UGEC5147: APPLICATION OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
TYPES OF COMPUTER
INSTRUCTOR: AZKA MIR
COMPUTER TYPES
• Computer can be divided into different types on the
following basis:
• On the basis of Construction
• On the basis of Configuration
ANALOG COMPUTER
• It was Lord Kelvin who first introduced the Analog computer.
• In such a computer numerical data are represented by
physical variables which can be measured.
ANALOG COMPUTER
• Analog computer measures and answer the questions by the method of
“HOW MUCH”.
• The input data is not a number, infact a physical quantity like tem, pressure,
speed, velocity. Signals are continuous of (0 to 10 V) Accuracy 1%
Approximately High speed Output is continuous Time is wasted in
transmission time
ANALOG COMPUTER
• Analog computers are designed to measure continuous electrical or physical
conditions, such as current, voltage, flow, temperature, length, or pressure.
Purpose
• Mostly analog computers are special-purpose computers.
• Normally they are designed to perform some specific task not multiple tasks.
KEY COMPONENT
• The key component of the analog computer is the operational amplifier, and
the computer's capacity is determined by the number of amplifiers.
• Examples Wrist watch (if non-digital), your car's speedometer, pressure,
temperature, and fuel gauges are also considered analog computers.
USES
• The output of an analog computer is often an adjustment to
the control of a machine; such as, an adjustment to a valve
that controls the flow of steam to a turbine generator.
• It is also used in temperature setting to control the ovens for
baking.
• They have been widely used in simulating the operation of
aircraft, nuclear power plants, and industrial chemical
processes.
DIGITAL COMPUTER
• A certain type of computer that accepts data and processes it in the form of
numbers is popularly known as a Digital Computer.
• In such a computer all the characters are converted into binary code.
DIGITAL COMPUTER
• Digital computers are designed to perform daily routine tasks such as writing letters, sending e-
mails, performing calculations in an office or creating a database to store large amount of data
etc.
• Purpose
• •Digital computers may be either special or general purpose. Mostly these computers are
designed to perform multiple tasks.
• Key component today
• IC (Integrated Circuits) Examples Personal Computer, Laptop, Mainframe, Super Computer etc.
USES
• Word Processing: Word processing is the most common application for
personal digital computers.
• Accounting - Computers are ideal for keeping payroll records, printing
paychecks, billing customers, preparing tax returns, and taking care of many
of the other accounting tasks in an organization.
• Record keeping - Computers can record information like inventories and
personnel files.
USES
• Industrial Uses - Industrial computers save considerable time and reduce
waste by efficiently performing hundreds of industrial tasks.
• Science - The research and development applications are the most numerous.
Digital computers are being used to do lengthy and complicated
mathematical calculations millions of times faster than human beings.
HYBRID COMPUTER
• A computer which has the features of analogue, as well as the digital
machine, is known as a Hybrid Computer. The hybrid computer is generally
noticed in the geological departments.
HYBRID COMPUTER
• A computer which possesses characteristics of both Analog and Digital
computers is called Hybrid computer.
• Some computers combine the functions of both analog and digital computers.
These computers are called Hybrid Computers.
• Hybrid Computer Examples Cement plant, ECG machine, CNG pump
HYBRID COMPUTER
• The combination of features of analog and digital.
• The main example are central national defense and passenger flight radar
system. They are also used to control robots.
CLASSIFICATION OF
DIGITAL COMPUTER
• Desktop Workstation
• Notebook Tablet PC
• Handheld computer Smart Phone
MICRO COMPUTER
• Microcomputers are small computer which are specifically designed for
personal and office use.
• They are usually inexpensive and have minimum storing and processing
speed. Some common examples are laptop or desktop.
MICRO COMPUTER
• Micro computer are the smallest computer system. There size range from
calculator to desktop size. Its CPU is microprocessor.
• Application : - personal computer, Multi user system, offices.
MICRO COMPUTER
• The microcomputers are also known as personal computers or simply PCs.
• They are also called Desktop computers. Microcomputers are the most common,
smallest and very cheaper computers.
• They were introduced in 1970’s as a result of the development of microprocessor.
• A single microprocessor may carry more than hundred thousand transistors on a
single silicon chip.
