Thursday, May 29, 2008

Trends on Technology

Technology is a product of science and engineering studying the natural world. It is the process by which humans transform nature to meet their wants and needs. It deals with the usage and knowledge of tools and crafts and how it affects the ability to control and adapt to the environment.

It comes from the latin word "technologia"-"techne"(craft) and "logia" (saying). Inspites of this elusive definition, "technology can refer to material objects of use of humanity, such as utensils, machines, or hardware but it can also encompass broader themes, including techniques, systems, or organizations. The term can either be applied generally
or specifically such as "medical technology","information technology", "space technology", "construction technology", or "state-of-the-art technology".

The trends on technology mirror a market that is in brisk and vague evolution. Contemporary technology trends are always changing and new developments are constantly improving the whole world. The latest and its advantages are as follows:


The many inventions on the different aspect of computer. Basic components of computer are: hardware, software and peopleware. Software refers to the set of instructions or programs, example includes: operating system, utilities, compilers or interpreters, and any other software packages. Hardware is the physical equipment of the computer. Hardware of personal computer for example are: monitor, keyboard, system unit formerly known as CPU, mouse, printers, webcam and any other peripheral devices of a PC. Peopleware represents the personnel involved in the systems analysis, operations, maintenance and the likes. Discovery of new products in this field is unstoppable.

Software and Hardware vendors are facing momentous changes to their business model. With new products and an ad blitz, it aims to climb out of the commodity bin. Example of large software companies are: Microsoft, Oracle, First Data, SAP, Accenture, Google, Yahoo, Computer Sciences Corporation, Electronic Data Systems, SoftBank, Symantec, CA, Fiserv, Affiliated Computer Services, Adobe Systems, Capgemini Group, ASML Holding, Electronic Arts, Advantest, Intuit, Autodesk, VeriSign, Check Point Software, DST Systems, The Sage group, Dassault Systemes, CSK, Akamai Tecnologies and many more.

Companies that sell operating system like Windows, Office Applications for making professional documents, financial reports, presentations, IT security (anti-virus, internet protection, and the likes) and other programs spring turning a marketing blunder into a witty field that could change your work and even your life.

Electronic payment services are wooing more and more consumers and merchants, and becoming the silence stars of e-commerce. Companies doing business online to spend the money to create more. Their business growth cycle and are committed to helping them succeed.

Printer, scanner, speaker, headphones, modems, faxes, copiers, and other peripheral devices of personal computer comes in different designs, colors, sizes, and impressive features that would help consumers keep better tabs of their growing collection of documents, photos, music, and videos.

Wireless gadgets are moving ahead from the advent of the iPhone to widgets for kids. Developers of mobile phones inevitably producing different highly-featured brand that would meet the needs of their consumers.

Cable Companies are rapidly growing changes millions of televisions worldwide. Family reunites just to watch their favorite television shows.

Computer gaming gradually drawing attention to people of all ages nowadays. It is one of the fastest growing segments which make it a multi-billion pound industry. It has a unique form of entertainment that the world has never seen before.


The modes of transportation through high-powered transport facilities are getting faster and more reliable. Travel by land, water or air at no time is no longer impossible. Examples of modes of transport are: Aviation (Aircraft, Jetpack); Ship (Boat, Ferry, Submarine); Rail (Cable Car, Underground Railway); Road (Car, Motorcycle); Ski lift (Telecabine, Teleski); Other (Rocket, Spacecraft)


In medicine more drugs has been produced and most of the sickness were cured and may even be prevented. Thanks to the advance medical equipments and tools. For home type of medical equipment example includes: Air Ioniser, Air Purifier, Artificial limb, Breast Protheses, Cannula, Commodes, Continious Positive Airway Pressure, Crutch, Diabetic Shoes, Dynamic Splint, Enteral Nutrition, Elevating Toilet Seat, Infusion Pump, Nasal Cannula, Nebulizer, Orthosis, Oxygen concentrator, Patient lift, Positive Airway Pressure, Prosthesis, Respiratory Assist Devices, Seat lift, Walkers and Wheelchairs.


