Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology (change)______a great deal. The first computers (be)_______simple machines designed for basic tasks. They (have, not)_______much memory and they (be, not)________very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay)________thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do)_________very little. Most computers (be)_______separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games.
Times (change)__________. Computers (become)__________powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers (create)____________a large selection of useful programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today's games (become) _________faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also)
on the Internet and (begin)_________communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start) ________to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve) __________into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.