FACULTY OF

COMPUTER AND
MATHEMATICAL
SCIENCES

PHI 454

HISTORY AND
PHILOSOPHY OS SCINCE
TITTLE :
HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTERS
AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY

PREPARED BY
FARAH IZZAH BINTI MOHD YUSAK
2011158779
CS2273C

VERIFIED BY
PROF. MADYA HAJI SHAFIE MEHAD

TABLE OF CONTENT
No.

________

Content

Page

1.0

Introduction.

1.1
2.0

3.0

Objectives..

Introduction of computers..

2.1

Relationships between computer, computer science and IT..

Evolution of computers generation...

3.1

First generation.

10

3.2

Second Generation

14

3.3

Third generation...

16

3.4

Fourth Generation...

19

3.5

Fifth Generation

21

4.0

Impact of computer on society...

23

5.0

Human Computer Interaction (HCI)

27

5.1

Meaning of HCI.

27

5.2

Can Machines Think? ..

29

5.3

Human Thinking Vs. Machine Thinking..

31

6.0

Networking..

32

7.0

Artificial Intelligence..

33
2

8.0

9.0

Conclusion...

35

8.1

36

What I have gained from this paper? ...............................................

Reference

37

1.0 INTRODUCTION
This term paper is to make a brief history of the development of computer also
its impact on society. We can look through the advantages and disadvantages of using
computer nowadays on society especially among children and adult. As the world is
3

now being conquered by development of many new technologies, we as the user

always being curious about the new technology sometimes can lead to bad influence
if we don't use it in a good way. Explores other side effects in the use of computers,
we can also learn more and can get to know how development of the computer on
how they build an idea on developing computer by generation to another generation.
This also will give us exposure about the inventor in which resulted in the invention
of the computer. Through the latest technology which lead the newest application of
computer and how they relate to the others field such as networking, architecture and
others field that related to the development.

1.1

OBJECTIVE

Objectives of the term paper:

To have an insight into the philosophical, scientific and technical
aspects of the enterprise.
To self-evaluate the learning experience.

2.0 INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTER

Technically, a computer is a programmable machine. This means it can
execute a programmed list of instructions and respond to new instructions that it is
given. Other than that, computer is also known as a group of pieces of hardware put
together to get a job done faster. A computer is a machine for manipulating data
according to a list of instructions. Computers take numerous physical forms. Early
electronic computers were the size of a large room, consuming as much power as
several hundred modern personal computers. However, the most common form of
computer in use today is by far the embedded computer. Embedded computers are
4

small, simple devices that are often used to control other devices. For example they
may be found in machines ranging from fighter aircraft to industrial robots, digital
cameras, and even children's toys.
Computers are tools used to process the data according to commands that have
been formulated. Computer words originally used to describe people who work
perform arithmetic calculations, with or without a walker, but the meaning of this
word is then transferred to the machine itself. Originally, the processing of
information is almost exclusively related to arithmetical problems, but modern
computers

are

used

for

many

tasks

unrelated

to

mathematics.

Broadly, the computer can be defined as an electronic device that consists of several
components, which can cooperate between the components with one another to
produce information based on existing programs and data. The computer components
are included: Screen Monitor, CPU, Keyboard, Mouse and Printer (as
complementary). Without a computer printer can still do its job as a data processor,
but not limited to the monitor screen looks in print form (paper).

