The Major Breakthrough of the Personal Computer

Since the major breakthrough of the first personal computer, technology has evolved allowing us to do just about anything from our computers. Computers have had a profound effect on the way we live. From the way we send mail, the way we obtain information and research, to how we shop and even the manner in which we communicate with one another. There is no doubt about it, personal computers have changed just about every aspect of our lives today!

What led to the invention of the personal computer? Before personal computers came on the scene computers were anything but "personal". They were these enormous machines that took up a great deal of space. Not only were they big, but they were also expensive and required a team of experts to run them. It is hard to believe this, but they cost roughly $500,000, weighed 30 tons and took up about 2,000 square feet of space! As you sit there reading this on your PC or even your smartphone, imagine how different computers are today.

An invention that was integral to the development of the personal computer was the microprocessor. Before microprocessors were invented computers had to have a separate integrated circuit chip for each of their individual functions.  This one one of the reasons that explained their large size. Microprocessors came along not could do things circuit chips could not, they were the size of a thumbnail. They could do amazing things like remember information, run computer programs, and run data without the aid of humans. Game changer for sure!

These innovations led the way for the invention of personal computers. In 1974, a company named MITS introduced the first personal computer called the Altair. It was actually a mail-order, build it yourself kit costing $400 and called the Altair. It was a huge success with thousands purchasing the kits. The only problem was it still didn't do very much.

It didn't take long before Harvard students, Bill Gates and Paul Allen adapted the basic programming knowledge of the Altair making it much easier to use. Eventually, the dynamic duo took this knowledge and formed the empire of Microsoft. Not far behind them were two engineers in the Homebrew Computer Club in Silicon Valley named Steve Jobs and Steve Wasnaik. Their invention of the Apple I computer changed the world as we know it today. It had more memory and even a monitor. The only thing missing came soon after when in 1977 they introduced the Apple II which had a keyboard and a color screen. It couldn't get any more exciting than that, or could it?



Oh, boy did it! The PC revolution had begun with companies like Xerox, Tandy, Commodore, and IBM entering the market. Computers soon were found in just about every office and eventually, it became commonplace in homes. Long gone were the days of typing out complicated commands, computers become user-friendly and easy to use.
Today, we have personal computers with us wherever we go. Laptops, smartphones, tablets, and even watches allow us to perform tasks with amazing speed and ease.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/invention-of-the-pc

https://www.techwalla.com/articles/positive-negative-effects-of-computers

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000984.htm

Are Anti War Voices Being Heard?

I was recently asked to explore Antiwar.com and The American Conservative websites. I immediately noticed the antiwar tones of the writers and the unfamiliar viewpoints being expressed. Why as an educated, soon to be twenty year old, had I not heard these websites?  In addition, many of their opinions were new to me and posed questions and ideas that were of a different mentality. 

Are the messages being hidden and held back from the mainstream media? I would say so. These anti-war messages are not broadcast in the manner of stories expressing views in support of war. Media can be manipulated to promote a viewpoint and a certain message to the general public. Propaganda is still used today to persuade people's judgment and decisions. How information is presented to the reader and viewer has a direct impact on how the audience perceives things.

The lines have become blurred? As Donald Trump says, "Fake News". Is it all fake as he would like us to believe? Or is that just another attempt to skew our thoughts.

In a world where there are so many conflicting thoughts and ideas thrown our way, it is our job as informed citizens to dig a little deeper and search for the true facts. This is the only way we can form intelligent and informed opinions on such important issues at the forefront today.
So, with that said, I challenge myself to spend a little less time on social media accounts and spend more time searching for answers. Will you join me in this quest?




https://www.antiwar.com/
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/

The Week in Tech: Coronavirus Disrupts the Industry

With the global concern and spread of the Coronavirus, the tech industry has noticed disruptions already. Many of the tech companies have ties to China. For instance, Apple uses and relies heavily on factories in Shenzen, China for the production of Apple's biggest seller, the iPhone. Not only does Apple rely on China for production, but they are also one of the largest consumers of iPhones. Apple is not alone in this struggle. Many other companies like Microsoft, rely on Chinese customers to download Windows software onto their laptops and tablets. Microsoft has had a decline in revenue resulting from the spread of the virus throughout China. 

Coronavirus does not discriminate, it has hit all the tech industries across the board. Companies like IBM, At&T, and Verizon have pulled out of a large industry trade show in Spain. Facebook even cancelled its annual conference where they showcase the latest products and plans to software developers. Even companies like Amazon are asking its employees not to travel domestically or internationally in hopes of keeping the virus at bay. Will all these precautions be enough? Or will the potentially deadly virus still creep its way into tech-reliant industries?

Interestingly enough, the article points out that some tech companies may actually see an increase in business as people potentially can be confined to their homes. Services like Netflix may see a large influx of people streaming television while delivery services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Amazon delivery might see an increase as well.

It is hard to predict how this will all play out, but experts all agree the potential is there to have devasting effects on not just the tech industry, but the global economy as a whole. 
We are all bracing ourselves and hoping the Coronavirus goes away as quickly as it has come. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/28/technology/coronavirus-disrupts-industry.html

What is the Supreme Court and What Does it Do?

After watching a video for class on the United States Supreme Court, here is what I learned...


The Supreme Court is the highest judicial court in the country. There are nine Justices that make up the supreme court. Every day these justices work hard to review cases on their own and refer back to the Constitution to provide a final outcome. The Supreme Court refers to the Constitution to resolve national problems. Throughout history, there have been over 100 Supreme Court justices and the majority of them serve an average of 16 years.
The Supreme Court has a unique and important role within the United States system of government. The Constitution gives it the power to check, if necessary, the actions of the President and Congress.
Some historical points addressed in the video...
After the Civil War, the constitution was amended to abolish slavery, grant voting rights and to define citizenship. After the Constitution, the bill of rights was added, which included the amendments to the Constitution. In the past, women were unable to vote, slavery was a major issue and many were treated unfairly.
The 14th amendment told the states they can not deny due process of law or equal protection of the law to any citizen. The 19th amendment allowed women the right to vote.
In closing, when the Supreme Court speaks, people obey. 
"If the Court ever stopped defending the Constitution or the people ever stopped listening, then one of the treasures that keep this the freest nation in the world ceases to exist." 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWRoXYRsaeo&feature=youtu.be