How Have Computers Changed Since The Industrial Revolution

Not since the Industrial Revolution has society changed as dramatically as it has in the last few decades. While the Industrial Revolution was characterized by the transition to mechanical methods, the Information Age is defined by the shift from mechanical to electronic. Digital technology has completely revolutionized the way that information is processed and stored. Many facets of society are handled using computers, which can process and store huge amounts of data. Computers deal with information in the form of binary code, meaning that everything is expressed using only two characters, a one or a zero. In the English language, a variety of different characters are used, including 24 different letters, 10 different numbers, and various other symbols like periods and question marks. In binary language, all of the same things are

In a computer, this is achieved using switches that can turn on and off. If the switch is in the on position, it translates to a one, and if it is in the off position, it is a zero. Since the invention of the computer, information has been stored in switches that are turned on or off. The limits of this approach are now being reached, as the size of the switches can only get so small. In order to overcome these limits, an individual switch must be able to represent more than just two states. The primary storage in computers today is usually referred to as the main memory. This type of storage is distinguished by the very high speed at which it can be accessed. Main memory is kept close to the processor, and is used for the things being worked on at the moment. If one were building a chair, the computer memory is like the workbench where the hammer, nails, wood, and other materials are kept while working. Most memory today stores data using integrated circuits made up of transistors and