Many of us forget how amazing the machines we spend our lives on are. Computers, after all, run our entire lives! From rocket ships to shop tills, there is almost no aspect of the day that isn’t in some way touched by a computer – and that incredible functionality is something that can be lost on us when we spend our entire day engaged with them! 

However, when you take a moment to think about it, the computer really is a wonderful and magical device with the power to do an incredible range of things. Here are four of the most unexpected things your computer can do for you.

1. Make Art

Of course, most of us know that you can make art by drawing with your computer or editing photos. Photoshop is a classic way of transforming photos into art and it is the best-known way of going about making art with your machine, but there are even more interesting ways you can make art that is specifically influenced by being constructed on a computer: glitch art!

Using the pixels of a computer and the right bits of code and software, you can break apart the original structure of an image through a glitch. The results can be striking, shocking, weird, or even beautiful. No matter how they turn out, these images are always interesting to look at and nothing like traditional art!

2. Find Your Way

With the right know-how, you can turn any computer into an actual working compass! Back in the days of old desktop computers, this would be a fairly useless skill, but now that computers can be lightweight and portable – like Lenovo AMD Ryzen 7 laptops – being able to use your computer as a compass could actually come in handy!

Most map software that comes installed on computers can easily be transformed into a compass to help you find your way wherever you are.

3. Unlock New Operating Systems

There is more to your PC or Mac than Microsoft or Apple software! Plenty of other operating systems exist out there that you can try if you are feeling adventurous and like you want to see what else your computer can do. Some of the best ones include Haiku, FreeDOS, and KolibriOS, which is particularly good for people who love gaming.

Installing a different operating system on your computer is a really simple way to explore a completely new side to your computer. 

4. Use the Power of AI

Again, with a little bit of specific knowledge, you can turn your computer into a companion! Whether you just want a fun bot to tell you some jokes or you need a personal assistant to help you run your life, turning your computer into artificial intelligence is a great way to make the best use of your amazing machine.

So, the next time you boot up to work, check out a recipe, or stream some television, remember how amazing your computer is and try out something new with it!