Computer - Applications

In this chapter, we will discuss the application of computers in various fields.

Business

A computer has high speed of calculation, diligence, accuracy, reliability, or versatility which has made it an integrated part in all business organizations.

Computer is used in business organizations for −

Payroll calculations


Budgeting


Sales analysis


Financial forecasting


Managing employee database


Maintenance of stocks, etc.


Banking

Today, banking is almost totally dependent on computers.

Banks provide the following facilities −

Online accounting facility, which includes checking current balance, making deposits and overdrafts, checking interest charges, shares, and trustee records.


ATM machines which are completely automated are making it even easier for customers to deal with banks.


Insurance

Insurance companies are keeping all records up-to-date with the help of computers. Insurance companies, finance houses, and stock broking firms are widely using computers for their concerns.

Insurance companies are maintaining a database of all clients with information showing −

Procedure to continue with policies


Starting date of the policies


Next due installment of a policy


Maturity date


Interests due


Survival benefits


Bonus


Education

The computer helps in providing a lot of facilities in the education system.

The computer provides a tool in the education system known as CBE (Computer Based Education).


CBE involves control, delivery, and evaluation of learning.


Computer education is rapidly increasing the graph of number of computer students.


There are a number of methods in which educational institutions can use a computer to educate the students.


It is used to prepare a database about performance of a student and analysis is carried out on this basis.


Marketing

In marketing, uses of the computer are following −

Advertising âˆ’ With computers, advertising professionals create art and graphics, write and revise copy, and print and disseminate ads with the goal of selling more products.


Home Shopping âˆ’ Home shopping has been made possible through the use of computerized catalogues that provide access to product information and permit direct entry of orders to be filled by the customers.


Healthcare

Computers have become an important part in hospitals, labs, and dispensaries. They are being used in hospitals to keep the record of patients and medicines. It is also used in scanning and diagnosing different diseases. ECG, EEG, ultrasounds and CT scans, etc. are also done by computerized machines.

Following are some major fields of health care in which computers are used.

Diagnostic System âˆ’ Computers are used to collect data and identify the cause of illness.


Lab-diagnostic System âˆ’ All tests can be done and the reports are prepared by computer.


Patient Monitoring System âˆ’ These are used to check the patient's signs for abnormality such as in Cardiac Arrest, ECG, etc.


Pharma Information System âˆ’ Computer is used to check drug labels, expiry dates, harmful side effects, etc.


Surgery âˆ’ Nowadays, computers are also used in performing surgery.


Engineering Design

Computers are widely used for Engineering purpose.

One of the major areas is CAD (Computer Aided Design) that provides creation and modification of images. Some of the fields are −

Structural Engineering âˆ’ Requires stress and strain analysis for design of ships, buildings, budgets, airplanes, etc.


Industrial Engineering âˆ’ Computers deal with design, implementation, and improvement of integrated systems of people, materials, and equipment.


Architectural Engineering âˆ’ Computers help in planning towns, designing buildings, determining a range of buildings on a site using both 2D and 3D drawings.


Military

Computers are largely used in defence. Modern tanks, missiles, weapons, etc. Military also employs computerized control systems. Some military areas where a computer has been used are −

Missile Control


Military Communication


Military Operation and Planning


Smart Weapons


Communication

Communication is a way to convey a message, an idea, a picture, or speech that is received and understood clearly and correctly by the person for whom it is meant. Some main areas in this category are −

E-mail


Chatting


Usenet


FTP


Telnet


Video-conferencing


Government

Computers play an important role in government services. Some major fields in this category are −

Budgets


Sales tax department


Income tax department


Computation of male/female ratio


Computerization of voters lists


Computerization of PAN card


Weather forecasting


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