Personal computer

Article summary

personal computer personal computer A personal computer (PC), or simply computer, is a computer designed for personal use. It is typically used for tasks such as word processing, web browsing, email, file management, spreadsheets, and video calling. Unlike large, costly minicomputers and mainframes, time-sharing by many people at the same time is not used with personal computers. Personal computers are designed to be operated directly by an end user, rather than by a computer expert, administrator, company or technician. The term "home computer" has also been used, primarily in the late 1970s and 1980s. The advent of personal computers and the concurrent Digital Revolution have significantly affected the lives of people. In 1981, the IBM Personal Computer was released, and IBM PC compatibles soon followed; the term PC came to be used historically to refer exclusively to these computers. Other personal computers introduced at around the same time, such as the Apple II, TRS-80, and Commodore 64, tended to be called home computers.…

Key claims

1. release date: 1978 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. release date: 1981 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the release date is "1978". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the release date is "1981". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
5. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378296642