Final answer:
Modern computing emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the introduction of user-friendly personal computers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emergence of modern computing can be traced back to the late 1970s and early 1980s when computer manufacturers like Apple, Commodore, and Tandy began offering fully assembled personal computers. Previously, personal computing had been limited to expensive kits that had to be assembled and programmed.
However, with the introduction of user-friendly personal computers, computers became more accessible and started to proliferate in businesses, homes, and among young enthusiasts who launched electronic bulletin board systems. A modern computer is an integrated system including machine hardware, an instruction set, system software, application programs, and user interfaces.
A computing device refers to a general-purpose machine that executes instructions for any data processing purpose. Contrast with equipment that is dedicated to a single function such as a network switch or router. See computer and CPU.