My Science School

Computers and their applications have evolved quite a lot since the invention of the first-ever programmable computers in the 1940s. Initially, computers were extensively used in wars to break cryptic messages, or calculate artillery projectiles, or communicate over long distances. However, with time, the use of computers and their applications started increasing, and in this article, we will explore some modem uses of programming in our day-to-day life. Some of the real-world applications of coding are

Games and gaming consoles:

Gaming consoles have been the dream of many teenagers, but how do these consoles function? All instructions given by gamers through keyboards or consoles are translated into actions with the help of code.

Building websites and apps:

Social media platforms, search engines, audio streaming platforms, and many more websites and apps we are hooked to are a result of many programmers coming together to write code such that these applications and websites can do what they are supposed to.

Traffic management:

Be it managing traffic on the road or outer space, coding allows humans to actively manage traffic movement, eliminating the need for humans to manually manage it.

Facial recognition and biometrics:

Have you ever wondered how our smartphones can instantly recognise us and unlock our devices? Thanks to the feat of programming, computers can monitor millions of data points to verify the rightful owner(s) almost instantly.

Self-driving cars:

Who is driving the car when the human isn't? How does the computer know when to drive, how to drive, and where to go? With the extensive use of technologies such as Al (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning), today it is possible for cars to self-drive.

Banking and insurance:

How do banking systems know, about our bank balances and interests? With computers, and programming into the picture, banking institutions can access data in real-time, eliminating redundancies and errors.

Stock markets:

With trillions of dollars being traded every day, it becomes vital to ensure that the money reaches the right people at the right time, and all of this is managed through computer programs.

Powering e-commerce sites:

How come when you place an order for your favourite gadget, it usually reaches you and not someone else? It is with the help of code and programs that millions of products are safely shipped to the right recipients.

Electronic devices:

From refrigerators and television to earphones, electronic devices are hard-coded to perform certain actions.

If the computer is a physical entity, then the program running it is its soul.

The world of computing has undergone a rapid evolution, and today humanity enjoys the power of computing and programming in almost all aspects of life. Which is why today coding is seen as one of the most desirable skills.

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Do you have a friend you always turn to for advice and who gives you a patient car? And does sharing your concerns - sometimes in the strictest confidence- make you feel better? However, sometimes we are too afraid to seek even our friend's help. That's why newspapers and magazines offer help through advice columns. But did you know that these columns, known as agony aunt columns, started more than 200 years ago? Or that the first agony aunts were actually uncles?

In 1691, an English publisher named John Dunton launched the "Athenian Gazette". The periodical carried a column readers turned to for advice. Often the readers sent in their queries without revealing their identity.

The column was in the question-and-answer format. Questions came in from readers on subjects that ranged from religion to philosophy to personal lives. They were answered by Dunton and some of his friends.

How they evolved

Such columns soared in popularity in the 1900s. They struck a chord with the readers. Newspapers and magazines used them to interact with their readers.

The authors of these columns were not necessarily experts, but anyone with the gift of the gab especially those who could come up with witty and humorous responses.

Often the authors themselves kept their identity hidden. Sometimes the columns were written by a team of authors under a common pseudonym. The agony aunts doled out advice on a wide range of topics from mental health and relationships to homemaking and socialising. Readers found these columns comforting, as they echoed their own sentiments and concerns. Some of the popular advice columns of the 1900s were "Dear Abby", "Dear Prudence", and "Ask Polly".

In India, the '80s and the '90s were considered the golden age of advice columns and many celebrities and socialites played agony aunts. Television actress Priya Tendulkar ran the "Priya's Helpline" in The Indian Express and the column was known to receive 500 letters per week. Theatre director Pearl Padamsee's agony aunt column for Femina, and socialite Bina Ramani's "Very Personal" column for the Asian Age were equally popular.

While most of these columns were light-hearted, some of them tackled serious issues and were handled by experts such as medical doctors and psychologists.

New avatar

Advice columns continue to run even today albeit in a new avatar. They are no longer restricted to the print medium alone. Television shows and radio channels too have segments dedicated to answering questions from readers on various topics. There are also many agony aunt podcasts available online. For instance, Slate magazine has revived the "Dear Prudence" columns in the form of podcasts.

Social media too has not been left behind. Some websites and apps offer advice in real-time to users.

Picture Credit : Google