However, Computer science is the study of the storage, design, operation of

computer hardware and software, and of the application of computer technology to
science, business, and the arts, transformation and transfer of information. The field
encompasses both the theoretical study of algorithms (including their design,
efficiency and application) and the practical problems involved in implementing them
in terms of computer software and hardware. Computer science was designated the
scientific and mathematical approach in computing. Computer science deals with the
theoretical foundations of information, computation, and with practical techniques for
their implementation and application.
Although its name contains the word science, computer science is usually
considered to be a branch of engineering. This is in sharp contrast to most of the
physical sciences, which separate the understanding and advancement of the science
from its practical applications. Science is a technique for learning about the natural
world by applying the principles of the scientific method (which includes making
empirical observations, proposing hypotheses to explain those observations, and then
testing those hypotheses); engineering is the application of science. Computers are
virtually indispensable to the field of computer science. Yet, as Edsger Dijkstra, a
pioneering computer scientist, so aptly put it, "Computer science is no more about
computers than astronomy is about telescopes."
Computer science has its roots primarily in the fields of electrical engineering,
mathematics and linguistics. It is still a relatively young field, mainly because it was
only about a half century ago that electronics technology became sufficiently
advanced to allow the construction of even primitive electronic computing devices.
However, the beginning of computer science is generally placed in the 1940s. At that
time, World War II stimulated the development of the first digital electronic
computers, particularly for use in calculating trajectories for projectiles and in
breaking codes. Thus, it has only been a few decades since computer science became
recognized as a distinct discipline and developed its own terminology and methods.

There are several additional, commonly used terms related to the study of
computers. The most popular of these is information technology (IT), which can be
defined as the branch of technology devoted to the study and application of data and
the processing thereof. Information Technology (IT) is concerned with technology to
treat information. IT can also be thought of as applied computer systems, including
both hardware and software, usually in the context of a business or other enterprise,
and often including networking and telecommunications. The term computer science
is usually reserved for the more theoretical, academic aspects of computing. Another
commonly used term, information systems (IS), refers to the application of computers
to support the operations of businesses and other organizations. It includes the
installation, operation and maintenance of computer hardware, software and data.
In relative terms, it wasn't long ago that the Information Technology
department might have consisted of a single Computer Operator, who might be
storing data on magnetic tape, and then putting it in a box down in the basement
somewhere. IT is a wide based term and encompasses many areas. Professionals in
information technology may perform a wide variety of tasks that range from installing
computer applications to designing widely complex computer networks and
information databases. While technology today encompasses a wide range of
individual focuses, it is becoming increasing clear that the IT field of the future will
include many more topics and more demand than ever before.
2.1

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMPUTER, COMPUTER SCIENCE & IT

Computer is a machine that does what had been instructed. However
Computer Science is basically concerned with the study of computers. A
student of Computer Science learns about hardware and operating systems. It
is also about highly technical stuff like registers, multitasking kernels,
databases and address buses. It is said to be about the principles of computing
and about the design of the computer and its operation. Computer science is
concerned only with computers while it is not so with Information technology.
7

Information technology is concerned with technology to treat information.

Information Technology on the other hand is about how the computer can be
employed to various operations in life. Thus it concerned with the study of
applying computer science to day-to-day human operations in industries and
businesses.
Information Technology- Deals with the technologies used by people
and businesses every day. This includes phones, computers, networks, and
video conferencing. Computer Science- An academic field devoted to the
study of computing, including a wide variety of scientific, mathematical, and
practical problems which can be solved using computers. While Computer
Science does teach about the computer itself, it also studies the underlying
ideas behind computing and how computers can be used to study other
problems. Heres an analogy - think of how an astronomer uses a telescope to
study the stars. Yes, the astronomer needs to know how to use the telescope
(and how they work and are built), but he is interested in studying the stars
and really uses the telescope as a tool. Thus, we are using computer as a tools
by knowledge that we learn from computer science and by using information
technology provided we can connect to others outside the world. The same
holds for the relationship between the computer scientist and the computer.
The computer scientist uses the computer to conduct science.

