Now and Then: Computer Reminiscence

The computer, otherwise known as a processor, is a simple description yet a device with complex functions, intricate codes, and immense capabilities. It is an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. Yet little that we know that it was originally a job title, generally occupied by women, referring to recurring computations of mathematical equations. Due to its repetitive process, early inventors and mathematicians devised a way to lessen the effort in exerting such procedure. Early computers were primarily used for aiding mathematical calculations such as the Abacus, which uses the concept of positional notation. It uses a system of writing numbers in which the position of a digit affects its value. Actually, it doesn’t do the computing, but it assists people to keep track of the numbers as they calculate. However, as the need to do multifarious calculations arouse, John Napier discovered the technology of an algorithm, a step-by-step recursive computational procedure for solving a problem in a finite number of steps. Indeed, necessity is the mother of all inventions, as a prodigy child at 19, Blaise Pascal invented the gear-driven adding calculator, Pascaline. Evidently, these early calculators were the triggering point of the emergence of processing machines such as the Differential Analyzer by Charles Babbage, to handle simple calculus problems; electromechanical machines such as the Enigma used to encrypt and decrypt secret codes; gadgets to decode these messages such as the Colossus Mark I; and eventually the materialization of electronic digital computers such as the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) intended to solve systems of linear equations. To note, as the first digital electronic computer, it pioneered the components of modern computing consisting of binary arithmetic, electronic switching elements, regenerative capacitor memory and the concept of organizing memory and computation separation. It was then that the Z3 computer by Konrad Zuse was invented that established the first freely programmable, working computer in the world based on a binary floating-point number and switching system, which is very similar to a modern computer comprising of separate units – a punch tape reader, a control unit, a floating-point arithmetic unit, and an input/output device. While these gadgets, machines, and devices were designed to comply with fixed commands that are not capable of editing programmed instructions, these are distinguishable to modern day computers that possess versatility and accuracy.

Even though Babbage’s Analytical Engine was still being conceptualized, Ada Lovelace prognosticated the computers’ capability of processing algorithms beyond mere mathematical computations and wrote the program codes. She was regarded as the world’s first programmer. These programs are translated to a machine language for a computer to understand, and upgraded to assembly language, and eventually high level languages. If software programming has advanced and upgraded, computer hardware has kept up with the pace too, as the quest for faster runtime and more storage data increases. Throughout history, computer hardware and software has defined the era it was built in. In early times, the computers were generally outsized occupying the whole room, while presently, computer sizes vary depending on its use. It encompasses mainframes, workstations, towers, desktops, laptops, hand held personal computers, personal digital assistants, and to top it all, supercomputers that are used for complex and unthinkable calculations involving quantum mechanical physics, weather forecasting, physical simulations, climate research, and molecular modeling.

Computers nowadays are customizable wherein users can opt for their desired specs accommodating their intended use, either for internet video streaming, or gaming experience. Popular processors are Intel i7 920 2.66GHz Quad Core, and 1 x AMD Athlon XP 2100+ / 1.73 GHz (266 MHz). For extreme hardcore gaming, video card performance is vital. Large leaps by ATI’s Radeon 5800 have quite easily taken the top spot for single-GPU performance. Not to be outdone is Nvidia’s dual GPU card, the GTX 295 – essentially 2 GTX GPUs running in SLI on a single card.

Computers are constantly evolving and upgrading rapidly. The supercomputers today may only be a normal computer tomorrow. However, it wouldn’t hurt if we indulge ourselves with these to enjoy the height of it. After all, enjoy present pleasures as not to injure the future ones.

Internet Advertising- The Modern Principle of Marketing

Advertising communicates a message to influence individuals to purchase products or avail services or support political candidates or ideas. The message includes the name of the product or service and how these could potentially benefit the consumers. Advertising often attempts to persuade potential customers to consume or purchase a particular brand of product or service.

The fact still remains that goods are being produced to earn some good money. Therefore, advertising focuses on the increase of sales of the marketer’s products.

Ways of Advertising

The following are the common ways through which ideas or products can be promoted to the people and the consumers:

• Television

TV commercial is generally considered as the most effective mass-market advertising format. Majority of TV commercials features a song known as a jingle that targets audiences can soon relate to the product.

• Radio

Radio advertisements are broadcasted to the air as radio waves from the transmitter to an antenna and to the receiving device. Airtime or the airing of the commercials is purchased from the station or network.

• Billboards

Advertisements are displayed in large structures located in public places where pedestrians and motorists pass. Most often, they are displaced in main roads with a large amount of passing motors and pedestrian traffic; although they can also be placed in locations where large amounts of viewers pass by such as: shopping malls, office buildings, stadiums, and mass transit vehicle stations.

• Internet

This form of advertising uses the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) for the purpose of delivering marketing to attract potential customers. Examples are: banner ads, search engine results pages, social network advertising, Rich Media Ads, online classifieds advertising, advertising networks and email marketing (including email scam).

Advertising is an industry that is almost as old as the society itself. As long as there is something to promote, there are countless ways to get one’s message broadcast to the public.

With the advancement of Internet, a new industry is created for online advertising. Because the Internet encompasses a large number of users in different communities and sub-communities, there are a number of ways to advertise online. Furthermore, online listings are easily accessible and searching for them can be a worthwhile time investment.

Advertising tools are part of the company’s campaign to bring a direct response to the target audiences. These tools can bring compelling impact and can be a vital part of the company’s branding solution.

Online advertising tools allow the advertiser or the marketer to easily monitor and analyze ad campaigns. These tools help the advertiser create ads, target the right audience, and measure and define the traffic.

There are known online advertising tools commonly used nowadays. The following are just two of the examples:

• Banner Advertising

Banner advertising is an online marketing tool which allows companies to buy an ad space from a website for their company’s banner. There are various types of banner advertising, which include pay per click advertising. This type of advertising has become a common way for companies to reach a vast audience that is unparalleled by any other medium.

A well-developed ad banner can be an excellent money maker for the company. This is an ideal way of attracting new customers, especially if the company is just starting out.

• Email Advertising

Email advertising is another common form of online marketing. It is cheap and could reach a vast audience. Email advertising has been used to maintain a relationship with existing customers or to attract potential customers.

This type of advertising is available at a fraction of what traditional methods of advertising cost. Even if compared to other online advertising tools such as banner advertising, email ad campaign is exceptionally cheap and is therefore, ideal for small and just starting out businesses.

There are two types of email advertising: bulk email advertising, which involves sending an email with an ad or message to a very large number of email users; and opt-in email advertising which is used for some people who were given the choice and opted to receive bulk emails through a mailing list and would be less likely to block as spam because the email user himself agrees to receive such emails.