Computer Uses In Different Sectors Information Technology Essay

The uses of computers have diversified since its inception enabling the creation of more sophisticated and improved machines for uses in different fields, such as military and medicine. Its use has also changed the forms of communication making it easier and faster to transfer and send information. Thus, the use of computers has become a vital asset in the military and medical field and at the same time the most common component for socialization and research via the internet.

Military Technology

Computer Simulation. Computer simulations have become a vital aspect for the military since it can create virtual combat situations without having fatal or lethal consequences. The simulations are derived from actual or theoretical combat situations in order to enhance a soldier’s combat, strategic, and quick decision making capabilities. In addition to an Army infantry soldier using combat simulators, Air Force pilots practice with flight simulators prior to actual flight training. Computer simulators help the military provide a more realistic type of training exercise to help prepare their soldiers for actual combat situations. Therefore, computer simulators are a vital component in military training due to its realistic and virtual representation of combat situations the soldier will face.

Portable Computers. Computers have been integrated with a soldier’s uniform to make the soldier more effective and efficient. An example of this is the Land Warrior. It is a combat system that integrates sophisticated computer, communication and global positioning technology to digitally link soldiers in any type of situation without having to carry around a big computer. This combat system is intertwined with the soldier’s body armor, having a helmet-mounted display. This tiny and portable sophisticated computer system enables a soldier to communicate with other land, air and sea forces directly, increasing a soldier’s efficiency and effectiveness on the battlefield. For instance, the soldier will be able to do the following actions quicker and flawlessly:

Call in air strikes

Pinpoint naval barrages

Distinguish friendly and enemy soldiers

Communicate information

The use of portable computers has improved the situational awareness of the soldier which has increased soldiers’ effectiveness, while providing improved strategic planning and avoiding friendly fire.

Radars. Radar is used in all aspects as a ranging device and its function can get as specific as tracking enemy movement on the battlefield, locating armory depots, and identifying friendly units in a combat zone. It is exceptionally accurate in determining distances in navigation systems, fire control systems and tracking devices used on aircraft, ships, and missiles. They even use radar systems for tracking an artillery shell and determining the location of the firing weapon. In addition, the radar system enhances the situational awareness of all land, air, and sea units to make their actions more efficient and effective on the battlefield. For instance, the following steps are taken to relay targets for an air strike:

The soldier communicates with a nearby friendly aircraft

The soldier prepares his weapon to pinpoint where the air strike should hit

The soldier aims a red laser at the target

The target is portrayed on the radar of either a plane or helicopter

After the aircraft receives the coordinates it advises the soldiers and strikes

The radar system enables soldiers to use more resources while reducing the risk factor at the same time. Computer use has advanced radar technology in military operations and it has also enhanced vital functions in the medical field.

Computers in Medicine

Medical Imaging. Medical imaging involves techniques that generate images of the human body for medical purposes. Many of the modern methods of scanning and imaging are derived from computer technology. Magnetic resonance imaging employs computer software that was developed by the research from computer science. Computed tomography uses digital geometry processing techniques to obtain 3-D images to provide an improved perspective for better analysis and study. To increase the quality of the produced images modern computers and infrared cameras are used for obtaining higher resolution. Computers are a common and key component for medicinal purposes. The generated 3-D images are extremely useful to doctors especially when it comes to diagnosing an illness, analyzing a body’s reaction to medication, or studying the effects of almost any type of disease.

Record Keeping. Computers are an efficient method for storage of patient related data because in order to maintain organization large hospitals employ computer systems to keep track of patient records. It is necessary to maintain detailed records of the medical history of patients because it could prevent confusion in allocating medication or billing information. Doctors often require information concerning a patient’s family history, physical ailments, already diagnosed diseases and prescribed medicines. This information can be effectively stored in a computer database for easy access. Computers help keep track of what medicines are to be prescribed to a patient as well as the medications that should not be given to the patient. Computers enable an efficient storage of large quantities of medical data that would prove to be extremely arduous for people to keep track of. The computer can manage any medicinal task from being a compact database to large sophisticated equipment such as computers used for MRI scans.

Monitoring Equipment. Most of the modern and sophisticated medical equipment have small, programmed computers. Many of the modern medical appliances function on pre-programmed instructions. The circuitry and logic in most of the medical equipment is basically a computer. The functioning of hospital-bed beeping systems, emergency alarm systems, X-ray machines and several other types of medical equipment are based on computer logic. Computer software is used for diagnosis of diseases and analyzing patients’ bodies. For instance the X-ray machines provide images of the body’s bones for examination of a fracture or breakage of a bone. In addition, computer software can examine internal organs of the body and more advanced, sophisticated computer-based systems exist to examine more delicate organs of the body. Computer technology even assists in surgeries. The importance of the use of computers has evolved to become an integral asset not only for the military and the medical fields but has also become the common way for society to communicate.

Internet

Information. World Wide Web browser software, such as Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple’s Safari, and Google Chrome, lets users navigate from one web page to another via hyperlinks embedded in the documents. These documents may also contain any combination of computer data, including graphics, sounds, text, video, multimedia and interactive content including games, office applications and scientific demonstrations. Databases can be created to function like a virtual library so obtaining information is only seconds away compared to traveling to the library which can take up valuable time. Finding information for a research paper is easier as well as just simple surfing the web to view images or watch videos.

Communication. E-mail is an important communications service available on the Internet. The concept of sending electronic text messages from one region of the world to another in a matter of minutes has made e-mail one of the most common ways of communication between people. As the internet system modernized, video chat was enabled and now can be downloaded as an application on cellular phones. People in two different countries can video chat from their cell phones while they’re walking or relaxing at home. Communication has evolved along with the computer to become one of the most common ways to connect to people across the world.

Data Transfer. This can range from using a flash drive to file sharing which is an example of transferring large amounts of data across the Internet. A computer file can be e-mailed to customers, colleagues and friends as an attachment. It can be uploaded to a website for easy download by others. This includes all manner of print publications, software products, news, music, film, video, photography, graphics and the other arts that can be viewed by other people. The flash drive has become a very efficient way to store information for transferring information to a colleague or sharing data with friends for a group project. In addition, the CD and DVD disks are also used to store any type of information particularly for music, videos, or presentations. The computer has made data transfer easier to perform and a lot more capable of being carried from one place to another.

Conclusion

Computers have revolutionized all aspects of life from the military and medical field to social interactions on the internet. The use of computers has significantly improved military tactics and strategies; similarly in the medical field the use of computers has developed more sophisticated technology to keep track and diagnose. The internet has become one of the most important methods of communication in society. Therefore, the use of computers has become a vital component in life from enhancing military strategy and medical techniques to the social interactions on the internet.