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Personal computer. An artist's depiction of a 2000s-era desktop-style personal computer, which includes a metal case with the computing components, a display and a keyboard (mouse not shown) A personal computer, often referred to as a PC, is a computer designed for individual use. [1] It is typically used for tasks such as word processing ...
A computer is a machine that can be programmed to automatically carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (computation). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic sets of operations known as programs. These programs enable computers to perform a wide range of tasks. The term computer system may refer to a nominally ...
The history of the personal computer as a mass-market consumer electronic device began with the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s. A personal computer is one intended for interactive individual use, as opposed to a mainframe computer where the end user's requests are filtered through operating staff, or a time-sharing system in which one large processor is shared by many individuals.
The world's first electronic digital computer, the Atanasoff–Berry computer, was built on the Iowa State campus from 1939 through 1942 by John V. Atanasoff, a professor of physics and mathematics, and Clifford Berry, an engineering graduate student. In 1941, Konrad Zuse developed the world's first functional program-controlled computer, the Z3.
Processor (computing) In computing and computer science, a processor or processing unit is an electrical component (digital circuit) that performs operations on an external data source, usually memory or some other data stream. [1] It typically takes the form of a microprocessor, which can be implemented on a single or a few tightly integrated ...
Classes of computers. Different types of computers – clockwise from top left: Desktop computer (IBM ThinkCentre S50 with monitor) Smartphone (LYF Water 2) Supercomputer (IBM Blue Gene/P) Video game console (Nintendo GameCube) Computers can be classified, or typed, in many ways. Some common classifications of computers are given below.
Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. [1][2][3] Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to applied disciplines (including the design and implementation of hardware and software). [4][5][6] Algorithms and data structures are central to ...
Information technology (IT) is a set of related fields that encompass computer systems, software, programming languages, and data and information processing, and storage. [1] IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). [2] An information technology system (IT system) is generally an information system, a communications ...