3.0 EVOLUTION OF COMPUTER GENERATION

With the onset of the Second World War, the countries involved in the war
sought to develop computers to exploit their potential strategic computer. This
increased funding for computer development projects hastened technical progress.
Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technological development
that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in increasingly
smaller, cheaper, and powerful and more efficient and reliable devices. Computers
weren't as technological and complex like the ones we know. Early computers didn't
8

use chips or monitors. They weren't as small nor big like the ones today. The history
of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations
of computing devices. Each generation of computer is characterized by a major
technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate,
resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper, and more powerful and more efficient and
reliable devices. Read about each generation and the developments that led to the
current devices that we use today.
Development of computer architecture started as soon as the creation of
Abacus in 500BC. The development continues and improved from time to time. In
1801, Joseph Marie Jacquard invented loom with punched cards. Blaise Pascal
invented the first calculating machine that can do addition and subtraction in 1642.
Baron Wilhelm Von Leibniz builds a machine that can multiply and divide. In 1800s
Charles Babbage created an analytical engine that not only perform calculation but
also print the output. George Boole then developed binary theory of logic which
explains relationship between binary arithmetic and Boolean Logic.
3.1
FIRST GENERATION
First generation was powered by thousands of vacuum tubes. The
vacuum tubes themselves were large (the size of todays light bulb). They
required great amounts of energy, and they generated much heat.
Unfortunately, a tube failure occurred average once every 7 minutes. Since it
took more than 15 minutes to find and replace the faulty tube, it was difficult
to get any useful computing work done. Moreover, the ENIAC was enormous,
occupying 1500 square feet and weighing 30 tons. The computers memory
was stored on magnetic storage devices, primarily magnetic tapes and
magnetic drums. Most of the data were entered into the computers on punched
cards similar to those used in Jacquards process. Output consisted of punched
cards or paper. 1937 John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry created ABC, the
first binary-based machine. In 1946 John Mauchly and J. Eckert come out
with the first digital computer called ENIAC.

The ENIAC is Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer invented

by John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania.
It was designed and built between 1943 and 1946. It contained 18,000 vacuum
tubes and 1500 relays. It also had 20 registers, each capable of holding a 10digit decimal number. The system could also provide printed output. The
programs could not be stored internally but were hard wired with external
patch panels and toggle switches. ENIAC is generally considered as the first
all-electronic digital computer. ENIAC led directly to the development of
UNIVAC, the worlds first commercially available computer in 1951.

10

The consultant in the ENIAC project is John Von Neumann, came up

with the idea of stored program, which in published in his proposal on the
EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Computer). Program could be
represented in digital form in the computers memory, along with the data.
EDVAC was developed by Mauchly and Eckert based on Von Neumann
Machine. It was developed at the University of Pennsylvania. EDVAC was
completed in1950. It stored its instructions electronically, using the binary
system for instruction coding and input. The EDVAC was one of the first twostored program computers. His basic design is known as the Von Neumann
Machine. It had 5 basic parts: the memory, the ALU, the program CU, and the
input and output equipment.

The computer referred to as IAS that was built by John Von Neumann
in 1947 at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies. It was completed in
1951 and fully operational in 1952. The machine was binary computer with a
40-bit word, storing to 20 bit instructions in each word. The IAS instructions
can be grouped into; data transfer that move data between and ALU register or
between two ALU registers, unconditional branch which normally the control
unit executes instructions in sequence from memory; this sequence can be
changed by a branch instruction, this facilities repetitive operation, conditional
branch which the branch can be made dependent on a condition, thus allowing
decision points, arithmetic where performed by ALU, and address
modifications that permits the address to be computed in the ALU and then
into instructions stored in memory. The importantly, the IAS machine was the
first design to mix programs and data in a single memory. It used about 2300
tubes in its circuitry. The addition time was 62 microseconds and the
multiplication time was 713 microsecond. It was an asynchronous machine,

11

meaning that there was no central clock regulating the timing of the
instructions. One instruction started executing when the previous one finished.

The EDSAC is (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator). The machine

also having been inspired by John Von Neumanns seminal EDVAC report
was constructed by Maurice Wilkes and his team at the University of
Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory in England. EDSAC was the worlds
first practical stored program electronic computer (that honor goes to the
small-scale Experimental Machine). Von Neumanns machine contained every
major feature considered essential to modern computer architecture.

