számítók

Számítók is a Hungarian term that broadly translates to "calculators" or "computers." Historically, it referred to individuals who performed calculations, often for scientific, engineering, or financial purposes. These individuals were essential before the advent of mechanical and later electronic computing devices. They would meticulously work through complex problems using mathematical tables, abacuses, and other tools.

The meaning of számítók evolved significantly with technological advancements. The term came to encompass mechanical calculators, such as the Pascaline and Leibniz calculator, which automated some of the manual calculation processes. As technology progressed further, it began to include early electro-mechanical machines and eventually, electronic computers.

In modern Hungarian usage, "számítók" is largely synonymous with computers, encompassing personal computers, servers, and supercomputers. The original sense of a human calculator is now rarely used, replaced by terms like "matematikus" (mathematician) or "számítási szakember" (computational specialist). The transition from human számítók to sophisticated computing machines reflects the dramatic progress in information technology and automation.