| Every day, people use computers in new ways. | | | | also used to do routine, repetitive tasks in which |
| Computers are increasingly affordable; they continue | | | | boredom or fatigue can lead to poor quality work. |
| to be more powerful as information-processing tools | | | | Computers in Medicine, Information technology plays an |
| as well as easier to use. | | | | important role in medicine. For example, a scanner |
| Computers in Business, One of the first and largest | | | | takes a series of pictures of the body by means of |
| applications of computers is keeping and managing | | | | computerized axial tomography (CAT) or magnetic |
| business and financial records. Most large companies | | | | resonance imaging (MRI). A computer then combines |
| keep the employment records of all their workers in | | | | the pictures to produce detailed three-dimensional |
| large databases that are managed by computer | | | | images of the body's organs. In addition, the MRI |
| programs. Similar programs and databases are used in | | | | produces images that show changes in body |
| such business functions as billing customers; tracking | | | | chemistry and blood flow. |
| payments received and payments to be made; and | | | | Computers in Science and Engineering, Using |
| tracking supplies needed and items produced, stored, | | | | supercomputers, meteorologists predict future weather |
| shipped, and sold. In fact, practically all the information | | | | by using a combination of observations of weather |
| companies need to do business involves the use of | | | | conditions from many sources, a mathematical |
| computers and information technology. | | | | representation of the behavior of the atmosphere, and |
| On a smaller scale, many businesses have replaced | | | | geographic data. |
| cash registers with point-of-sale (POS) terminals. | | | | Computer-aided design and computer-aided |
| These POS terminals not only print a sales receipt for | | | | manufacturing programs, often called CAD/CAM, have |
| the customer but also send information to a computer | | | | led to improved products in many fields, especially |
| database when each item is sold to maintain an | | | | where designs tend to be very detailed. Computer |
| inventory of items on hand and items to be ordered. | | | | programs make it possible for engineers to analyze |
| Computers have also become very important in | | | | designs of complex structures such as power plants |
| modern factories. Computer-controlled robots now do | | | | and space stations. |
| tasks that are hot, heavy, or hazardous. Robots are | | | | |