12

3.2

SECOND GENERATION
The device that characterized the second generation computers was the
transistors. In 1948, the invention of the transistor greatly influenced the
development of computers. Transistor replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in
the second generation of computers. Second generation of computers was
invented in 1947. Transistor was invented in Bell Labs in 1948 by John
Barden, Walter Brattain and William Shockley. Transistor is a small device
that transfer electronic signal across a resistor. A transistor is essentially a tiny
electronically operated switch, or gate, that can be alternate between on and
off many millions of times per second. Transistors were made of
semiconductor and controlled the flow of electricity through circuits. The
transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become
smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their
first-generation predecessors. Also fewer transistor than tubes were required to
operate a computer. Transistor was not fragile and they lasted longer than
vacuum tubes.
During second generation, the first transistor was build was The TX-0
at M.I.T. this machine was merely intended as a device to test the much
13

fancier TX-2. After TX-0 was build, PDP-1 was manufactured by DEC in
1961. It had 4K of 18-bit words and a cycle time of 5 microseconds. It cost
$120,000. One of the PDP-1s many innovations was a visual display (CRT)
and the ability to plot points anywhere on its 512 x 512 screen. A few years
later DEC introduced the PDP-8 which uses a single bus, the omnibus. The
third innovation was build is IBM 7090. The performances was double that of
PDP-1. It was the fastest computers in the world at that time. It cost millions
of dollars. Later IBM introduced the 7094. Both 7090 and 7094 marked the
end of ENIAC type machine. CDC 6600 was introduced by CDC. It was
highly parallel machine. It had several functional units for and all of them
could run in parallel. The last innovation were built during second generation
is The Burroughs B5000 that programmed in Algol 60, a forerunner of Pascal.
The idea that software also counted was born.

14

3.3

THIRD GENERATION
Third generation was built during 1964-1971 which is Integrated
Circuits (IC). Integrated circuits signified the beginning of third generation
computers. The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the
third generation of computers. Unlike transistors and circuit boards that were
assembled manually, integrated circuits (ICs) were single, complete electronic
semiconductor circuits contained on pieces of silicon, sometimes called chips.
Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called
semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of
computers. ICs could be manufactured by machinery, which ultimately
resulted in a lower cost. Instead of punched cards and printouts, users
interacted with third generation of computers through keyboards and monitors
and interface with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many
different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the
memory. Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience
because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.
By 1969, as many as 1,000 transistors can be built on a chip of silicon.
Magnetic disks were improved and were used more for storage. Monitors and
keyboards were introduced for data input and output. IBM360 allow the
15

concept of multiprogramming to control circuits stored on chips. In 1971 Dr.

Ted Hoff introduced the micro-programmable computer chip, Intel4001.

16

Individual transistor was replaced by integrated circuits. Magnetic tape

and disks completely replace punch cards as external storage devices.
Magnetic core internal memories began to give way to a new form, metal
oxide semiconductor (MOS) memory, which like integrated circuits, used
silicon-backed chips.
Although transistors were great deal of improvement over the vacuum
tubes, they generated heat and damaged the sensitive areas of the computer.
The Integrated Circuit(IC) was invented in 1958 by Jack Kilby. It combined
electronic components onto a small silicon disc, made from quartz. More
advancement made possible the fittings of even more components on a small
chip or a semi-conductor. Also in third generation computers, the operating
systems allowed the machines to run many different applications. These
17

applications were monitored and coordinated by the computer's memory.

Although the transistor is in many ways the vacuum tube, but transistors
generate substantial heat, which can potentially damage the internal parts of a
computer. Quartz stone (quartz rock) eliminates this problem. Jack Kilby, an
engineer at Texas Instruments, developed the integrated circuit (IC: integrated
circuit) in 1958. IC combined three electronic components in a small silicon
disc made from quartz sand. Scientists later managed to fit more components
into a single chip, called a semiconductor. The result, computers became ever
smaller as more components were squeezed onto the chip. Other thirdgeneration development is the use of the operating system (operating system)
that allows the machine to run many different programs at once with a central
program that monitored and coordinated the computer's memory.

