Sunday, July 20, 2014

The Devil and The Computer



   You don't know why I chose this title? Think about it! My professor told me to answer the question "Is technology making us stupid?" related to what I learn in my quick research. Well, while you think about the question I will tell you a short history about the evolution of the computer.

   What is this thing called computer? Computer is the name to a machine to compute something, usually this are related to numbers. In other words is the object to process informations. It is difficult to say who is the first computer. Maybe it is something in the old greek, but we in 1387 we have the first mentions to the abacus.


   The abacus (image above) is a calculating tool. It looks ridiculous but think about how many people this object help in the history! Or image a world without calculators! I don't know the steps, but the man passed trough it to made the first sketch of the modern computer, the "Difference Machine". The difference machine was a giant calculator capable of doing one simple arithmetic equation of the time. But this not stop there, because the same creator of the difference machine develop the idea of the "Analytical Engine", a machine capable of any mathematical calculation. He didn't have time and money to make that and a long time after, something about 100 years other scientists used his notes to make the first modern computer. The "Zuse's Z 3" was the first fully automatic digital computer. After that comes "Colossus" and "ENIAC", other famous computers. Then they invented the integrated circuits (chips), they created the first personal computer. A great amount of time pass through this marks. It is a lot of time and effort to make something useful.

   Returning to the question, now i can give an answer. But i think it is better to everyone think about it. The man use tolls to help with math since at lest 1387. The computer do not only help with math, he have a lot of utilities too. The man pursue the creation of the perfect thinking tool to help him. If something not good related to computers happens (like parents addicted to games who leave their children alone to play) is the the computers fault (I mean almost all the time). The man continues to upgrade the computer, how can this man be stupid? With all the advances of the science how can we say that we are becoming stupid? For me the computer are not the devil, the devil is the man! And for your reflection a comparative photo about different ages. Think about it.


1 comment:

  1. "The man continues to upgrade the computer, how can this man be stupid? With all the advances of the science how can we say that we are becoming stupid? For me the computer are not the devil, the devil is the man!" Wow, Diogo! This is an excellent point. Without intelligent people, technology would not advance! This is a wonderful perspective on the topic. Thank you for your thoughtfulness!

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