Why the computer network exists?
Historical background
In the early 1980s, personal computer was developed with the concept
of independent operation. With personal computer on your desktop, you
could enter the information yourself, manipulate it, and produce the
report you really wanted. While personal computer had become more powerful
and applications for the computers included simple spreadsheet, databases,
and word processors, the market for the computers exploded. So, many
hardware and software venders joined in the market and it resulted
competition.
The competition pressed intense technological development, which led to increased power on the desktop and lower prices. Desktop computers were soon outperforming older, slower mainframe applications. Small businesses in particular were able to benefit from information management services that, a few years earlier, had been available only to wealthy corporations.
For all its speed and power, the desktop computing environment had a difficulty in communicating among the users as computing information had became large and complicated. However, business information is useful only when it is communicated between human beings.
The obvious solution was to link the desktop computers together. So, the idea of a Local Area Network (LAN) was developed. The development of network technology is continuous up to present.
Benefits
Sharing information: the computer can help you centralize the
information and maintain control over it if you select one computer to
store the shared information and have all other computers reference the
information on that computer over the network.
Sharing hardware resources: a network allows anyone connected to the
network to use printers, fax modem, scanners, tape backup units or almost
any other device that can be attached to a computer.
Sharing software resources: administrator can centrally install and configure the software and also restrict access to the software. It is easier than doing it on every one of the computers in an organization.
Preserving information: a network also allows for information to be backed up to a central location. It is difficult to maintain regular backups on a number of stand-alone computers so important information can be lost easily by mistake or by accident.
Protecting information: a network provides a more secure environment for a company's important information than stand-alone computers. Networks provide an additional layer of security by way of passwords.
Electronic-mail (e-mail): the computer network can also help people communicate by e-mail. You can attach electronic documents to mail message like photo, sound and video clip.