Place Essay, Research Paper
Computers and the Internet in the Workplace How was computers and the Internet changed the workplace? Computers have made work fast, easy, and reliable. Computers only process information that the user gives it. That means the computer cannot do things wrong, but in turn, it is the user that does things wrong. The Internet is the world s largest gathering of information. Things can be found in a few simple keystrokes and a click of a button, but at what price do we pay of fast and efficient work, at what price do we pay for oceans of information at our fingertips? The first computer created was the abacus, a device created by the Chinese. It was use to calculate mathematical problems, when the beads of the abacus were moved around, according to certain programming rules memorized by the user, any mathematical problem could be solved. From the abacus came a variety of different devices used to calculate different things. One example was the Astrolabe, a device used for navigation. In 1962, Baise Pascal created the first digital computer; it could add numbers with a turn of a dial. Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibeniz invented a computer in 1671 that was eventually built in 1694. This computer could also add, but with a few modifications it could also do multiplication. Both of the prototypes made by Pascal and Leibeniz weren t used until a century later when Charles Xavier Thomas (a.k.a. Thomas of Colmar) created the first successful mechanical calculator. It could add, subtract, multiply and divide. Then in 1822 Charles Babbage, a mathematical professor, created a prototype of a fully automated calculator, but Babbage’s work was never completed because there was no need to solve complex problems in 1840. Then in 1890, Herman Hollerith and James Power created the punch cards. With punch cards, computers could read the information on the cards and then process them. Later on ENIA (Electrical Numerical Integrator and Calculator) was accepted as the worlds fastest computer. In 1947, computers started to RAM (Random Access Memory) and in 1960 computers could display images. Leonard Kleinrock at MIT created the fist idea of the Internet. He published the first paper on packet transfer theory. In the 1960 s the Department of Defense s Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) created a network named ARPANET. In 1969, the Stanford Research Institute, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and the University of Utah created the first four hosts of ARPANET. Soon ARPANET, which was created so scientist could share research and data, became a high-speed digital post office with E-mail. Vinton Cerf is known as the Father of the Internet . He is the first chairman of the INWG (InterNetwork Work Group). In 1973 ARPANET goes international with connections to London and Norway, and in 1990 ARPANET was decommissioned and the networks that were left was the internet. Computers have made work fast and reliable. Information can be processed and displayed in various forms such as graphs and charts. Computers make work go faster, look neat and professional. As the use of companies and modern technology increased, the gross National Product of the United States also raised. (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis) Countries such as Japan, which can be called the worlds most technologically advanced country, are also the worlds most efficient country, and why? It is because computers automated certain jobs. Cars can be designed and tested right on a computer, even before the real life model ever is built. This lowers the cost and time of making cars, and in the world of business money and time is everything. Computers are not just used at work; they are used in our day to day life. Things like VCR s, cars and calculators are all computers, although they might not be as complicated as a PC (Personal Computer). However, everything has their drawbacks. Computers can do a job 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can take over many different types of jobs. Many people will be replaced a computer. By the end of the century the executive should be able to automate himself right out of the office says Jon Stewart. Another problem that plaque’s the computer is the Millenium Bug also called the Y2K. What happens to the computer is that when early programmers created their programs, they use two digits for the year instead of four. (Ex. 99 for 1999) When the year 2000 comes along all programs that use time will think it is 1900 instead of 2000. This will cause programs to not function properly and even crash your computer. Important documents could be lost and planes may crash. The world s economy could be in dire. A final problem that affects worker that spends most of their time on a computer is RSI (repetitive strain injury). RSI is when the tendons on the arm are become inflamed squeezing the nerve that causes numbness and pain.
The Internet is a giant ocean of information. It can be easily accessed and posted if your know how to use it effectively. Files can be transferred half way around the world with the greatest of ease. It can be used to transfer data to another worker that isn t at the office, it can be used to mail clients of anything important or remind them of an up coming meeting. You can chat with friends and family halfway around the world or even talk to them face to face with the proper equipment. Your can even have a video business conferences. However, since the Internet is world wide, hackers can control your computer, take important files and information. They can even leave behind a virus to crash the computer network, or make it easier for them to break in next time. Piracy is also a big concern. Computer programs that cost hundreds of dollars to purchase can be downloaded on warez sites.In conclusion, computers and the Internet have greatly improved the work place. Work in the future will be done at high speeds, and less labor will be required. However, computers threaten many jobs. Things that can be automated will be automated. Computers don t have to stop working for a cup of coffee, or a trip to the washroom. The long-term career secretary is probably going to virtually disappear says Larry Wells, What can t be automated, will be taken over by the executive or handled by part-timers, a segment of the work force which is growing at an alarming rate.