attention to how long their children use computer. This negative
effects also concerns TV screen.

2. Computer too complicated:

The biggest problem is when our hard disk brakes down because of the data stored on
it. Other computer hardware is easily replaceable. But there are many ways of avoiding
consequences of losing our data, for example by saving it on CDs. Except hardware
failures there are also software ones. For example, for many years Windows Operating
System was very unstable and thats why many other OS were written. Now the most
common are Linux, Windows XP, Windows 7 and Mac OS. Except of unstable OS
another and maybe the main threat to our data are computer viruses. There are billions
of them and every day new ones come into being. If you have the Internet connection
you have to be particularly careful and download anti-virus programs. Fortunately, there
are also many of them and most of them are freeware. You have to remember to
download updates.

3. Computer Addict:
As the popularity of computer and Internet increased, a new type of addiction also began
to emerge which is called computer addiction. The term computer addiction also
includes Internet addiction and hence, there are many experts who call it the Internet
Addiction Disorder. Computer addiction can be of different types which include addiction
to games, chatting, emailing, social networking, Internet browsing, online shopping,
online pornography, etc. Spending too much time in front of the computer can not only
affect the person who does it, but also the people around him. For instance, a person
who neglects work and other household duties to spend time in front of the computer
may get dismissed from his job and this may also cause rift between him and his family.
The problem of computer addiction is so severe that it is no longer restricted to adults,
but is seen in young children and teenagers too. Children tend to ignore their studies
and this can cause poor performance at school. As computer addiction can lead to a
whole lot of problems, it is important to gather information about it to recognize as well
as treat this disorder.

4. Computer virus:
There is no complete advantage to getting PC viruses; so its highly recommended that
you install some kind of antivirus software for your computer to stop many things like
computer viruses and hackers, if they do get into your computer there is a high chance
of them being able to control everything on your PC and getting personal information,
letting you have no control over it what so ever or could send a virus that can make your
entire PC automatically shut down.

5. Education loss of students:

While computers can be a valuable tool, there are disadvantages to integrating these
technological devices into a classroom. Computers offer convenience and allow students
to create polished products, but with these advantages come potential problems that
could lead to decreased educational effectiveness within a classroom and allow for
problems down the line in the child's schooling.