3.4

FOURTH GENERATION
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as
thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in
the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand.
The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the
computer from the central processing unit and memory to input/output
controls on a single chip. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, took the
18

integrated circuit one step further by locating all the components of a

computer (central processing unit, memory, and input and output controls) on
a minuscule chip. Due to the reduction of cost and the availability of the
computers power at a small place allowed everyday user to benefit. First came
the minicomputers, which offered users different applications, most famous of
these the word processors and spreadsheets, which could be used by nontechnical users. Video game systems like Atari 2600 generated the interest of
general populace in the computers.
In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in
1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the
realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and more
everyday products began to use microprocessors. The number of personal
computers in use more than doubled from 2 million in 1981 to 5.5 million in
1982. Ten years later, 65 million PCs were being used. Computer size kept
getting reduced during the years. It went down from Desktop to laptops to
Palmtops. Macintosh introduced Graphic User Interface in which the users
didnt' have to type instructions but could use Mouse for the purpose.

The continued improvement allowed the networking of computers for

the sharing of data. Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Network
(WAN) were potential benefits, in that they could be implemented in
corporations and everybody could share data over it. Soon the internet and
World Wide Web appeared on the computer scene and fermented the Hi-Tech
revolution of 90's. As these small computers became more powerful, they
could be linked together to form networks, which eventually led to the
development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the
development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.
19

3.5

FIFTH GENERATION
Fifth generation (1991 2005 and beyond) Our current generation
referred to as the connected generation because of the industrys massive
effort to increase the connectivity of computers. The rapidly expanding
Internet, World Wide Web, and intranets have created an information
superhighway that has enabled both computer professionals and home
computer users to communicate with others across the globe. The fifth
generation begins with the creation and use of a computer with Artificial
Intelligence. Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial
20

intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications, such
as voice recognition, that are being used today. The use of parallel processing
and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.
Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically
change the face of computers in years to come. The goal of fifth-generation
computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are
capable of learning and self-organization.
They will be able to take commands in an audio visual way and carry
out instructions. Many of the operations which require low human intelligence
will be performed by these computers. Parallel Processing is coming and
showing the possibility that the power of many CPU's can be used side by
side, and computers will be more powerful than those under central
processing. Advances in Super Conductor technology will greatly improve the
speed of information traffic. Future looks bright for the computers.

Many advances in the field of computer design and technology are

increasingly enabling the manufacture of fifth generation computers. Two
engineering advances which are mainly parallel processing capabilities, which
will replace the non-Neumann model. Non Neumann model will be replaced
with a system that is able to coordinate many CPUs to work in unison.
21

Advancement is the superconducting technology that enables the flow of

electrically without any obstacles, which in turn can accelerate the speed of
information.

4.0 IMPACT OF COMPUTER ON SOCIETY

Computers are commonly used items in many areas. It is important thing to
people, especially the people who run organizations and industry. Almost anything
you know is run or made by computers. Cars and jets are designed on computers,
traffic signals are run by computers, most medical equipment use computer and space
exploration was started with computers. Most of the jobs today require the use of
computers. These mechanical brains made a huge impact on our society. It would be
hard if we didnt have the compute around. Computers changed the world a lot. It
helped man step forward into the future. Thanks to computers, space exploration
came true, new design of vehicles and other transportation were made, entertaining
and medical science made more cures for diseases. Computers impacted many item in

22

todays society. There are some advantages and disadvantages of computers effects on
society same goes to our industry and our self.
Computers changed the world a lot. It helped man step forward into the future.
Thanks to computers, space exploration came true, new designs of vehicles and other
transportation were made; entertainment became more entertaining, medical science
made more cures for diseases. The computers impacted our lives in many ways. You
may not notice it but they did make life a lot easier. Without computers, the world
would be a harder place to live in. Thanks to the computers, everyday life is easier for
us. Some people may disagree but most wouldn't. Some people say that computers are
taking away man power. That may be true but computers did make the impossible
possible. Computers impacted many items in today's society. One area the computer
impacted on is the business area. Business uses computers for keeping track of
accounts, money, or items that they need. You may notice business people using
computers a lot, especially the laptop computers, portable computers that can be taken
to your work area. You may see people use things like pie-charts and graphs when
they present information to other business people in meetings. Most of those charts
were made by computers. The business field uses the computers a lot for their
companies and organizations.

