The Architecture of Computer Hardware, Systems Software, & Networking: An Information Technology Approach, 5th Edition

CHAPTER 1

COMPUTERS AND SYSTEMS

CATHY © 1986 Cathy Guisewite. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE. All rights reserved

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the wonderful modern world of computers. Where the technology changes daily. Or does it?

It's true that the computer of today looks nothing like the computer of even five or ten years ago. It is nearly impossible today to escape the immediate and ubiquitous reach of computers and computer-based systems and devices. There is probably a smartphone in your pocket or on your desk. For many of you, your laptop or tablet is sitting nearby as you read this paragraph. (Or, maybe you're even reading this paragraph on your tablet or E-book.) Furthermore, your smartphone probably has more computing power than most of the computers on the market ten years ago. It fits easily in your pocket or purse. It weighs less than 1/100 of that old desktop computer and has at least ten times as much memory!

And that's not all. Your car has several embedded computers controlling various automotive functions, and perhaps a touch screen for hands-free telephone, navigation, the radio, Internet access, and more. Which is almost unnecessary, because you can probably tell it what you want verbally anyway. Even your microwave oven and the machine that launders your clothes depend on computers to function. As you are likely aware, most of these ...