Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology (change)CHANGED  a great deal. The first computers (be)WAS  simple machines designed for basic tasks. They (have, not)HAVEN’T  much memory and they (be, not)WEREN’T  very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay) HAVE PAID  thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do) DID very little. Most computers (be)WERE  separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games. 

Times (change) CHANGED. Computers (become) BECAME powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers (create)CREATED  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)HAVE BECAME  faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also) GOTon the Internet and (begin) BEGAN communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start)STARTED  to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve)EVOLVED  into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.