The word computer comes from the word ‘compute’ which means
to calculate. Hence, a computer is normally considered to be a calculating
device, which can perform arithmetic operation at enormous speed.
In fact, the original objective for invention the computer
was to create a fast calculating machine. However, more than 80% of the work
done by computer today is non-numerical nature. Hence, to define a computer
merely as a calculating device is to ignore over 80% of its functions.