Computer History and Impact of Computers to the World

Personal computers have completely revolutionized the way the world, lives, works and conducts business. Strictly-speaking, computers arrived on the scene way back in 1936 when one Konrad Zuse produced what was then called the Z1 computer. This was a cumbersome machine that could perform simple calculations and also crunch simple data. This was not as sophisticated as what we have today but it served to set the foundation for further research and in 1944, John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry from Iowa University built on this model and produced several innovations of the computer which was capable of producing arithmetic calculations, parallel [processing, memory regeneration and other simple computing tasks. The research was taken further at Harvard University, then IBM, the business conglomerate joined the fray and in 1953 produced what was then the world's first sophisticated computer. Even then, it was still large, occupying entire floors and consuming untold power.

As we have mentioned, computers have completely changed the way we live and work. Today, computers are in almost every office. There are still offices in some parts of the world which still don't have computers but this is now rare because without computers, work is inefficient and cumbersome. Take for instance calculations. It would take days for companies to do simple calculations not to mention companies that deal with lots of material and inventory. Computers make this work simple and allow businesses to become more efficient on a day to day basis.

Apple Computer

Another use of computers is communication. With computers has come the wondrous world of the Internet or what is called in other circles, the World Wide Web or Information Superhighway. As much as computer has changed the way we work, they have also revolutionized the way we communicate. The term "the world is a smaller place" or phrases like "global market place". This is because the Internet has made communication so easy and seamless that there has people can communicate instantaneously regardless of what part of the globe they are located. The world of email, although it hasn't completely resulted in the eradication of snail mail, has nevertheless caused a decline in visits to the post office or the purchase of stamps. All this is because people now sit behind a computer and email back and forth. To go even further, specialized Internet software run by many major companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo and Google has made it possible to chat in real time with someone on the other side of the globe. Video conferencing has also been made possible. This has completely changed the way we conduct meetings. Businesses can now even open branches in other countries faster because the top level management can communicate with lower management via video conferencing. People can actually see each other regardless of where they are located and all this is courtesy of the advent of computers and the Internet. Computers have evolved a lot since and are now in almost half of all US households and most offices in the rest of the world.

Computer History and Impact of Computers to the World

The Impact of the 1984 Superbowl Advert on Apple's Brand

The impact of Apple's 1984 Superbowl commercial can't be overstated. It has been named a watershed event, and named the commercial of a decade. The commercial has been credited with pushing societal perception of computers from scary industry tools to accessible - and fun - devices for home use. The commercial certainly contributed to Apple's bottom line and paved the way for the company's brand and identity as an accessible, empowering, and game-changing technology company.

The Rise of The Home Computer

Apple Computer

Prior to the release of the Mac - heralded by this iconic commercial, computers WERE industry-specific, huge, unwieldy, and required incredibly specialized skill-sets to learn. Apple's intent with the Mac was to create a computer that was both affordable and useful for everyone. Steve Jobs referred to the Mac as the beginning of, "the democratization of technology," which, indeed, it turned out to be.

How did the most memorable of Apple commercials - 1984 - play into this image? By casting existing technology as overpowering, controlling, and malevolent - the talking-head overlord of the commercial - director Ridley Scott tried to capture society's current paradigm with regards to computer technology. Ridley's evil technology personified was in control of the user, not the other way around. The on-screen manifestation of Apple, in stark contrast is an athlete - a woman - lean, powerful, and in control. The technology of the Mac itself? A hammer - the most simple and basic of tools, familiar to all and useful beyond measure. This is the way Apple presented it's product in 1984, and remains a key part of their branding today.

Apple as The Liberator

In the 1984 commercial, the Mac literally destroys the status quo, freeing the inhabitants of Scott's world to live their lives without the yoke of controlling technology. Here, Apple is cast as liberator of the people - the Mac was intended to let people interact with technology on their own terms, to do the work that they need to get done, unlimited by the designs and desires of the technology's makers. Again, this remains a big part of Apple brand and image. Intuitive interfaces, "friendly," product design, and the epiphany that was user-created apps reinforce Apple's "liberator" image, though the advent of their pentalobular screw heads and other tamper-proofing measures do cast the company in a bit more of a Big Brother light than before.

Apple consumers view the company as friendly, supportive, and cool. They expect Apple products to be easier to use, nicer to look at, and better-supported than the alternatives. Apple set these expectations for themselves with the Mac, and cemented this image in the minds of consumers with a groundbreaking television commercial that has become a part of the modern zeitgeist. Surely, the company hired Ridley Scott to make a commercial that would reflect the image and culture that they WANTED to project, but one has to wonder whether the overwhelming and unanticipated success they met with pigeonholed the company to some degree. Would Apple still be marketing themselves as the liberating underdog were it not for 1984? It's hard to tell.

The Impact of the 1984 Superbowl Advert on Apple's Brand