23

Another area computers impacted on is the entertainment area. Most of the

people out there like science fiction or action movies, especially the ones with the
neat looking effects. Well, those graphics were mostly made by computers. Most of
the movies today use computer graphics to make things more realistic but not real.
Computer graphics are mostly used on spaceships, aliens, monsters, and special
effects. To the left is a picture from the movie "Godzilla." Not only movies used
computer animations and graphics. Games on the latest game consoles like the PC,
PlayStation and Nintendo 64 used the computers to make the coolest games ever. Of
course all of you heard of the game Final Fantasy VII. It was the first Final Fantasy
game to have a 3D environment and neat computer animation. It was a big moneymaking seller. Games now and days use computer graphics and animations to make
the coolest games. Computer games also have their share.

Education was impacted by computers as well. Computers help out students in

a lot of today's projects and essays. If a student were to do an essay on the planet
Saturn, they could look in an electronic encyclopedia in the computer or they could
look up their topic on the internet. They could also type their essays and reports on
what's called a word-processing program. This program allows you to type anything
out from a school essay to business papers. You can make your paper look very neat
by adding images and neat looking text to impress your teacher. Now and days,
typing out essays and reports are mandatory, especially in High School. Computers
help students in any way they need, researching, typing, and searching. Teachers use
computers as well. They use computers to keep track of grades, type out instruction
for their students, and to let students use the computer for school purposes.
An important field computers impacted on is the medical field. The computers
helped the hospitals out very much. In pharmacies, the pharmacists use computers to
24

keep a record of what medication to give to a patient and the amount they need. Most
computers in the hospital are used to keep data of patience and their status.
Computers also keep track of equipment placement and status as well. Scientists need
the help of computers to find cures for diseases that need cures like cancer and STDs.
Without the computers help, cures for a lot of diseases wouldnt have been found.
Computer helped the medical area a lot and we are grateful for that since they keep
track of our health. Other areas the computer impacted on are space exploration and
designs of transportation.

However, there are disadvantages of the computer to the society. Some of

them are that the computers make our mind lazy. People can search any information
by clicking on the keyboards and it will give many descriptions that you want
unlimitedly. Then, you used to not reading book, or researching something at the
library. Just a few key-strokes and you have your answer. Besides that, there are
physical things like carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain disorders, and
eye strain. Spending too much on computer, people can get sick such as back pain,
arm ache, and many side effect can get from spending too much in front of computer.
Others disadvantages are it takes one way from socializing with others in person
since, they always socialize through the computer with others people that they dont
25

even see who they are in real live. Through computer also children especially
spending too much time playing online games or chatting over the computer instead
of reading books, taking walks, and doing homework. And after a while, the people
will soon become addicted to the games, and cannot stop from play it. It is good to
find something you enjoy and to do it to relax, but doing too much of it will also
result in negative consequences. Being on a computer too much can also lead to antisocial behavior and depression.

5.0 HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION(HCI)

5.1

MEANING OF HCI
Human computer interaction (HCI) is a discipline concerned with the design,

evolution and implementation of interactive computing system for human use and
with the study of major phenomena surrounding them. HCI is also involving of study,
planning, and design of the interaction between people (users) and computers. Human
computer interaction is an interaction between users and computers that occur at the
user interface which includes both software and hardware. For example, characters or
objects displayed by software on a personal computers monitor, input received from
user via hardware peripherals such as keyboards and mouse, and other user
interactions with large-scale computerized systems such as aircraft and power plants.

