Nearly everything we do in the world is helped, or even controlled by computers. Computers are used more and more often in the world today because they are far more efficient than human beings. They have much better memory and can store a huge amount of information.
Just as television has extended human sight across the barriers of time and distance, so the computers extend the power of the human mind across the existing barriers.
Ordinary computer can remember only the data stored in hard disk. Now scientists have designed machines which are capable to learn from experience and remember what they have learnt. Such a machine is capable to recognize objects without human help or control.
The Internet is a global collection of different type computer networks that are linked together. Some refer to the Internet as the information superhighway. The Internet enables a person to exchange information with other computer users from anyplace of the world. The final destination may be in a different cities or countries.
It also offers a rapidly growing collection of information, with topics ranging from medicine to science and technology. It features exhaustive material about arts as well as research material for students and coverage of recreation, entertainment, sports, shopping, and employment opportunities. The Internet provides access to almanacs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and maps.
A common resource provided by the Internet is a worldwide system for sending and receiving electronic mail, known as E-mail. Unlike the regular mail, E-mail often reaches its destination, even on other continents, in minutes or less.
There are, however, some disturbing aspects to consider. Study of the social and psychological effects of Internet showed that Internet-addicted people experience higher levels of depression and lowliness than those people who use the computer network less frequently. Researchers found that using of computer and Internet causes a decline in psychological well-being.