- Computer | Definition, History, Operating Systems, Facts | Britannica
A computer is a programmable device for processing, storing, and displaying information Learn more in this article about modern digital electronic computers and their design, constituent parts, and applications as well as about the history of computing
- Computer - Technology, Invention, History | Britannica
Computer - Technology, Invention, History: By the second decade of the 19th century, a number of ideas necessary for the invention of the computer were in the air First, the potential benefits to science and industry of being able to automate routine calculations were appreciated, as they had not been a century earlier
- What is a computer? - Britannica
A computer is a machine that can store and process information Most computers rely on a binary system, which uses two variables, 0 and 1, to complete tasks such as storing data, calculating algorithms, and displaying information
- computer summary | Britannica
computer, Programmable machine that can store, retrieve, and process data A computer consists of the central processing unit (CPU), main memory (or random-access memory, RAM), and peripherals (e g , a keyboard, a printer, disc drives)
- Personal computer (PC) | Definition, History, Facts | Britannica
Personal computer, a digital computer designed for use by only one person at a time A typical personal computer assemblage consists of a central processing unit, which contains the computer’s arithmetic, logic, and control circuitry on an integrated circuit; computer memory; and various peripheral devices
- Computer - Memory, Storage, Processing | Britannica
Computer - Memory, Storage, Processing: The earliest forms of computer main memory were mercury delay lines, which were tubes of mercury that stored data as ultrasonic waves, and cathode-ray tubes, which stored data as charges on the tubes’ screens
- Computer - Home Use, Microprocessors, Software | Britannica
Computer - Home Use, Microprocessors, Software: Before 1970, computers were big machines requiring thousands of separate transistors They were operated by specialized technicians, who often dressed in white lab coats and were commonly referred to as a computer priesthood
- Digital computer | Evolution, Components, Features | Britannica
digital computer, any of a class of devices capable of solving problems by processing information in discrete form It operates on data, including magnitudes, letters, and symbols, that are expressed in binary code —i e , using only the two digits 0 and 1
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