Personal Computers

          Crunching numbers for millions

                Personal Computers (PC)

If the aircraft industry had evolved as spectacularly as the computer industry over the past 30 years, the latest aircraft would cost a few thousands of rupees and it would circle the globe in just 20 minutes on a few litres of fuel. So goes an anecdote, much popular among computer professionals. 

Suc a performance would give a rough analogies of the reduction in cost, the increase in speed of operation and the decrease in energy consumption of computers. The progression from the  huge mainframe computers of the sixties to the trendy boxes on desktops of the same power tells the same story. PCs have brought the individual at par with mainframe operators.

Anatomically, personal computers feature all the parts of a mainframe computer. It was in 1971 that INTEL a US-based company pioneered inscribing all elements of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) on a single silicon chip, calling it the Microprocessor. Tremendous advancement in microelectronics research during last three decades has been able to pack more and more computing power in the same area of the tiny silicon wafer, thereby increasing the speed of operations. 

These microprocessors are popularly addressed by their manufacturer's part number. Thus, the first member of the INTEL family of microprocessors took its unassuming number 4004 followed by 8008, 8085, 8086, 80186, 80286, 80386 and 80486.

The evolution of PCs followed, perhaps inevitably, from the advent of the microprocessor. Every PC now has one of the microprocessors from the family starting from 8086.

Why is it Personal ? What is so 'Personal' about it ? Well, it took birth in one of the research laboratories of the computer giant IBM in the US way back in 1975. Like any other gadgets such as TV, video, or music system, it was affordable to the common individual ; hence the name in the first place.

Though in India PCs are used primarily by the business community, this does not necessarily mean that they have become less personal. Their impact has been felt by the professionals - a professional of any discipline who can afford it.

The nomenclature can be justified from other angles too. Unlike Mainframe computers, one has much better manoeuvrability with this tiny number crunchers. Developments, particularly in software techniques, have made the interaction between man and machine increasingly friendly. As a result, a wide variety of computer functions are now accessible to people with no technical background. 

Also, the PC has a great sociological impact. Earlier, computer supremacy used to be enjoyed only by the elites. The scenario has changed now and more people enjoy the cosy glamor of computer culture, at least psychologically. Finally, the question remains to be answered whether an individual needs or will benefit from his own personal computer.

Whether or not we benefit from the PC, can be gauged from the spread of the "wonder machine." It is difficult to find areas untouched by the computer, specially the PC - it's simplicity in personality and low cost attracts users of varied taste. As far as the industrial sector is concerned, hooking up a PC with any electromechanical machine with appropriate hardware and software interface, will do miracle in terms of overall performance and productivity. 

The PC has brought revolution in high-tech areas such as information technology, the fruits of which are enjoyed by common people directly or indirectly. For example,  to establish personal contact with people anywhere on the globe is no more a fantasy provided you have a PC with communication software and a Modem - a device that translates the computer grade signal to corresponding voice grade signal for onward transmission. The message at the other end is deciphered in reverse fashion by another modem and stored in the computer storage there. So it is immaterial whether the called party is available or not at that particular instant; he retrieves the message from his PC when he is back. This is what is called Electronic mailing. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of useful areas where the PC finds its place.

For some class of people, the PC is a must as they are well aware of the use of the computer and the standard application areas are well defined. For them even if the application is not within the standard domain, they can improvise techniques to cope with the requirement of the problem and make use of the PCs for suitable solution. How ? The answer is pretty simple. Human beings have always enjoyed comprehending i.e., reducing phenomena by the process of logic and common sense to something already known or apparently evident.