• Micro Computer Size: A personal computer can be placed easily on any table or
desk.
MICRO COMPUTER
• Desktop PCs
• Micro Computer Tower PCs
MICRO COMPUTER USES
• They are being widely accepted and used in business, at home and in
educational institutions.
• They are commonly known as personal computers and are usually single user
machines but can be interconnected among themselves to form a Local Area
Network.
LAPTOP COMPUTER
• A laptop computer (also known as notebook computer) is a small mobile personal computer, usually weighing around
from 1 to 3 kilograms (2 to 7 pounds).
• Notebooks smaller than an A4 sheet of paper and weighing around 1 kg are termed subnotebooks
• Construction
• Laptops contain components that are similar to those in their desktop counterparts and perform the same functions but
are designed for mobile use and efficient power consumption.
• Laptops have LCD displays for output. In addition to a built-in keyboard, they may utilize a touchpad (also known as a
trackpad) or a pointing stick for input, though an external mouse or keyboard can also be attached.
• Uses
• Laptops are generally popular among students, travelers and businessmen.
• Laptops are capable of many of the same tasks that desktop computers perform..
• Laptop Computer Examples NEC MobilePro 900c, HP 320LX, HP Jornada 720, and Vadem Clio
PALMTOP COMPUTER
• A small computer that literally fits in your palm. Compared to full-size computers, palmtops are limited,
but they are practical for certain functions such as phone books and calendars. They are also called
hand-held computers, pocket computers or PDA (Personal data assistant or pocket digital assistant)
• Working
• The primary input device of a PDA is the stylus. A stylus is an electronic pen and looks like a small
ballpoint pen.
• This input device is used to write notes and store in the PDA by touching the screen.
• Uses
• Palmtops are generally popular among students, travelers and businessmen.
MINI COMPUTER
• Minicomputers are more powerful than a microcomputer.
• They have faster memory with better-operating speeds and large storage
capacities than microcomputers.
• They are generally used as a server and are capable of supporting up to 200
users.
MINI COMPUTER
• These are also small general purpose system.
• They are generally more powerful and most useful as compared to micro
computer. Mini computer are also known as mid range computer or Child
computer.
• Application :- Departmental systems, Network Servers, work group system.
MINIFRAME COMPUTER
• Minicomputers were first introduced in early 1960s. A minicomputer is a class of multi-user computers that lies in
the middle range of the mainframe computers and the microcomputers. They are smaller than mainframes in size
and other facilities, such as speed, storage capacity and services. Size: A minicomputer and its peripheral equipment
can usually fill a small room. A minicomputer typically about the size and shape of a wardrobe, mounted in a single
tall rack.
• Working:
• Minicomputers are commonly used as servers like a small mainframe in a network environment and hundreds of
users can be connected to the network with a minicomputer at a time. Now the terms "midrange computer" and
"server" replaced the venerable minicomputer designation.
• Uses
• The minicomputers are used in business, education and many other government departments. They are also widely
used in industrial and small business application.
• Miniframe Computer Examples: IBM’s AS 400, Hewlett Packard HP 3000 series, Data General’s MV/1500 etc.
MAINFRAME COMPUTER
• Mainframe computers are those types of computers which have very high
memory and processing speed.
• Hence Mainframe computers are used as a server since they can support
thousands of users.
MAINFRAME COMPUTER
• Mainframe computers are those computers that offer faster processing and
grater storage area.
• The word “main frame” comes from the metal frames. It is also known as
Father computer.
• Application – Host computer, Central data base server.
MAINFRAME COMPUTER
• A mainframe (also known as "big iron") is a high-performance computer used for large-scale computing purposes that require
greater availability and security of data than a smaller- scale machine can offer. In the past, a typical mainframe might have
occupied 2,000 - 10,000 square feet. Now the mainframe computer specially requires a very large clean room with air-
conditioner.
• Working:
• Historically, mainframes have been associated with centralized rather than distributed computing. Mainframe computers are
usually large and expensive computers. Thousands of users can work at a time on mainframe computers. For example, IBM,
S/390 mainframe can support 50,000 users simultaneously.
• Mainframe Computer Operating System
• Special operating systems are used on main frames such as z/VM, z/VSE™, Linux for System z™, and z/TPF.
