Lecture 2b - Types of computers and characteristics.pdf
- 1. Types of computers and Characteristics By F. Chambo
- 2. Types of Computer All the computers that are developed are not alike rather they have different designs and features. Some computers have very high capacity as well as working speed; however, some are slow. Computers are being developed based on the requirements We can categorize computer in two ways: 1. on the basis of data handling capabilities and 2. On basis of size.
- 3. Types of computers based on data handling
- 4. 1) Analogue Computer Analogue computers are designed to process analogue data. Analogue data is continuous data that changes continuously and cannot have discrete values. Analogue computers directly accept the data from the measuring device without converting it into numbers and codes. We can say that analogue computers are used where we don't need exact values always such as speed, temperature, pressure and current. They measure the continuous changes in physical quantity and generally render output as a reading on a dial or scale. Speedometer and mercury thermometer are examples of analogue computers.
- 5. Characteristics of Analog Computers It is a real-time operating device that represents data at the same time continuously within the given range. Performs calculations without third-party support for input/output conversion to electronic form and vice versa. Allows users to scale down the problem helping them understand errors and effects of the problem.
- 6. Advantages of using analogue computers: It allows real-time operations and computation at the same time and continuous representation of all data within the rage of the analogue machine. In some applications, it allows performing calculations without taking the help of transducers for converting the inputs or outputs to digital electronic form and vice versa. The programmer can scale the problem for the dynamic range of the analogue computer. It provides insight into the problem and helps understand the errors and their effects.
- 7. Four main types of analog computers – a. Slide Rules: The simplest type of analog computer developed for basic mathematical problems. It consists of two rods, the first rod has marks that slide to line up with another rod.Slide Rules: It is one of the simplest types of mechanical analogue computers. It was developed to perform basic mathematical calculations. b. Differential Analyzers: This is a special device used for differential calculations using a wheel and disk mechanisms. Differential Analyzers: It was developed to perform differential calculations. It performs integration using wheel-and-disc mechanisms to solve differential calculations. c. Castle Clock: With an ability to save programming instructions, it could include the display of time, zodiac, and solar and lunar orbits. Castle Clock: It was invented by Al-Jarazi. It was able to save programming instructions. This device also could allow users to set the length of the day as per the current season. d. Electronic Analog Computers: Here, the electrical signals flow in capacitors and resistors without mechanical interaction of components. Electronic Analogue Computer: In this type of analogue computer, electrical signals flow through capacitors and resistors to simulate physical phenomena. Here, the mechanical interaction of components does not take place. The voltage of the electrical signal generates the appropriate displays.
- 8. 2) Digital Computer Digital computer is designed to perform calculations and logical operations at high speed. It accepts the raw data as input in the form of digits or binary numbers (0 and 1) and works on them with programs stored in its memory to produce the output. All modern computers like laptops, desktops including smartphones that we use at home or office are digital computers.
- 9. Characteristics of Digital Computers: Allows users to add the latest features to the system more easily. Without changing the hardware, many applications can be run on the same computer with different programs. Improvement in the integrated circuit technology led to falling hardware price. Works at a high speed as it is digitally run. External factors like noise and weather don’t impact the device making the reproducibility of results is higher.
- 10. Advantages of digital computers: It allows you to store a large amount of information and to retrieve it easily whenever you need it. You can easily add new features to digital systems more easily. Different applications can be used in digital systems just by changing the program without making any changes in hardware The cost of hardware is less due to the advancement in the IC technology. It offers high speed as the data is processed digitally. It is highly reliable as it uses error correction codes. Reproducibility of results is higher as the output is not affected by noise, temperature, humidity, and other properties of its components.
- 11. 3) Hybrid Computer Hybrid computer has features of both analogue and digital computer. It is fast like an analogue computer and has memory and accuracy like digital computers. It can process both continuous and discrete data. It accepts analogue signals and convert them into digital form before processing. It is capable of using continuous and discrete data. So, it is widely used in specialized applications where both analogue and digital data is processed. For example, is used in petrol pumps that converts the measurements of fuel flow into quantity and price. Similarly, they are used in airplanes, hospitals, and scientific applications.
- 12. Characteristics of Hybrid Computers: It has a very high speed as the configuration goes on parallel. It delivers precise and faster results that are useful. This is capable of solving difficult equations in real-time. It helps to maintain on-line data processing.
- 13. Advantages of using hybrid computers: Its computing speed is very high due to the all- parallel configuration of the analogue subsystem. It produces precise and quick results that are more accurate and useful. It has the ability to solve and manage big equation in real-time. It helps in the on-line data processing.
