Final answer:
The success of computers in automating tasks is due to their ability to operate based on clearly defined rules, a concept that has evolved from the early exclusive use of computers to their widespread application today. This has led to a significant advancement in technology, paralleling human cognitive processes with computational operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Computers have revolutionized various sectors by enabling the automation of tasks that can be defined by clear sets of rules. This automation capability is particularly evident in fields where computer programs can be designed to perform complex functions. The feedback loop created by the use of computers to design more advanced systems has dramatically propelled the development of computer technology.
Historically, computing technology evolved from large and costly systems primarily used by universities and the military to more accessible general-purpose computers in the 1970s, thanks to companies like IBM and Digital Equipment Company. This transition to minicomputers, and eventually to personal computers from manufacturers such as Apple and Commodore in the late 1970s and early 1980s, indicated a shift towards wider public access and utility.
The comparison of the human brain to computer operations highlights the parallel between our cognitive processes and the workings of a computer system, where decisions and actions are outputs of complex computations. As a result, computer scientists and engineers continuously work to develop new applications such as assisting physically challenged individuals with the control of artificial limbs or similar innovations, further closing the gap between human capacity and technological advancement.