TYPES AND CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER

WHAT ARE TYPES OF COMPUTERS? | INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

In this article, we will discuss the introduction of computers, classification, and types of computers. Today, you can find computers almost everywhere. Microwave ovens, Automobiles, thermostats, and even wristwatches contain computer chips. In fact, Computer is so common in modern society that everybody is suffering from technology to some extent.

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

A computer is a device that processes data and converts it into information. Computers run programs, which process data and perform tasks based on the instructions contained in the programs. Because a computer program can evaluate data and then based on those evolutions, results are generated which can be used a large number of applications. The computer can process data with little assistance. Some examples of computer applications are:

• Controlling space fight

• Landing airplanes

• Tracking inventory

• Painting books

• Turning on lights at a specified time

• Checking out groceries at the checkout counter

In this article, we will explore the history of computers and define the different types of computers available today. Also, the impact of computers on society will be discussed along with the introduction to programming languages.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF COMPUTERS?

There are three types of computer

• Analog Computer

• Digital Computer

• Hybrid Computer

 ANALOG COMPUTER

Analog computer uses electronic or mechanical phenomena to model the matter being solved by using one quite physical quantity to represent another.

It excels in solving dynamic problems and simulating complex physical systems. Analog computer has no way for man-machine interaction, recording, and graphic display. High-speed computing elements used to simulated mathematical functions, physical systems, and dynamic processes, are arranged in as much the same pattern as the physical system they represent. Early special-purpose Analog computer was the slide rule, the curve meter and plain meter, and the harmonic analyzer. In World War ¡¡, Analog computing mechanisms were of great importance for gunfire control on warships. The General-purpose Analog computing system was first built in the 1930s.

DIGITAL COMPUTER

It processes data in numerical form using digital circuits. Digital computers perform logic operations and arithmetic with discrete values. Digital computers are specially designed for solving algebraic expressions and even better at manipulating numbers. Digital Computers are unbeatable for high-speed reliable results in arithmetic operations, data storage, and documentation. It can table perform only one calculation at the time.

The result can be obtained in a variety of forms, such as painted tables magnetic tape, and the familiar purchased cards. While properly used in high-accuracy, high-volumes numerical calculations, digital computers are extremely good.

In the early 1940s, Aiken built the first general-purpose digital computer is called

MARK-1, with the invention of digital computers, a replacement age of computing started. Today digital computers are widely being used in business, educational institutes, hospitals, etc. for various purposes. Examples of digital computers are IBM PC, Apple’s Macintosh computer, etc.

HYBRID COMPUTER

Hybrid Computer is a mixture of Analog and digital computers. Hybrid Computer uses analog-to-digital conversion

and digital-to-analog conversion, and May input and output either Analog and digital data. The dynamic issue that once took too long or were too difficult to handle can be solved in a reasonable period of time. Hybrid Computers can create highly accurate and reliable results. These types of computers are specially used in robotics, medical labs, etc.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER | DESCRIBE IN DETAIL

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER

The computer comes in many different sizes and ranges of power and different types of a computer system have varying capabilities today computer system are classified the following categories

• supercomputer

• mainframe computer

• mini computer

• microcomputer

SUPERCOMPUTER

Super Computers are one of the classifications of the computer the most powerful and high electricity consuming computer made, and physically they are some of the largest. These systems are built to process a huge amount of knowledge and therefore the fastest supercomputer can perform quite 1 trillion calculations per second. Some supercomputers like the cray T90 system can house thousands of processors.

This speed and power make supercomputers ideal for handling large and highly complex problems that require extreme calculating power e.g. this computer help analyze and forecast global weather patterns, nuclear scientists use these computers to perform complex calculation, etc.

The supercomputer can cost tens of millions of dollars and cents consume enough electricity to power dozen of homes because of their size and cost supercomputer are relatively rarely used only by large corporation universities and government agencies that can afford them

MAINFRAME COMPUTERS

The mainframe is the largest type of computer in common use. Mainframe computers are utilized in large organizations like insurance companies and banks where many of us need frequent access to equivalent data which is typically organized into one or more huge databases.

Airlines use large mainframe systems for the flight scheduling reservation ticketing and meeting a range of customer service needs in a traditional mainframe environment each user works at a computer terminal. A terminal may be a monitor and a keyboard connected to a mainframe.

These computers are larger in size expensive can store huge amounts of data( billions of records) and can support thousand of terminals these computers are basically used in a networked environment as one user can’t utilize their full processing power. IBM s/390 is an example of a mainframe computer

MINI COMPUTER

Mini Computer is last in the Classification of the computer. They got their name thanks to their small size. These computers have less processing power than the mainframe computers but have high processing power than a microcomputer. Like a mainframe, a minicomputer is used in a networked environment as a server machine.

These computers are less expensive than mainframe computer and are ideal for the organization that could afford mainframe or do not need the processing power of mainframe computer the HP 3000 are an example of a mini-computer

MICRO COMPUTERS

The microcomputer also refers to personal preference computers are typical to develop for individual users. These are less powerful machines as compare to minicomputer in 1981 IBM it first microcomputer the IBM-PC. Within a few years, many other manufactures copied the architecture, and IBM compatible computers emerge in the market.