microcomputing

Microcomputing refers to the use of microcomputers, which are small, relatively inexpensive computers built around a microprocessor. This contrasts with earlier mainframe computers, which were large, expensive, and required specialized staff. The advent of the microprocessor in the early 1970s was the key technological development that enabled the rise of microcomputing. Early microcomputers, such as the Altair 8800, were primarily aimed at hobbyists and were often sold as kits.

The development of user-friendly operating systems and application software, such as the Apple II and the IBM PC with MS-DOS, made microcomputers accessible to a much wider audience in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This period is often referred to as the personal computer revolution. Microcomputing democratized computing power, moving it from large institutions into homes and small businesses.

The term "microcomputing" became less common as personal computers became ubiquitous and the distinction between microcomputers and other types of computers blurred. Today, the devices we use daily, from laptops and smartphones to tablets, are all descendants of early microcomputers, continuing the trend of powerful, portable, and accessible computing. The impact of microcomputing on society, economy, and culture has been profound, fundamentally changing how people work, communicate, and interact with information.