After you read this chapter you should be able to:
- Describe several ways computers play a critical role
in modern life.
- Discuss the circumstances and ideas that led to the
development of the modern computer.
- Describe several trends in the evolution of modern
computers.
- Outline the five major types of computers in use
today and describe their principal uses.
- Describe how the explosive growth of the Internet
is changing the way people use computers and
information technology.
- Explain how today’s information age differs from
other times in history and prehistory.
- Discuss the social and ethical impact of
information technology on our society.
