The word Computer comes from the French Informatique , formed by the contraction of the words information and automatic . In Anglo-Saxon countries it is known by the name Computer Science (Computer Science). This is the technique linked to the development of the computer; It is a set of knowledge, both theoretical and practical, about how information is built, how it works and how it is used, and the means of automation and transmission to be able to treat and process it. It could be said that the raw material of computing is information, while its formal objective is the treatment of it.
What is computing
Table of Contents
Informatics is a computer science that deals with the rational treatment and study of information. That is, this science is in charge of distinguishing a set of practical and theoretical knowledge related to science and technology that, when related, make possible the automatic and rational processing of information through computers.
Computer science, like all science, combines the theoretical and practical aspects of other disciplines such as engineering, electronics, mathematics, logic, information theory and human behavior.
The computer algorithm is the set of consecutive orders that are carried out in a process to respond to a problem. Through this logarithm the programmer can solve the problem before writing it in a programming language that the machine understands, that is, the logarithm must be solved before writing the code in the program.
History of computing
The man throughout his history has always been in search of obtaining devices with which it is more effective and faster to solve the calculations.
More than 2000 years BC, the Chinese invented the ABACUS, it was an instrument to perform complex calculations in a fast way. It was made of a wooden frame, with horizontal cables and perforated balls that could move from left to right. In the seventeenth century, the interest of new sciences, such as astronomy and navigation, continues in prompting the creative minds of Europe to discover how to simplify calculations.
In 1614 the Scottish mathematician John Napier announced the discovery of logarithms, achieving that the results of complicated multiplications were reduced to simple addition processes. In a short time, around 1620, the slide rule was invented based on the mathematical principles discovered by the Scotsman.
Continual evolution and the contributions of Charles Babbage made possible the creation of the first computer. Babbage was an engineer known by many as "The Father of computing", for being the one who designed the first general-purpose computer, but the time was not very helpful to finish it and in 1833 he developed the second machine, it was capable to carry out additions only in seconds and the operator only needed a minimum attention time.
Only in the first third of the twentieth century with the development of electronics, they begin to solve the technical problems that these machines entail, replacing the systems of gears and rods with electrical impulses, establishing that when there is a passage of electric current it will be represented with a * 1 * and when there is no electrical current flow, it would be represented by a * 0 *.
With the development of World War II, the first computer, named Mark I, was built and its operation was based on mechanical switches. In 1944 the first practical computer called Eniac was built. Then, in 1951, Univac I and Univac II were developed, it can be said that it is the starting point in the appearance of real computers, which will be of common access for people.
Computer science emerged as the center of attention on which each of the technological developments of the last century revolved. Every time a new phenomenon has appeared in our history, man has developed a new science that tries to study and describe it. Computers emerged and with them Informatics was developed.
The essential functions that computing can present are the development and construction of new machines, the development and implementation of new working methods, as well as the construction and improvement of computer applications (programs). Its aspects range from computer programming and computer architecture to artificial intelligence and robotics.
In a few years, computing has become an active member of our society. Today's man lives and develops in an environment where data, information and communication are a fundamental part of daily life. With computers we can do many things, such as obtaining money from an ATM, consulting encyclopedias, news, or any information, communicating with people who are somewhere on the planet, among others.
Today, there are many fields that use and apply computer science, it is found in medicine, computer engineering, communications, industries, companies, the artistic world, in the research and scientific field, in homes, etc.
It can be said that computing is divided into 5 generations:
- 1st Generation: This was developed between 1940 and 1952, for this time computers were exclusively used for the scientific-military sector and operated with valves. To be modified, it was necessary to directly modify the values of the machines' circuits.
- 2nd Generation: Includes the years 1952. It arises when the valve is replaced by the transistor. The first commercial computers appear, which already had a previous programming that would be operating systems. These instructions interpreted in programming languages, Fortran and Cobol, in this way, the programmer wrote his programs in those languages and the computer could translate them into machine language.
- 3rd Generation: It occurred between 1964 and 1971. In this generation, integrated circuits began to be used, this allowed to increase the processing capacity by reducing the physical size of the machines, in addition to lowering their costs. The importance of this generation lies in the remarkable improvement of programming languages and the emergence of utilitarian languages.
- 4th Generation: It comprises the years 1971 and 1981. This phase of evolution was characterized by the integration of electronic components, and this resulted in the appearance of the microprocessor, which is the integration of all the basic elements of the computer in a single circuit integrated.
- 5th Generation: From 1981 to the present. Certain experts consider that this generation ends with the emergence of Pentium processors, but we will consider that it is not over yet. It is characterized by the appearance of PC, as it is known today.
