Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology



Facts On File, Inc. | ISBN-10: 0-8160-6382-6 | English | PDF | 593 Pages | 8.78 MB

Introduction
Chances are that you use at least one computer or computer-related device on a daily basis. Some are obvious: for example, the personal computer on your desk or at your school, the laptop, the PDA that may be in your briefcase. Other devices may be a bit less obvious: the “smart” cell phone, the iPod, a digital camera, and other essentially specialized computers, communications systems, and data storage systems. Finally, there are the “hidden” computers found in so many of today’s consumer products—such as the ones that provide stability control, braking assistance, and navigation in newer cars. Computers not only seem to be everywhere, but also are part of so many activities of daily life. They bring together willing sellers and buyers on eBay, allow you to buy a book with a click on the Amazon.com Web site, and of course put a vast library of information (of varying quality) at your fingertips via the World Wide Web. Behind the scenes, inventory and payroll systems keep businesses running, track shipments, and more problematically, keep track of where people go and what they buy. Indeed, the infrastructure of modern society, from water treatment plants to power grids to air-traffic control, depends on complex software and systems. Modern science would be inconceivable without computers to gather data and run models and simulations. Whether bringing back pictures of the surface of Mars or detailed images to guide brain surgeons, computers have greatly extended our knowledge of the world around us and our ability to turn ideas into engineering reality. The revised edition of the Facts On File Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology provides overviews and important facts about these and dozens of other applications of computer technology. There are also many entries dealing with the fundamental concepts underlying computer design and programming, the Internet, and other topics such as the economic and social impacts of the information society.
The book’s philosophy is that because computer technology is now inextricably woven into our everyday lives, anyone seeking to understand its impact must not only know how the bits flow, but also how the industry works and where it may be going in the years to come.

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