21 The New Age of Home Computers
Brandon Marks
21.1 Introduction
Keywords
- Computers – an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program
- Software – the programs and other operating information used by a computer
- Instant Gratification – the ability to instantly satisfy a want at any time
- Laptop – a computer that is portable and suitable for use while traveling
- Computer Literacy – an understanding of how to operate a computer at a moderate level
- Concurrent Players – number of players connected to a game at one time
Learning Objectives
- By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
- Define what a home computer is and the opportunities it offered
- Understand how computers were first developed and what they have turned into
- Name the main ways home computers impacted the Millennial generation.
- Explain how computers have been integrated into modern society
Home computers were a thing of the future when they were first developing; they shifted the country into a culture built around technology and provided a massive new economic sector. Computers are electronic devices for storing and processing data, according to instructions given to it. While the first computers were being created in the early 1800s, the concept of a personal computer wasn’t even heard of until around the 1980s(Randell, B., 1976). Before this computers were seen as something only companies or some of the wealthiest individuals could own, but following the invention of better materials and cheaper assembly, computers started to become much more affordable to the everyday family. With the cheaper prices and a growing economy in the United States, home computers started to become a much more common sight in middle-class households.
With the growing popularity of these computers, questions began to arise about the effects of these new devices on the children of this time. Millennials were the first generation to grow up in a technology centered world, and the effects of this can be seen in many different ways. The emergence of home computers played an integral role in millennials’ adolescent years through the tools it provided, long term effects on mindsets, and impact on social interaction. While all of these topics have positives and negatives to them, one thing is for sure, home computers drastically changed the world.
21.2 What Are Home Computers
Key Takeaways
21.2.1 Defining Home Computers
A home computer is simply a computer that is used at home. For many years computers had been used in commercial and scientific uses, but the home computer brought this device to a consumer level to be used for many different purposes. This catered to all ages due to the variety of uses available, such as gaming, interacting, and learning.
21.2.2 Playing Games
Children interacted with computers in multiple different ways, one of the most prevalent around the 1990s was playing games.