Final answer:
BIOS performs hardware checks and initiates the operating system at startup. It is vital in computers since the early Microsoft MS-DOS operating systems, influencing various aspects of life including engineering, science, and entertainment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is an essential component of computers that has been integral since the era of early computing machines, like the HB85B manufactured in the 1980s. Upon powering on, the BIOS performs crucial hardware checks, ensuring all system components are functioning correctly. This process is known as the Power-On Self Test (POST). Following successful POST, the BIOS locates and initiates the boot loader or the operating system from the hard drive or another storage device, allowing the computer to start so it can perform the wide array of tasks that change the way we interact with the world, ranging from communication enhancements to complex computations and data storage.
Modern computers are indispensable in various fields, including engineering and science, where they perform computations involving billions of operations, such as weather prediction. They control machines, like airplanes and car engines, and have revolutionized access to information and connectivity via the Internet. The innovation doesn't stop at work: computers also significantly contribute to learning and entertainment.