NATS 1700 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Meritocracy, Dignity, Scientific Visualization
Document Summary
An electronic device capable of assisting in the performance of almost any non-physical work imaginable. An electronic machine capable of performing calculations and other manipulations of various types of data, under the control of a stored set of instructions. A programmable electronic device that can store, retrieve and process data. An electronic device that can store, retrieve and process data, and can be programmed with instructions that it remembers. A device that can accept information from the outside world, process that information, make decisions based on the results of its processing, and then return the information to the outside world in its new form. A device used to process information according to a well-defined procedure. Computers come in various shapes and forms: mainframes, desktops, laptops, notebooks, tablets, smart phones, video games, etc, microprocessors, one-purpose tools in cars, atm machines, cell phones, cameras, tvs, microwaves ovens, medical instruments, etc.