Never too early to learn about computers

One billion personal computers have been sold across the world, according to hi-tech consultancy Gartner Dataquest.
And the number of computers is set to explode in the next few years, reaching the two billion mark in by 2008.

The greatest growth is expected to be in areas such as China, Latin America, eastern Europe and India, predicts Gartner.

"With over half the world's population residing in Asia Pacific, we can expect a significant contribution from this region towards the next billion PCs sold," said Gartner Dataquest's Ian Bertram.

From chunky to sleek

Computers have come a long way since the launch of the first commercially successful and widely available PC, the Altair, in 1975.

Back then, computers were big and chunky, with simple programs like word-processing.

Today, the PC comes in all shapes and sizes and computing power has progressed in leaps and bounds.

For many people, they have become a part of everyday life, used to send e-mail, browse the internet, edit home movies and play games.

"The PC is so versatile and so good at so many things, it's become something that almost everybody has to have," said Gartner Dataquest's Martin Reynolds.

Humanising PCs

Nearly half of all the households in western Europe have a PC.

In the UK, a computer can be found in 40% of homes, compared with 13% in 1985.

"Today, humans have to work with computers on the computers' terms," explained Intel's Chief Technology Officer, Pat Gelsinger.

"We want to make computers work with humans on their terms. That vision includes developing PCs that can recognize speech, gestures and video."