It's not only eating that is fun but as well as cooking. All because of the newly released amazing machines we have for food preparation. For food preparation utensils we have: Baba Mold, Bain Marie, Banneton, Busting Brush, Basting Syringe, Bench Scraper, Blender, Bone Scissors, Bread Knife, Browning Tray, Candy Thermometer, Can Opener, Casserole, Cauldron, Cheese Cloth, Cheese Grater, Cheese Slicer, Chief's knife, Chinoise, Colander, Cookie Cutter, Chop Sticks, Crockery, Cutting Board, Double Boiler, Drum Sieve, Egg Piercer, Egg Slicer, Egg timer, Faucet, Fillet Knife, Frying Pan, Idli/Pan Tray, Kitchen Scissors, Knife, Knife Grinder, Ladle, Lame, Lemon Reamer, Lemon Squeezer, Lemon Zester, Mandoline, Mated colander Pot, Measuring Cup, Measuring Spoon, Molcajete, Mortar, Muffin Tin, Nut Cracker, Oven Mitts, Pastry Bags, Pastry Brush, Peel(tool), Pestle, Pepper Mill, Pizza Cutter, Potato Masher, Potato Peeler, Potato Ricer, Potholder, Puree Sieve, Rolling Pin, Roulade Needles, Salamander, Salamander Grill, Salt Shaker, Scale, Scoop, Scraper, Sieve, Skillet, Skimmer, Slotted Spoon, Spatula, Spider, Stainless Steel Soap, Strainer, String, Sugar Spoon, Tamis, Timer, Tin Foil, Tongs, Toast-Tite, Tomato Knife, Vegetable Knife, Waffle Iron, Whisk and Wooden Spoon.


Now that most business operations and knowledge works are conducted in the digital domain via computers, and because we now have a global data communications network which does not restrict the type of data shared, technology is changing yet again. And it will continuously grows as long as the world needs it.


Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The Unknown Computer

Introduction

Computer!...Computer!...Computer!...You often heard the word computer. Here, there, and everywhere. Most of the time, you use the term. But do you know the meaning of it?


There are many version of its definition, as many as, published books, dictionaries, magazines, websites, and other materials. There are meaning that are long; very long, short and very short...

The way a meaning is expressed, changes depending on the trends of technology, historical age, computer generation, authors' point of views and experiences, kinds of computer, available materials needed to build computer, and other factors that affect the meaning of computer.

Get all the meanings of computer; understand and evaluate it; find out the common denominator. Say it in one sentence. What is a computer today?


Computer Defined

Computer is an electronic system designed to manipulate data.

Let's talk about it one by one.

When you say electronic system, you mean a machine that is powered or run by an electron. Does it mean all electronic system is a computer?

Think about it, what is your answer, "Yes" or "No". Why yes? And why not? Please justify your answer.

If it is yes, you mean the refrigerator, flat iron, washing machine, rice cooker, oven toaster, air condition, copier machine, television, printer, scanner, component, electric fan, microwave oven, cell phone, and other devices that is run by an electron can be a computer? Do you agree with this? What is the real score? Are all electronic devices a computer?

If your answer is no, maybe your thinking, about the next phrase that defines what computer is, and that is "designed to manipulate data". If all electronic devices are computer, how can a refrigerator, air condition, television, component, cell phone and other electronic devices, manipulate data?

Before you answer it, let's talk about the second phrase, "designed to manipulate data". When you say, data manipulation in computer, there's an input of data; data is processed based on the input given; and there’s the desired output as a result of the processing.

Again, based on the explanation about the meaning of computer, do you agree that all electronic devices can be a computer?

If you don't, why? Please explain. Maybe you're saying, "Not all electronic devices can manipulate data. Therefore, they are not computer."

On the other hand if you do, the question now is, how can those electronic devices mentioned in the later part, manipulate data? Come on, imagine your answer? Let's take for example the refrigerator. What could be the input data? How the processing of data is takes place? And what will be the output?

What is your answer? Are you saying that once we turn the control knob of the refrigerator from minimum to maximum you are entering data, and that is the input? The processing takes place when the temperature changed? Then the output will be your desired temperature which is in this case the maximum? Yes?

Congratulations, you got it right! Believe it or not, most electronic devices can be a computer; some are computer like; still a computer.

Using the explanation above about the refrigerator, tell me how the manipulation of data is takes place in the following electronic devices: copier machine, television, washing machine, electronic flat iron, cell phone, and microwave oven. Can you tell? If yes, is the answer. Very good! Let us proceed with our discussion about the word.

Computer comes from the term, "to compute" meaning to calculate. The reason why it is called computer because whenever you enter your input it computes during the processing to give your desired result. That is why we call it computer. Computer the machine that computes.

By that way, do you know the first meaning of computer, appeared in the early dictionaries, before the first generation exist? You will not believe this, the first meaning is, "A person who can calculate." Yes, in that case, before the mechanical-age, human is a computer. But that was before, it no longer applies today.

Nowadays, computer becoming human. There are computer that can imitate what human can do. Most of them are products of artificial intelligence. We will have other discussion about this topic. Watch for it! This will be very interesting.

Common Misconception about Computer

Some people thinks only of the personal computer, when they heard it. Please do not limit yourself. There are so many classification of it; PC is just one of the examples. Check it out. Read the article entitled, "Classification of Computers and its Uses".