Driving. Information Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Driving. Information Technology - Essay Example A mention of programming to a non programmer sends shivers down the spine. However, few drivers do not realize how easy programming can be if only they understood similarities that exist between the two activities. Most drivers would agree that turning a steering wheel, engaging acceleration pedal and so on requires the use of muscles but certainly not much. On the other hand, programming or instructing a computer requires the use of intelligence in selecting proper instructions, anticipating response from the machine etc (Kent, 2006, 76). Just like driving, intelligence needed in programming is certainly not much especially if a person can relate programming to driving. It would not be possible to learn how to drive without involving yourself in the act. A person should understand that a computer only does what it is instructed to do just like a car follows the direction pointed by the driver. The computer system is able to utilize the CPU to perform a set of four basic operations c alled machine cycle on every instruction. First the control unit fetches the instruction from memory. Second, it decodes the instruction into commands that the computer will understand and then execute the command. Finally, the control unit writes the final result into the memory (Keith, 2006, 7). This process can be illustrated by a scenario where a person has to drive to a location he or she has not previously visited but needs to get there out of necessity. The four operations of the machine cycle are replicated in most activities that we do everyday. Driving to a place where a person has never been before is one of these activities and it requires plenty of careful planning. Any aspiring programmer must be able to conceptualize the four basic operations of the machine cycle and this can be done best by comparing the whole idea to a person going to visit a new friend in a location one has not been to before. Through twists and turns of fate, you happen to meet a nice person with whom you would be very glad to sit down and share a cup of coffee as you engage each other in some meaningful discourse. You have a problem that is bothering you and suddenly you happen to bump on someone with the solution. Forget about the nature of the problem and focus on how you get to be acquainted with the person and what follows afterwards. You happen to overhear someone discussing an issue with others that is related to a personal problem that you are going through. You later decide to talk to the person in private and the person is only more than willing to help. Unfortunately, since the person is so busy and is in a hurry, he decides to tell you where you can meet one evening and he forgets to give you phone number and all you can do is to find about his place of residence on your own. The only thing that you got is little clue of where he lives but you have never been to the place before. To drive to the place would require you plan your journey pretty carefully to avoid missing the place. To this end, the plans that you make would be pretty much be similar to the four operations of the machine cycle. The driver must bear in mind that the person told him he is only found at the place of his residence at a certain time in the evening and therefore should avoid as much as possible any delay related issues. The driver who in this case must not disclose any details of his activity due to its