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. Programmes (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.