Man’s knowledge is vast and ever escalating. Due to the insatiate nature of man, he has made great progress in simplifying his plights, adding ease to his life style and increasing the comfort level. One of such progress in the scientific fields is the birth of the most brilliant child of science: the COMPUTER.

Computer is an electronic device used for storing and processing data according to the instructions given to it. The computer has got a very bright future. The uses and applications of this amazing man-built-machine are too many to count. But with every new head, comes a new idea. The cons are also in a number uncountable by the fingers of our hands. Among the general public, computers arouse strong feelings- people either love them or hate them- there are no in-betweens.

The computer-lovers talk about how useful computers are being today. Computers are conducting many of the routine activities in today’s society. They are controlling the traffic in most of the major cities; they calculate many of the bills we pay. We can shop and sell things via computers, write letters and send them, which can be received instantly in any parts of the world. Complicated calculations can be carried out accurately in a few seconds, which would typically take ages for a man to complete. Also, computers bring more leisure, as more and more unpleasant jobs are taken over by computerized robots.

The haters, on the other hand, argue that computers bring not leisure but unemployment. They worry, too that people who spend all their time talking to the computers will forget how to talk to each other. Also, the video games are often being presented as something negative, which hinders the kids from doing home works and other useful activities. (This is partially true, if they do too much of it. But generally speaking, the young people’s contact with computers is positive). Moreover, software piracy causes billions of dollars’ loss to the software manufacturers every year. Hacking is another illicit action that has taken birth from computer. A hacker steals and manipulates information from other databases. These crimes can be very harmful. “Internet addiction” is another dark side of computers. On June 14, a news channel reported that an “internet-crazed” American woman was arrested for neglecting her three young children. The woman reportedly spent 12 hours straight online, while her hungry kids were locked away in one room so she could be online without interruption (?????). But the biggest fear that computer haters have is that computers may eventually take over from human beings altogether.

And so the argument on “Computer: a Boon or a Curse” continues. Have you decided which side you are on?