A computer may be a person or a machine that information (problems and data), performs reasonable operations on the information and puts out answers. We may consider as a computer a man, for example, who receives information, writes some of it on paper, operates a slide rule1 and by means of it solves some problems. Any device which can accept information, record and process it and then come out with a definite answer is a computer. There exist various types of mechanical devices which perform computing operations and are in wide use in science and industry, i.e. in laboratories, research institutes, in plants and offices. These are adding machines which add numbers accurately and quickly and print the results of computations on tape3. There are also desk calculating machines which can add, subtract, multiply. Storage system or Memory is the unit which has the ability to store extensive programmes and instructions, refer to and modify them for operation. The Arithmetic unit operates on the data received i.e. it can perform high-speed calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It can produce results, i.e. provide answers to a large variety of problems by means of the Output unit all under the direction of the Control unit.
An up-to-date computer can solve a complicated problem many millions of times faster than a skilled mathematician. It handles thousands of calculations per second.
There are two main classes of computing equipment: analogue and digital. They work on different principles and yield14 different results. The digital computers can perform a much broader range12 of functions than the analogue computers. The application includes all forms of automic control in science and industry and first of all in space exploration, in automatic piloting navigation and landing of space vehicles. Computer programming is the progress of the future. Computers will guide the first spaceships to Venus, Mars and other planets.
The state gives energetic support to the development of computer engineering. The Academy of Sciences established a network10 of computing centres all over the country. These centres work out new numerical methods, develop new ways and means of automated programming work.