The computer has been around for a long time. But it wasn’t until the late 1950s that they became useful to everyone with access to electricity.
Before then, computers were used mainly by scientists and mathematicians who needed them for their jobs. Continue reading to know the top ten facts about computers.
Facts About Computers
There is some amazing fact about computers that are not widely known, well for the sake of those interested in computers, here are the top ten facts about computers:
1. The Word “Computer” Was Initially Used In 1613.
The word “computer” was initially used in 1613. Definition of a computer is a person who computes, which means they can do calculations and solve problems with numbers.
Before computers existed, people had to use handbooks or calculators to perform simple mathematical functions such as adding two numbers together or taking the square root of an equation.
In ancient Greece, some people invented machines that could calculate things like pi (the ratio between circumference and diameter) and quadratic equations (like y = x2).
The first computers were mechanical devices made using gears and other parts from old clocks or watches, called “calculating engines.” They began appearing during the 17th century when Charles Babbage designed his analytical engine for solving equations with complex variables like heat flow in steam pipes.
2. The First Computer Mouse Had Two Wheels.
The first computer mouse was invented in 1968 by Douglas Engelbart and Bill English. They created the device to help users navigate through windows, but it soon became popular for other tasks like gaming.
The mouse’s design was revolutionary because it had two wheels for each button on its side. This made it easier for users to click on things without stretching their hands far from their bodies or moving them too fast before making contact with something else nearby (such as another object).
The name “mouse” comes from an old French word meaning “paw”; in this case, however, there were only two paws instead of four.
3. The First Desktop Computer Weighed 55 Pounds.
The first desktop computer weighed 55 pounds. That’s around ten times as much as the average laptop today and over twice as heavy as most of today’s tablets. It was also very expensive: $6,500 in 1969 dollars (about $70,000 today).
The first computers were designed to be used by people with access to a mainframe at work or school. They could be connected via telephone lines or satellite dishes and accessed remotely by users in other locations.
Unfortunately, these systems were not portable; they had no battery power or internal fan, so they couldn’t run off mains electricity even when placed on your desk at home.
4. The Average American Spends 24 Hours A Week With Their Computer.
Computer users spend more time with their computers than with their significant others. The average American spends 24 hours a week with their computer, which is more than they spend sleeping! That’s a lot of time to dedicate to something that can be so easily lost and forgotten about.
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5. Windows 95 Is The Most Popular Computer OS Ever Sold.
From the beginning, Microsoft has been a leader in the computer industry. It was one of the first companies to make computer software that could run on multiple platforms (like Unix). The first version of Windows used on home computers was released in 1985 and became an instant success; over 4 million copies were sold within two years.
Windows 95 was designed with ease of use—it wasn’t difficult to use! It also had an internal clock system that worked like a calendar so you could keep track of appointments or birthdays without having any external help from other programs.
Windows 95 might not seem like much now, but back when it came out, many people still couldn’t figure out how things worked under their hoods.
6. Some Websites Have Banned People For Trying To Cheat At Games By Writing Their Own Ais
Some websites have banned people from trying to cheat at games by writing their own AIs. Some websites ban you from trying to cheat at games by writing your own AI, but some will not.
7. The Screen Of The First Laptop Was Smaller Than A Postcard
The first laptop was released in 1989 and had a monochrome display. This means that it could only display one color at a time. In order for users to see more than one color on their screens, they would have to turn on an external monitor via a VGA cable connection or by using a separate program like PuTTY (an SSH client).
The price of this first computer was very high at $6999. It wasn’t until 1993, when IBM introduced its ThinkPad 700C series, that anyone began seeing desktop computers outside of work environments where they were used primarily by professionals such as accountants or engineers who needed constant access to data while away from their desks at home or during travel abroad.
8. Wifi Makes Up 65% Of All Internet Traffic.
WiFi is a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to connect devices to the internet. WiFi is used in many different ways, including at home and in offices. It’s also used in some public places, like cafes and restaurants.
The most common type of WiFi network is called an 802.11n device because it has speeds up to 11 megabits per second (Mbps).
In addition, these networks send data using two antennas, which means they can support more people at once without having to worry about interference from other devices nearby—like your neighbor’s WiFi router.
9. Every Single Email You Send Is Entered Into A Gigantic Database
Every single email you send is entered into a gigantic database that can be accessed by any law enforcement agency worldwide. Many companies will also search through your emails and use them to target ads for you.
The more data companies have on us, the more they can do with it—and that could mean trouble for privacy advocates who try to protect their information from being sold or used without their consent. However, there are procedures that users can take when dealing with these types of situations:
- Encrypting sensitive information like passwords or payment details — using strong encryption software like PGP/GPG (for example). This prevents anyone with access keys from viewing what’s inside an encrypted file (like an email).
- Using two-factor authentication when logging into sites where sensitive data is stored online. It requires both “something” that only belongs to someone else but gives them access (like a password) and something unique about yourself, such as fingerprints or facial recognition technology.
10. You Can Get A Virus Just From Visiting Some Web Pages, Even If You Don’t Download Anything.
If you see a lot of ads on a website, be careful which ones you click on. Sometimes some of them contain viruses.
A virus is a computer program that can cause damage to your computer. It’s not just one file but a group of files combined into one package.
Viruses come in many different forms. Some viruses are attached to emails; others are downloaded from websites; others get onto your hard drive when you visit infected websites or open attachments in an email.
The most common type of virus is an attachment called “Trojan Horse,” which installs itself on your system without permission but may not do anything at first.
The most effective way to guard against all types of viruses is by using anti-virus software. This software scans every file on your computer, looking for signs of infection, and warns you if something suspicious has been detected (like an executable program).
You can find anti-virus programs online or even download them directly from the manufacturer’s website.
Conclusion
These are a few interesting facts about computers. There are many more out there. We hope you learned something new today and now know how much impact our technology has on our lives.
