[ Thanks to An Anonymous Reader for
this link. ]
“All machines consume input, perform some sort of work, and
yield output. A telephone, for example, converts sound energy to an
electrical signal and back again to audio to enable conversation.
An engine imbibes fuel (steam, fission, petrol, or elbow grease)
and transforms it into work. And a blender devours rum, ice, lime,
and curacao, and stirs vigorously to produce a Mai Tai. (Or, if you
prefer something more metropolitan, try some champagne and pear
nectar to enjoy a Bellini. The blender is truly a flexible and
remarkable machine.)“Because software transforms data, each application is also a
machine–albeit a ‘virtual’ one, given the absence of physical
parts…”
Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.
LinuxToday is a trusted, contributor-driven news resource supporting all types of Linux users. Our thriving international community engages with us through social media and frequent content contributions aimed at solving problems ranging from personal computing to enterprise-level IT operations. LinuxToday serves as a home for a community that struggles to find comparable information elsewhere on the web.
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