Ans: The following
are the advantages of Computer :
(1) Speed: The computer works at
almost the speed of light. It can do about 30,00,000 calculations per second.
It processes large volume of data in just a fraction of a second. In fact, its
speed which was initially measured in milliseconds is now measured in
microseconds, nanoseconds and picoseconds (10-3 , 10-6, 10-9 and 10-12 seconds)
respectively. Once raw data/ information relating to accounting transactions
are fed, computer prepares journal and subsidiary books, does ledger posting,
balances ledger accounts and prepares trial balance, final accounts and
required accounting statements in a very short time. Thus, a computer can
complete a task in less than an hour, which would have earlier taken a year for
a group of people to complete.
(2) Phenomenal memory
(Storage): Unlike human beings, a computer doesn’t forget anything and its
primary and secondary memory together enable it to store and retrieve a huge
amount of data / information. Its memory is large enough to store a huge amount
of varied information for a considerably long period of time or permanently.
(3) Accuracy: Computer never makes mistakes and
invariably gives correct and accurate answers. In case of any wrong
computer-generated answers, the defect invariably lies in the humanware. It can
be either attributed to wrong programming or wrong feeding of data or
information.
(4) Diligence: Unlike human beings, a
computer doesn’t get tired or bored by doing the same job repeatedly. In fact,
it gives the same quality of work and level of speed, accuracy and neatness
even after several hours of continuous work. These features makes it especially
suitable for repetitive work or job like accounting.
(5) Automation: Once the program and the
raw data / information are fed into the computer, it will automatically execute
the different steps or stages one after another without needing any reminder or
additional human effort.
(6) Versatility: A computer possesses great
versatility and hence it can be put to an infinite number of uses. In fact, it
can do almost any type of work once it has been reduced to a series of logical
and systematic steps to be performed one after another. Computer can be used in
banks, in railway reservation, in colleges to prepare mark-list and checking
objective type questions, in offices to prepare financial accounting, in
hospitals, in shares analysis, etc.