• Uses:
• The mainframe computers are specially used as servers on the World Wide Web. The mainframe computers are used in large
organizations such as Banks, Airlines and Universities etc. where many people (users) need frequent access to the same data,
which is usually organized into one or more huge databases. Examples: IBM S/390, Control Data CYBER 176 and Amdahl 580
SUPER COMPUTER
• Supercomputers are the most powerful computers which are used mainly for the purpose of
difficult problem-solving requirements. Hence Supercomputers are used in times of
research, weather forecasting and Weapon designing and much more.
The first successful supercomputer: CDC 6600
The fastest supercomputer in the world: Sunway TaihuLight of China
India’s first Super Computer: PARAM-8000 which was developed by CDAC Pune in 1998.
India’s fastest super computer: Shasra T which was manufactured by IIS (Indian Institute
of Science).
SUPER COMPUTER
• Super computer are those computer which are designed for scientific job like
whether forecasting and artificial intelligence etc.
• They are fastest and expensive.
• A super computer contains a number of CPU which operate in parallel to
make it faster. It also known as grand father computer.
• Application – whether forecasting, weapons research and development.
SERVERS
• Servers are certain computers that are designed specifically to monitor and
solve the needs or request of other programs or computer.
WORKSTATION
• Workstations are like desktop terminals.
• These are more powerful than microcomputers and are typically networked.
A workstation usually serves a single user only.
SUPER COMPUTER
• Super computer is a large computer or collection of computers that act as one large computer capable of processing enormous
amounts of data. They are the fastest and most powerful type of computers. Size: A minicomputer and its peripheral equipment
can usually fill a small room. A minicomputer typically about the size and shape of a wardrobe, mounted in a single tall rack.
• Working:
• A super computer can execute one instruction in Pico-seconds (thousand-billionth of a second). Mostly they are based on the
principle of parallel processing. They have extraordinary high speed due to the use of several processors connected in parallel.
Columbia is a supercomputer built by Silicon Graphics for NASA. Its main purpose was to simulate the violent collision and
merger of spiral galaxies.
• It is composed of 10,240 processors. It has 20 terabytes of Random-access memory, 440 terabytes of storage, and 10 petabytes of
archive storage.
• Uses
• Super computers are normally used in large organizations, research laboratories, aerospace centers, large industrial units, atomic
reactors or the places where very high processing speed is required.
• Examples: Cray 1, Cray 2 Cray XMP and CYBER 205
INFORMATION APPLIANCES
• Information appliances are computers which are used for a specific purpose
which is as per the requirements of the user.
• Such activities may include playing music or photography etc.
EMBEDDED SYSTEM
• A computer system which performs a dedicated function that is for a special
purpose is known as an Embedded System.
• They function within a larger system.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER BY
SIZE & CAPACITY
• a) Super computer Super computer handles complex scientific and statistical
applications or programs. High speed, high capacity memory but non-
portable as size is very large. Ex: railway reservation, weather forecasting.
• b) Mainframe computer Smaller when compared to super computer. Memory
capacity high but non- portable.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER BY
SIZE & CAPACITY
• c) Mini computer: processing speed is slower than super and mainframe
computers. These are portable.
• d) Micro computer: smaller than mini computer. High speed but slower than
mini computer.
• e) Desktop computer: used in education system & small scale industry.
Home computers, portable, high speed.
• d) Pocket computer: very small in size. portable but memory capacity is less.
FUNCTIONALITY AND CONFIGURATION
• According to functionality, computers are of three types. They are:
1. Analog Computers,
2. Digital Computers, and
3. Hybrid Computers.
• According to the configuration, computers are classified into four categories:
1. Microcomputers
2. Mainframe Computers,
3. Mini Computers, and
4. Super Computers.
SPEED & MEMORY SIZE
According to speed, computers are classified into the following categories:
1. Microcomputer
2. Mini computer
3. Mainframe computer
4. Supercomputer
• According to the memory size, computers are classified into the following categories:
1. Supercomputer
2. Mainframe computer
3. Mini computer
4. Microcomputer
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• https://quantumzeitgeist.com/a-brief-history-of-analog-compu
ters/
• https://www.minitool.com/partition-disk/notebook-vs-
laptop.html