26

The human computer interface can be described as the point of

communication between human and user and computer. The flow of information
between human and computer is defined as the loop of interaction. The loop has
several aspects to it including which is task environment in which the conditions and
goals set upon the user. Second is the machine environment in which the computer
connected example a laptop in a company offices room. Third are the areas of the
interface in non-overlapping areas involving processes of the human and computer
not pertaining to their interaction. Fourth is the input flow, the flow of information
that begins in the task environment, when the user has some task that requires using
their computer. The fifth is output in which the flow of information that originates in
the machine environment and lastly is the feedback. It loops through the interface that
evaluate moderate, and confirm processes as they pass from the human through the
interface to the computer and back.
HCI is important because it is the study of our interface with information. It is
not just how big should I make buttons or how to layout menu choices. It can
effect on effectiveness, productivity, morale, safety.
27

5.2

CAN MACHINES THINK?

Can machines think like a human think? The initial successes of computers in
replicating seemingly intelligent behavior quickly led to argument and speculation
about what it would mean for a computer to be 'intelligent. We should go back to
basic on the meaning of the computer. Originally, word computer comes from
compute means calculate. A computer is a programmable machine designed to
automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular
28

sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more
than one kind of problem.
Computer cannot think, there are involve of artificial intelligence algorithms
that give the illusion of the computer thinking but its really just following
recognition. An important class of computer operations on some computing platforms
is the accepting of input from human operators and the output of results formatted for
human consumption.
Alan Turing asked that question in 1950 and proposed a test to determine if a
computer could think. Turing described a simple party game which involves three
players. Player A is a man, player B is a woman and player C is an interrogator. The
set-up is such that player C is unable to see either of A or B and only communicate
with them using written media. By asking questions to player A and B , player C tries
to determine which of the two is the man, and which of the two is the woman. Player
A is to trick the interrogator into making the wrong decision, while player B attempts
to assist the interrogator. Turing proposed that player A be replaced with a computer.
The success of the computer is determined by comparing the outcome of the game
when player A is a computer against the outcome when player A is a man. Or to put it
in Turings words:
The interrogator decides wrongly as often when the game is played (with the
computer) as he does when the game is played between a man and a woman, and then
it can be argued that the computer is intelligent
As with the Original Imitation Game Test, the role of player A is performed by
a computer. The difference is that now the role of player B is to be performed by a
man, rather than by a woman. In this version both player A (the computer) and player
B are trying to trick the interrogator into making an incorrect decision. A man can fail
the OIG Test, but it is argued that this is a virtue of a test of intelligence if failure
indicates a lack of resourcefulness. It is argued that the OIG Test requires the
29

resourcefulness associated with intelligence and not merely "simulation of human

conversational behavior".

5.3

HUMAN THINKING Vs MACHINE THINKING

Many of us think that computers are many times faster, more powerful and

more capable when compared to our brains simply because they can perform
calculations thousands of time faster, workout logical computations without error and
store memory at incredible speeds with flawless accuracy. The human brain, we can
only estimate the processing power of the average human brain as there is no way to
measure it quantitively as of yet. If the theory of taking nerve volume to be
proportional to processing power is true we then, may have a correct estimate of the
human brain's processing power. Human retina seems to process about ten onemillion-point images per second.
The computer the most powerful experimental super computers in 1998,
composed of thousands or tens of thousands of the fastest microprocessors and
costing tens of millions of dollars, can do a few million MIPS. These systems were
used mainly to stimulate physical events for high-value scientific calculations. The
brain has about 100 million MIPS worth of processing power while recent supercomputers only has a few million MIPS worth in processor speed. That said, the brain
is still the winner in the race. Because of the cost, enthusiasm and efforts still
required, computer technology has still some length to go before it will match the
human brain's processing power.

30

We must know that brains are analogue, however computers are digital.
Another difference is that the brain uses content-addressable memory, such that
information can be accessed in memory through spreading activation compare to
the computer refer to addressable memory by polling its precise memory address.

