Not very long ago,the computer was a strange machine．Not many people understand it．Not many people said yes to it．Today,much of that is changing．The first computer system was introduced for use in business in the mid-1950s．Since then,the number of computer systems used in business,governments,and industries has grown rapidly．In September,2000,about 30,000,000 systems were in use in the United States．This figure is growing by tens of thousands every year． The electric computer is an important part in our lives．Each year we use computer more and more to help us to collect data（数据）and to provide us with information．At one time,people thought computers were only useful for banks,department stores and governments but today the rapidly increasing number of computers are used for many other purposes． Have you ever stopped to think how you are affected by a digital computer?The clothes you wear probably made with the help of a digital computer．The newspaper,the radio and television programs are often edited and prepared by the digital computers． Computers today are playing important roles in education,transportation and medicine．They are used to predict the weather,to examine the river or ocean and to develop defence systems．They are being used by business,governments and industries．There is no reason to think that their uses will decrease．Computers will become a greater part of our lives．The effect of the computer is very great． The list of its uses could go on and on．Although the first computer was only introduced in the mid-1950s,computers now affect millions of people in countless ways every day． | 