- 16. Computer Classifications Computers can be broadly classified by their 1. speed/performance, (Processor speed indicates how fast your computer runs) 2. size, (super, mini and micro computer) 3. computing power/capabilities, (The effective performance of a computer. The capabilities of a computer system are speed, reliability, adaptability, storage and accuracy. ) 4. cost, and 5. Number of users.
- 17. Types of Computer The types of computers include: Super computers mainframe computer, Mini – Computers Micro - Computers personal computer, laptop, etc
- 18. 1) Supercomputer Supercomputers are the biggest and fastest computers. They are designed to process huge amount of data. A supercomputer can process trillions of instructions in a second. It has thousands of interconnected processors. Supercomputers are particularly used in scientific and engineering applications such as weather forecasting, scientific simulations and nuclear energy research. Roger Cray developed the first supercomputer in 1976 and since then it is only used for particular science and engineering applications.
- 19. Example of Super Computer Some of the world's most powerful supercomputers include:
- 20. Fugaku A Japanese-built supercomputer that is used for drug discovery and storm forecasting. It is considered to be one of the world's fastest supercomputers. Fugaku is a petascale supercomputer at the Riken Center for Computational Science in Kobe, Japan. It is named after an alternative name for Mount Fuji. Japan’s Fugaku Crowned The World’s Fastest Supercomputer For the first time in history, the same machine has topped of the most powerful supercomputers in the world.
- 21. Aurora Built by Intel and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Aurora is expected to be able to perform more than 2 billion billion calculations per second. Aurora is an exascale supercomputer that was sponsored by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and designed by Intel and Cray for the Argonne National Laboratory. It has been the second fastest supercomputer in the world since 2023.
- 22. Frontier Hewlett Packard Enterprise Frontier, or OLCF-5, is the world’s first exascale supercomputer. It is hosted at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) in Tennessee, United States and became operational in 2022. As of December 2023, Frontier is the world's fastest supercomputer. It is based on the Cray EX
- 23. Sierra or ATS-2 Developed by IBM and located at the Lawrence Livermore National Library, Sierra is used by the US National Nuclear Security Administration to assess nuclear weapons. It is primarily used for predictive applications in nuclear weapon stockpile stewardship, helping to assure the safety, reliability, and effectiveness of the United States' nuclear weapons.
- 24. Characteristics and applications of supercomputers: It is used for virtual testing of nuclear weapons and critical medical tests. It can study and understand climate patterns and forecast weather conditions. It produces excellent results in animations. It helps in designing the flight simulators for pilots at the beginner level for their training. Diagnosis of some critical health issues like brain injuries and strokes is done by this computer. It helps in scientific research areas by accurately analyzing data obtained from exploring the solar system, satellites, and movement of Earth.
- 25. 2) Mainframe computer Mainframe computers are big centralized machine that contains the large memory, huge storage space, multiple high grade processors. they can support multiple programs at the same time. They are designed to support hundreds to thousands of users simultaneously. They are, multi-user computers. The power of the mainframe can be distributed amongst many people accessing the mainframe via their own PC. These are specifically designed computers for big organizations as they allow users to use programs simultaneously. Industries like banking, telecom, with a need to manage and process high volume data, use mainframe computers.
- 26. UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer I) mainframe computers was first developed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly in USA, in 1951. Today the well-known vendors of mainframe computers are IBM, Hitachi, Amdahl, and Unisys.
- 27. Characteristics of Mainframe Computers Mainframe computers are physically large-sized, powerful, and expensive computers, capable of supporting up to thousands of users simultaneously. It is capable of processing huge amounts of data in seconds. This can handle large-scale memory management. They have relatively large amount of RAM and disk storage. It can distribute the work internally among other processors. Mainframe Computers are used in the background by organizations such as banks and large insurance companies that have very large volumes of processing to perform and have special security needs.
- 28. 3) Minicomputer It is a midsize multiprocessing computer consists of two or more processors and can support 4 to 250 users at one time. It is still a multi-user machines, they have very powerful CPU's that allow them cope with large numbers of users simultaneously. Minicomputers are used in institutes and departments for tasks such as billing, accounting and inventory management.
- 30. Characteristics of minicomputer: It is light weight that makes it easy to carry and fit anywhere. It does not require a controlled operational environment. It is less expensive than mainframe computers. Mini computers are used in institutes and departments for tasks such as billing, accounting and inventory management, also managing the information in a small financial system. The differences between such a machine and a desktop model may be more likely be in the software for example, a multi-user operating system such as Unix, would typically be used.
- 31. Applications of minicomputers: A minicomputer is mainly used to perform three primary functions, which are as follows: Process control: It was used for process control in manufacturing. If any abnormality occurs in the process, it is detected by the minicomputer and necessary adjustments are made accordingly. Data management: It is an excellent device for small organizations to collect, store and share data. Local hospitals and hotels can use it to maintain the records of their patients and customers respectively. Communications Portal: It can also play the role of a communication device in larger systems by serving as a portal between a human operator and a central processor or computer.
