Final answer:
The cognitive revolution and the invention of computers have led to the metaphor of human memory as a computer system, emphasizing encoding, storage, and retrieval of information similar to computer data processing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cognitive revolution and the invention of computers both contributed to the useful metaphor that views human memory as a computer system. This metaphor suggests that memory is a set of processes used to encode, store, and retrieve information over different periods of time, similar to how a computer processes data. The brain processes information gathered by the senses and stored in memory, producing outputs through our thoughts and actions. This approach has made terms like 'encoding', 'storage', and 'retrieval' common in discussions of human memory. Moreover, Atkinson and Shiffrin's model of human memory further solidifies this comparison by positing that memory goes through distinctive stages before it becomes long-term, much like the way computers handle data.