The term genius might be a bit overused these days, but there is no doubt that there have been some genius technological improvements over the years. We sometimes don’t even notice these improvements, but they have a profound effect on our lives. Here are five genius technological improvements you should know about.
Silicon Processors
We all know that computers have changed the world, but it was a rather small improvement that led to the computers we know today. The earliest computers were made from analog transistors much like the ones used in radios at the time. While these computers were useful, they were also big, slow and expensive to run. The invention of microprocessors allowed computers to get smaller, faster and cheaper, and silicon microprocessors have been at the forefront of the revolution ever since they were released.
Rugged Mobile Computers
Mobile computers are incredibly powerful, but they have one distinct weakness: They’re fragile. Computers become more powerful by using smaller components, and these smaller components are vulnerable to a wide array of threats. The advent of rugged industrial computers and storage has helped ensure that computers can be used where they are needed. Whether your computer will be used in the desert or out at sea, there are solutions available.
The Window Paradigm
In the early days of computers, output was printed. Later, text-based monitors were used to make the process more seamless. However, the window paradigm, developed at Xerox, would lead the way toward modern computer interfaces. The window paradigm works well with the computer mouse, also invented at Xerox, to give users easier, more effective interfaces. It’s hard to imagine a modern graphical interface that doesn’t use the window paradigm in some way; even mobile devices rely on separate windows to allow users to switch between different apps.
TCP/IP
While TCP/IP isn’t well know, almost all computers use it. It’s the protocol that powers the Internet. It’s relatively simple to implement, and it has shown the ability to scale across the globe and provide fast access to information stored in distant locations. TCP/IP has another advantage: It’s free. Since it is an open protocol, it’s free to implement, and this openness has help shape the Internet into what it is today. The Internet cannot be controlled, and this gives it tremendous power and flexibility.
RAID Arrays
Hard drives are still the preferred method for storing data, but they are notoriously prone to damage. While hard drives have become more reliable over the years, they’ve also become larger, which gives them more space to become corrupted. RAID arrays users several hard drives to store redundant information. If one hard drive fails, the others can restore a new hard drive to the failed one’s previous state. Without this technology, data loss would be far more common.
Computers have changed society, and it’s hard to believe that practical computers have only been in use for a few decades. The Internet is perhaps a bigger surprise; it wasn’t long ago that we couldn’t search online and find answers to almost any questions we have. While the future certainly has new developments in store, it’s worth looking back to realize how far we’ve come in recent years thanks in genius technological improvements.