- 32. All workstations computer mandatorily needs to have these five features – Multiple Processor Cores Error-correcting code RAM Redundant Array of Independent Disks Solid State Drives – fewer chances of physical failure Optimized, Higher end GPU
- 33. 4. Workstation Workstation is a single user computer that is designed for technical or scientific applications. this category is a high-end and expensive one. It has a faster microprocessor, a large amount of RAM and high speed graphic adapters. It is exclusively made for complex work purpose.It generally performs a specific job with great expertise; accordingly, they are of different types such as graphics workstation, music and multimedia workstation and engineering (CAD/CAM), design workstation. Workstation is used for software development, and other such types of applications which require a moderate amount of computing power and relatively high quality graphics capabilities.
- 34. Characteristics of workstation It is a high-performance computer system designed for a single user for business or professional use. It has larger storage capacity, better graphics, and more powerful CPU than a personal computer. It can handle animation, data analysis, CAD, audio and video creation and editing.
- 35. Features of Workstations Any computer that has the following five features, can be used as a workstation. Multiple Processor Cores: It has more processor cores than simple laptops or computers. ECC RAM: It is provided with Error-correcting code memory that can fix memory errors before they affect the system's performance. SSD: It is better than conventional hard-disk drives. It does not have moving parts, so the chances of physical failure are very less. Optimized, Higher end GPU: It reduces the load on CPU. E.g., CPU has to do less work while processing the screen output.
- 36. 5) Microcomputer Microcomputer is also known as a personal computer (PC). It is smallest size a general-purpose computer invented solely for personal/individual use. It has a microprocessor as a central processing unit, memory, storage area, input unit and output unit. The application of these computers is for personal use only like office work, assignments, or watching a movie. The types of microcomputers are – Desktop Model, Tower computer, and Laptop/Notebook computer – lightweight computer like a briefcase.
- 37. Characteristics of a microcomputer: It is the smallest in size among all types of computers. A limited number of software can be used. It is designed for personal work and applications. Only one user can work at a time. It is less expensive and easy to use. Generally, comes with single semiconductor chip. It is capable of multitasking such as printing, scanning, browsing, watching videos, etc.
- 38. 6. PORTABLE Computers Portable computer is a computer designed to be easily moved from one place to another than those designed to remain at a single location such as desktop and workstation. These computers contain internal keyboard and mouse, they can also be referred as a mobile computer or a lunchbox computers. Originally portable computers were heavy, weighing around five kilograms and could only be run from the main electricity supply. Examples of portable computers are laptops, notebooks, smartphones, tablets palmtop etc
- 39. i. Laptop, and Notebook Laptop computers, these are small portable computers which can run on batteries as well as mains power. t is a handy computer that can be easily carried anywhere. They use special screens, rather than the traditional bulky VDUs (Visual Display Units), which allows for longer battery life as well as portability. Notebook computers are newer version simply indicates a VERY small laptop it resembles a notebook. These are especially popular with salespersons on the move or people giving presentations. While they tend to still be more expensive than an equivalent Desktop computer, they can now match the power of a Desktop computer.
- 40. ii. Tablets A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being computers, do what other personal computers do,
- 41. iii. Palmtop/Notepad computers Palmtops are even smaller computers which can literally fit into the palm of your hand. Capacity: Much smaller storage capacity compared to a PC. Does very simple functions, and relatively cheap. Also called “Notepad” Features Speed: Much less than a PC unless you pay a lot extra. Costs: In relative terms expensive when compares to a PC. Typical Users: Mostly business users.
- 42. iv. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) PDA is a small mobile hand-held device which can be placed on the palm of hand, it provides computing such as information storage and retrieval for personal or business use commonly used for fax, phone calls, and network features. They come with a stylus and keyboard including writing recognition. These devices has touch screen where we can use finger or digital pen rather than a keyboard. Like most computer devices, many can connect to the Internet. It can also be used as a phone or Media Player.
- 43. v. Mobile phones & Smart Phones These are advanced phones with latest functions. We can use them as a phone and as a computer to use some software.
- 44. Review Questions 1. What are the Three Main Types of Computers? On the basis of data handling capabilities, the three main types of computers are: 2. What is a Workstation? 3. What do you Understand by the Term Mainframe? 4. What are the advantages of Analog computers? 5. What are slide rules? 6. What are digital computers? 7. What are mainframe computers? 8. What do you understand about Hybrid computers? 9. Which type of computer has two or more processors and it supports 4 to 200 users at one time.