Hi,
So here's my first proper post for the blog. By Computer, I would be mostly referring to what are known as Desktop computers. The component break-up is same even for laptops, but in a slightly different sense.
I guess, since you are reading this blog, then you must have had some or the other introduction as to what a computer is really, or rather what does it look like. It is basically a set of various components, the most important of which is the CPU (the box like structure that is always there) which has the heart and the brain of the whole system. The other visible parts include the monitor (the screen which displays stuff), the keyboard (where you punch the keys) and the mouse (that tiny thing which fits in your palm). Now you may feel this is going a bit childish, me telling about each and every part of the system. Everybody knows about it right???
WRONG!!!!
Most of you would not have noticed that I have missed out the MOST important part of the system, the UPS. People tend to ignore its importance, but its most important to have a stable and reliable UPS while running your computer. UPS stands for Uninterrupted Power Supply, and it does exactly that. When the current goes off, the computer requires a certain amount of time to shut down itself properly and this is where the UPS comes into play. Lame eh? Not at all. The worst case scenario is when your computer is writing something in the memory and the power goes off suddenly. Boom!!! There are high chances that your hard disk would get damaged. Oooopss...I'm getting a bit technical. More of this would be explained later. Now come back to the title.
Dumb???? Naaahhhh....this guy who's writing the blog must be dumb even to think that computers can be dumb. Afterall, they run our lives, do complex calculations in seconds, they run all by themselves, how in heaven's sake could they be dumb????? Did I match some of your thoughts there??
Now it's time to face reality. Yes, computers are really dumb. They cannot think for themselves. The only thing they can do is follow instructions. So basically, they are like that stupid guy who will just do what he is told and not use any common sense when required. And why would they? A computer is designed specifically for the same purpose. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. And who gives these instructions? It's you, the user. The instructions start right at the time you press the power-on button of your CPU. That is an instruction for the computer to power itself on, load the operating system (Windows for example) and show you a Welcome screen on the monitor. A double-click of the mouse on a folder is an instruction to open the folder and display its contents. So basically, without you even knowing it, you are giving instructions continuously to the computer. Kewl na?
This post was basically to bring all of you to the fact that computers are not the know-all gizmo that they appear to be. The seem to do amazing things, but they only do so because you instruct them to. So once we accept this reality we can move forward with our entry into the computer world. I have tried to keep it all simple, but in case you have any doubts feel free to post your queries and I'll try my best to answer them (if I can... :P). Just to end on a lighter note and also somewhat relate the computer mentality to real life, there is a common joke which illustrates how a computer works.
A woman once asked her Software Engineer husband, "Get 3 bottles of milk from the shop and if they have eggs, get six." The husband went and returned with six bottles of milk. "Why the hell have you got six milk bottles?" she shouted at him. To which he innocently replied, "They had eggs."
Adios till the next post.... :) :)
