The personal computer (PC) revolutionized electronics and communication in the 20th century. PCs are designed for home and office use, with a microprocessor controlling all functions. Components include memory, data storage, motherboard, power supply, sound and graphics cards, and CD/DVD drives. PCs were first introduced in the late 1970s and have since sold over one billion worldwide.
Advances in technology in the 20th century, particularly in the field of communications, have produced a revolution in electronics, the influence of which is being felt throughout the world. A representative part of that revolution was the advent of the personal computer (PC). Personal computers are computers designed for use by individuals at home or in the office. Their retail prices, size, and capabilities make them practical for use in nearly any home and office in the United States and other developed countries. The operation of these computers is based on a small computer chip known as a microprocessor, which governs how the computer works.
All PCs have several basic components that allow them to function and be used. The microprocessor controls everything the computer does, and every process has to go through it first. Computers also have memory, both long-term (read-only memory or ROM) and temporary (random access memory or RAM), as well as data storage. ROM contains the basic software that enables your computer to boot and generally does not change; RAM is used to store information that the computer is currently working with, such as open programs.
The microprocessor and memory are contained as part of a large circuit board called the motherboard. The motherboard also acts as an intermediary between the microprocessor and other computer systems, such as drives and ports. The hard drive or hard drive is where programs and files are stored. Unlike RAM, hard drive has a large capacity and is meant for long-term storage. This is where most of the data in personal computers is located.
Another important part that is common to all personal computers is the power supply, which regulates how much electricity the PC is using at any given moment. Most computers also have sound cards and graphics cards, which are small circuit boards that connect to the motherboard to process audio and video data, respectively. Some modern PCs also include a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, into which a disc containing programs or files can be inserted. Programs can be run directly from the CD or DVD, which acts as a form of external data storage for a PC.
Personal computers were first introduced to the market in the late 1970s. Their capabilities and speeds left much to be desired compared to modern PCs, but because of the progress they represented, their popularity grew rapidly and PCs began to be developed for everyday home use. Games and computer programs were developed that could be used on home computers, further opening up the market for these devices. By 2002, one billion had been sold worldwide since they were first introduced.
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