Tech Topic FInal

     Taking time to learn about the history and future of computers will give you a certain confidence that it is deeply intertwined with the fundamentals of information technology. From the creation of the earliest mechanical calculators to mainframes, the evolution of today’s technological revolution has changed the way we live and the way we think. The entire industry of information technology has come about because of the innovation and revolution of computers, and it has so many more things to do in the future. In the information age, we are sitting in the front seat for the greatest amount of knowledge and capability for computation, communication and collaboration.  

Just the hardware of early computers versus the products of today are light years ahead of what we call the old school tech. Processors, storage devices, and memory cards are all far superior now than they were 20 years ago. Operating systems, programming languages, and applications provide much more depth and capability for users. Even building a network at home or at work provides the necessary communication and data exchange for online business functions.  

As for the future, artificial intelligence is just now getting some large chunks of applications in professional and personal settings and quantum computers are consistently shattering expectations in material science and cryptography. As we add more devices and connections, the world of technology grows, and we grow with it learning how to implement it efficiently as it has never been done before.  

We know that devices and systems will continue to change but they will always need programming and development. The binary system of ones and zeros are fundamental to computer science and provide a language devices can read to be able to understand inputs in milliseconds. Maybe computers in 20 years will be operating under a different system, but they will always need some way to read commands and input in order to serve their purpose. They will continue to store data more effectively. They will continue to progress in executing instructions and computing more and more complicated calculations. There is no telling where the line will be drawn in developing the next most efficient product.  

Computers of the past used mechanical switches and vacuum tubes that made the device itself bulky and inefficient. They ultimately paved the way to more portable and compact computers like laptops and tablets. Not everyone needs a portable device, so desktop PCs are more common in homes and businesses. As for quantum devices, they rely on qubits instead of the commonly known bits. A new trend of computing called neuromorphic computing follows the same layout as the human brain creating the vision of a neural network thus enhancing the implementation of AI as it too advances.  

Starting from the beginning of programming languages, we saw the birth of operating systems through machine language that was tedious and very prone to error. Not long after in the technology revolution, assembly language was developed, and it introduced mnemonic labels and words to help programmers read and write code much more easily. Some high-level languages were written in the following years that used more common words and commands that weren’t so hard to adapt to but quickly shadowed by the emergence of object-oriented or structured languages. These languages introduced a paradigm that improved code organization as well as web development. Modern languages with much versatility and community support like Python and JavaScript have taken the helm of most new IT environments. They are used far and wide to develop data science. All these languages use a program execution method, but some are so advanced and important that they skip some execution steps because they can.         Compiling, interpreting, and scripting are common methods to execute programs, and this is why people love languages like Python so much. Some say it is “dumbed down” but it really is easier to use and yet still one of the most powerful.  Application software was used at it’s earliest as spreadsheet software in the 70s and in almost every business as word processors and database management. In the business world today, most if not all businesses use some form of application software such as Microsoft Office, or Google Workspace. The programs these provide aid in keeping the books straight and keeps information organized as businesses need to work through enormous amounts of data every day. In the coming years, application software will see more automation, decision-making, data analysis, and transform daily responsibilities. Even the use of virtual and augmented reality will see opportunities in professional training and education.  

         Innovation has been the main theme in this story of past present and future, and it is the same with the timeline of database and database management. The advancement of data storage and retrieval have improved reliability, efficiency and scalability. There is so much that can be done with one’s database, they only need to ask someone to write the code for the program they want implemented. They can have a database integrated into their own applications. Data population is not some far off dream. User experience has been a huge focus in the last ten years, and it has pushed the limits of what can be done within the next few decades.  

Network architecture has also changed greatly and is visible through the implementation of more safety equipment that keeps devices and data out of harm's way. A small surge protector that maybe costs $100 can save a vast amount of storage with one hundred times the value of the surge protector from being lost in the event of a power surge. Network switches are very common use in the management of professional networks allowing users to send and receive large amounts of data or messages without having to deal with any internet outages. More and more firewalls and security measures have been developed and help keep threats at bay.