A computer system is a basic or functional computer, which includes the hardware and software required to make it understandable to the user. It is the system in charge of collecting data, processing and disseminating the information once it has been channeled.
Informatics and Computing. Relationships and differences
The terms computing and informatics are equivalent, except that their use depends on the geographical areas. The word computing comes from English and refers to performing calculations. For its part, the word computing is of French origin and designates the information processing activity. Beyond their etymological origin, these terms are similar. However, the main task of computers is not calculation, but information processing.
1. Relationship between computing and computing:
- Both sciences are part of information technology.
- Informatics and computing are aimed at a sector that is constantly innovating and evolving processes.
2. Differences between computing and computing:
- Informatics is the science that is responsible for the study and applications of information and automates the information through electronic equipment, so that tasks are not repeated.
- Computing is responsible for the study of automated information management systems, this is achieved through tools created for this purpose.
Computer virus
These types of viruses are malicious programs that, without the user's permission or knowledge, enter a computer with the aim of altering its operation, as well as damaging or modifying the operating system. Generally these programs are associated with executable files, in this way the computer becomes infected when opening said file. To avoid this type of damage there are a variety of antivirus on the market.
Once a virus is attached to a program, be it a file or document, the virus will remain inactive until, under some circumstance, the computer or device executes its code. For a virus to infect a computer, the infected program must be run. This means that the virus could remain inactive on the computer, without showing great signs or symptoms. However, once the virus infects the computer, it can infect others on the same network.
These malicious programs can perform devastating and annoying actions, for example stealing passwords or data, logging keystrokes, corrupting files, spamming your email contacts, and even taking control of your computer.
The main places or virtual methods of most frequent contagion are:
- Some websites, which despite being legitimate are affected and others are fraudulent and created for this purpose.
- Some social networks have become very attractive and are a threat to teams.
- The constant gifts offered on the internet can result in the download of a virus, that is, the messages "download here and you will get $ 1000" can be a malicious program, in order to obtain personal data contained in the computers, this is also considered a computer crime.
- The entry of infected devices such as USB sticks, DVDs and CDs.
- The opening of files that are in the spam tray, or spam.
Types of computer viruses
There are different types of viruses, from those that are made with the intention of annoying and joking, to those that can cause considerable damage to computers, deleting the files that are necessary for their operation. Among this type of virus are:
Time logic bombs
They are those created to be activated when a specific event occurs, there are time frames, they are activated at a certain time, or those that are programmed to be activated with the combination of keys, all this without the user being aware.
Boot virus
This is activated when the computer is turned on, since it is created to be activated when the operating system starts.
Link virus
The objective of this type of program is to modify the access addresses to the files on the computer, and as a consequence to prevent the saved files from being located.
Overwrite virus
They act by overwriting the content of the files on the computer, causing the loss of the original information.
What is a computer antivirus
Antivirus is a program that is responsible for protecting the computer, computer or organizer against viruses or invaders that may affect the computer. Before the appearance of all these malicious programs and to keep the operating system in optimal conditions and protect the computer, antivirus programs emerged, responsible for examining incoming information and performing periodic analyzes to detect the existence of viruses on our computer and, if necessary thus, to finalize them.
To be effective, these defense programs must be constantly updated, as malicious software is constantly evolving, new viruses and new entry methods are emerging rapidly.
The main objective of this protection software, therefore, is to locate computer threats that may attack a computer to block it before it is affected.
Computer law is a branch of law that is responsible for the study of the norms, doctrines and jurisprudence that relate to the regulation and control of computer science in regard to the regulation of the computer medium, in its development and expansion and the ideal application of computer tools.
Computer law is a new legal creation, which is responsible for the search for solutions to the challenges posed by the evolution of electronic computer applications and is maintained in a study and permanent monitoring of technological advances and advances, with the objective to be proposing the necessary measures to maintain social harmony.
What is a computer network
A computer network is several computers that are connected to each other and also share the same resources such as software (data, files, applications and programs) and hardware (storage systems and peripheral system). This allows a group of users to exchange information and run programs connected to that network.
Computer networks are very useful in companies, thanks to them, communication between their employees is facilitated, improves data integrity, reduces software and hardware costs, and also guarantees the integrity of the information.
What is a cloud computing
The computing cloud or also called Cloud Computing, is to have a completely intangible computing and technological service available to many Internet users and companies, these services include servers, databases, storages, networks, analysis and software among others.
The appearance of this computer system has changed the way of storing and transmitting data between users and companies. There are many benefits granted by this system, some of them are:
- Costs reduction.
- Protects from disasters and loss of information.
- Improve and streamline communication between departments.
- It expands with great force.
- Add functionality and improvements to business processes with immediate results.
