Have computer, will play as they say

Once upon a time the word computer meant any device that could perform numerical calculations - such as an abacus, an adding machine, or a slide rule.

Now, however, the word has a much wider application. The term computer usually refers to an electronic device that can use a list of instructions, called a programme, to perform calculations or to store, manipulate and retrieve information.

It is the rare youngster who is not interested in computers these days. The number of students going in for their own computers at home grows by the day.

There is an interesting exhibition now on at the Hong Kong Science Museum called 'Computer Lab and Logic Gates'.

When I dropped by to have a look, I saw dozens of youngsters eagerly learning all about the structure of computers, the different applications of computers, artificial intelligence and robotics.

At the 'Computer Lab' we were invited to try out various multimedia computer applications. Used purely as a word processor, a computer can be a dull toy. The main reason personal computers are selling like hot cakes is because of their multimedia functions.