Industry. Computers have opened a new era in manufacturing and consumer-product development. In the factory, computer-assisted manufacturing, or CAM, programs help people plan complex production schedules, keep track of inventories and accounts, run automated assembly lines, and control robots. Dedicated computers are routinely used in thousands of products ranging from calculators to airplanes. Government. Government agencies are the largest users of mainframes and supercomputers. The United States Department of Defense uses computers for hundreds of tasks, including research, breaking codes, interpreting data from spy satellites, and targeting missiles. The Internal Revenue Service uses computers to keep track of tens of millions of tax returns. Computers are also essential for taking the census, maintaining criminal records, and other tasks. Education. Computers have proved to be valuable educational tools. Computer-assisted instruction, or CAI, uses computerized lessons that range from simple drills and practice sessions to complexinteractive tutorials. These programs have become essential teaching tools in medical schools and military training centers, where the topics are complex and the cost of human teachers is extremely high.Educational aids, such as some encyclopedias and other major reference works, are available to personal-computer users--either on magnetic disks or optical discs or through various Telecommunication networks. Arts and Entertainment. Video games are one of the most popular applications of personal computers. The constantly improving graphics and sound capabilities of personal computers have made thempopular tools for artists and musicians. Personal computers can display millions of colors, can produce images far clearer than those of a television set, and can connect to various musical instruments andsynthesizers. Painting and drawing programs enable ar...