6.0 NETWORKING
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of
hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that
allow sharing of resources and information. A network consists of two or more
computers that are linked in order to share resources (such as printers and CDs),
exchange files, or allow electronic communications. Where at least one process in one
device is able to send/receive data to/from at least one process residing in a remote
device, then the two devices are said to be in a network. Networks may be classified
according to a wide variety of characteristics such as the medium used to transport the
data, communications protocol used, scale, topology, and organizational scope. The
computers on a network may be linked through cables, telephone lines, radio waves,
satellites, or infrared light beams. Two very common types of networks include is
Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN). Besides that, you may
also see references to a Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), a Wireless LAN
(WLAN), or a Wireless WAN (WWAN).

31

Networking allows us to share our internet connection and files to multiple

sites. It helps for internet access to be direct through our computer. There are network
topologies we can refer in computer networking.

7.0 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines and the branch of

computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and
design of intelligent agents where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its
environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of success. John McCarthy,
who coined the term in 1956, defines it as "the science and engineering of making
intelligent machines." AI research is highly technical and specialized, deeply divided
into subfields that often fail to communicate with each other. Subfields have grown up
32

around particular institutions, the work of individual researchers, and the solution of
specific problems and the application of widely differing tools. The central problems
of AI include such traits as reasoning, knowledge, planning, learning, communication,
perception and the ability to move and manipulate objects.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the area of computer science focusing on creating
machines that can engage on behaviors that humans consider intelligent. The ability
to create intelligent machines has intrigued humans since ancient times and today
with the advent of the computer and 50 years of research into AI programming
techniques, the dream of smart machines is becoming a reality. Researchers are
creating systems which can mimic human thought, understand speech, beat the best
human chess player, and countless other feats never before possible. Find out how the
military is applying AI logic to its hi-tech systems, and how in the near future
Artificial Intelligence may impact our lives.
Haugeland, 1985 said the exciting new effort to make computers think.
Machines with minds, in the full and literal sense. In the context of behavior Rich and
Knight, 1991 said the study of how to make computers do things at which, at the
moment, people are better. Intelligent agents are involved in AI to perceive,
understand, and act, example is speech recognition and understanding and synthesis,
image understanding and ability to take actions and have an effect.

33

8.0 CONCLUSION
Computer is the most important thing in our lives. Now we are in the
technology time and everything is connected with computers. Most of colleges and
Universities have classes that deal with computers. Computer is a very essential thing
in our life. During the past 10 years, the use of computers in education has increased
dramatically and a wide range of educational computer programmed is now widely
available for individual and classroom use. The computer had made its mark
everywhere in society and built up a huge industry. The future is promising for the
computer industry and its technology.
Computers distribute a lot of function to make human life easier and faster.
There are advantages and disadvantages of using computer in our daily life, but we
have to control our self in using computer and used it wisely. However there is lots of
things to do in our life, that would not be possible by doing own self. Thats the
reason we need computer.

8.1

WHAT I HAVE GAINED FROM THIS PAPER?

34

From this term paper I get a lot of knowledge about computer development
and the history of development. I know that computer have its own advantages that
we cant deny that computer help people in many area of studies. Though, its
sometime can give a bad influence to us. Besides that, I know that machine can never
be compare to human thinking even though computer can process faster and
accurately, but it cannot think logically like human think. It also helps me know how
computer connected to the networking and artificial intelligence area to make the
computer works more technologically.
This is a very exciting time to be alive since we all get to see how quickly
computer technology is evolving, and how much it is changing all of our lives for the
better. It is a vast and exciting world that is always changing. We are lucky to be alive
to witness computers past and present.

9.0 REFERENCES
ACM SIGCHI Curricula for HCI (Hewett et al.1992)
Michael Egnor, World Wide Web, www.evolutionnews.org
World Wide Web, www.webopedia.com
Turing A. Computing machinery and intelligence. 1950.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
35

 Elinor Koenen, Western Michigan University, Michigan, on November 3,

2009.

36