computer

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, using as much power as several hundred modern computers. [1] Today, computers can be made small enough to fit into a wrist watch and be powered from a watch battery. Society has come to recognize personal computers and their portable equivalent, the laptop computer, as icons of the information age; they are what most people think of as "a computer". However, the most common form of computer in use today is by far the embedded computer. Embedded computers are 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.

history

History of computing It is difficult to define any one device as the earliest computer. The very definition of a computer has changed and it is therefore impossible to identify the first computer. Many devices once called "computers" would no longer qualify as such by today's standards. Originally , the term "computer" referred to a person who performed numerical calculations (a human computer), often with the aid of a mechanical calculating device. Examples of early mechanical computing devices included the abacus, the slide rule and arguably the astrolabe and the Antikythera mechanism (which dates from about 150-100 BC). The end of the Middle Ages saw a re-invigoration of European mathematics and engineering, and Wilhelm Schickard's 1623 device was the first of a number of mechanical calculators constructed by European engineers.

new computing

The New Computing movement stems from the book "Leonardo's Laptop: Human Needs and the New Computing Technologies" by Ben Shneiderman (MIT Press, summer 2002). The Table of Contents and the draft of the Chapter 1 summarize the arguments.The New Computing is an initiative of Human-Computer Interaction Lab at the University of Maryland, where the related research project, "Ending User Frustration" is supported under the National Science Foundation grant on "Internet Impact on Society." The project director is Sociology Professor John Robinson and their webuse website contains further information. Our 3-year research effort to study user frustration resulted in a set of seven papers.Our colleague Prof. Kent Norman has carried out a large online survey of computer rage with compelling stories of user anger, and his own special style of videos showing safe (amusing + disturbing) destruction of computer technologies.

old computing

The old computing is about what computers can do ,The new computing is about what people can do. The user experience with information and computing technology could be dramatically improved. Successful technologies are those that are truly useful and therefore in harmony with users' needs. They must support relationships and activities that enrich the users' experiences. Information and communication technologies are most appreciated when users experience a sense of security, mastery, and accomplishment. These technologies enable users to relax, enjoy and explore.