CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

Computers can be classified in the following ways:

Analogue computers
Analogue computers are designed to process analogue data. Analogue data is continuous data
that changes continuously and cannot have discrete values. We can say that analogue computers
are used where we don't need exact values always such as speed, temperature, pressure and
current. Analogue computers directly accept the data from the measuring device without first
converting it into numbers and codes. 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.

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.

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 processes it
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.

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 the hardware
 The cost of hardware is less due to the advancement in IC technology.
 It offers high speed as the data is processed digitally.
 It is highly reliable as it uses error correction codes.
 The reproducibility of results is higher as the output is not affected by noise, temperature,
humidity, and other properties of its components.

Hybrid Computer

Hybrid computer has features of both analogue and digital computers. 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 converts them into digital form before
processing. So, it is widely used in specialized applications where both analogue and digital data
is processed. For example, a processor is used in petrol pumps that convert the measurements of
fuel flow into quantity and price. Similarly, they are used in airplanes, hospitals, and scientific
applications.

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 equations in real time.
 It helps in the on-line data processing.

Supercomputer

Supercomputers are the biggest and fastest computers. They are designed to process huge
amounts 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. The first supercomputer was developed by Roger Cray in 1976.

Characteristics or applications of supercomputers:

 It has the ability to decrypt your password to enhance protection for security reasons.
 It produces excellent results in animations.
  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 can run in
NOAA's system (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) that can execute
any type of simple and logical data.
 It helps in designing the flight simulators for pilots at the beginner level for their training.
 It helps in extracting useful information from data storage centres or cloud systems. For
example, in insurance companies.
 It has played a vital role in managing the online currency world such as the stock market
and bitcoin.
 It helps in the diagnosis of various critical diseases and in producing accurate results in
brain injuries, strokes, etc.
 It helps in scientific research areas by accurately analysing data obtained from exploring
the solar system, satellites, and movement of Earth.
 It also used in a smog control system where it predicts the level of fog and other
pollutants in the atmosphere.

Mainframe computer

Mainframe computers are designed to support hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.

They can support multiple programs at the same time. It means they can execute different
processes simultaneously. These features of mainframe computers make them ideal for big
organizations like banking and telecom sectors, which need to manage and process high volume
of data.
Mainframe computers are designed to support hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.
They can support multiple programs at the same time. It means they can execute different
processes simultaneously. These features of mainframe computers make them ideal for big
organizations like banking and telecom sectors, which need to manage and process a high
volume of data that requires integer operations such as indexing, comparisons, etc.

Characteristics of Mainframe Computers:

 It can process huge amounts of data, e.g. millions of transactions in a second in the
banking sector.
 It has a very long life. It can run smoothly for up to 50 years after proper installation.
 It gives excellent performance with large-scale memory management.
 It has the ability to share or distribute its workload among other processors and
input/output terminals.
 There are fewer chances of errors or bugs during processing in mainframe computers. If
any error occurs it can fix it quickly without affecting the performance.
 It has the ability to protect the stored data and other ongoing exchange of information and
data.

Applications of mainframe computers:

In health care, it enabled hospitals to maintain a record of their millions of patients in order to
contact them for treatment or related to their appointment, medicine updates or disease updates.
In the field of defense, it allows the defense departments to share a large amount of sensitive
information with other branches of defense.
In the field of education, it helps big universities to store, manage and retrieve data related to
their courses, admissions, students, teachers, employees and affiliated schools and colleges.
In the retail sector, retail companies that have a huge customer base and branches use mainframe
computers to handle and execute information related to their inventory management, customer
management, and huge transactions in a short duration.

Minicomputer

It is a midsize multiprocessing computer. It consists of two or more processors and can support 4
to 200 users at one time. Minicomputers are used in institutes and departments for tasks such as
billing, accounting and inventory management. A minicomputer lies between the mainframe and
microcomputer as it is smaller than the mainframe but larger than a microcomputer.

Characteristics of minicomputer
 It is light weight which makes it easy to carry and fit anywhere.
 It is less expensive than mainframe computers.
 It is very fast compared to its size.
 It remains charged for a long time.
 It does not require a controlled operational environment

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. It mainly performs two
primary functions which are collecting data and feedback. 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.

Palmtop:

A small computer, that literally fits in your palm. Compared to full-size computers, palmtops are
severely limited, but they are practical for certain functions such as phone books and calendars.
Palmtops that use a pen rather than a keyboard for input are often called hand-held computers or
PDAs. Because of their small size, most palmtop computers do not include disk drives. However,
many contain PCMCIA slots in which you can insert disk drives, modems, memory, and other
devices. Palmtops are also called PDAs, hand-held computers and pocket computers.
Desktop:
A computer is designed to fit comfortably on top of a desk, typically with the monitor sitting on
top of the computer. Desktop model computers are broad and low, whereas tower model
computers are narrow and tall. Because of their shape, desktop model computers are generally
limited to three internal mass storage devices. Desktop models designed to be very small are
sometimes referred to as slim-line models.

Workstation
Workstation is a single-user computer that is designed for technical or scientific applications. It
has a faster microprocessor, a large amount of RAM and high-speed graphic adapters. It
generally performs a specific job with great expertise; accordingly, they are of different types
such as graphics workstation, music workstations and engineering design workstations.

Characteristics of workstation computer:

 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 a more powerful CPU than a personal
computer.
 It can handle animation, data analysis, CAD, audio and video creation and editing.

Microcomputer

Microcomputer is also known as a personal computer. It is a general-purpose computer that is

designed for individual use. It has a microprocessor as a central processing unit, memory, storage
area, input unit and output unit. Laptops and desktop computers are examples of
microcomputers. They are suitable for personal work that may be making an assignment,
watching a movie, or at the office for office work.

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.
 It does not require the user to have special skills or training to use it.
 Generally, comes with a single semiconductor chip.
 It is capable of multitasking such as printing, scanning, browsing, watching videos, etc.

TABLET PC:

A tablet is a type of notebook computer that has an LCD screen on which the user can write
using finger and swipe actions or by using a special-purpose pen, or stylus. All user input is
directly via the LCD screen and not a keyboard or mouse. On a tablet computer, handwriting is
digitized and can be converted to standard text through handwriting recognition, or it can remain
as handwritten text. The stylus also can be used to type on a pen-based key layout where the
lettered keys are arranged differently than on a QWERTY keyboard. Tablet PCs can be equipped
with a keyboard and/or a mouse for input. The tablet PC relies on digital ink technology, where a
digitizer is laid under or over an LCD screen to create an electromagnetic field that can capture
the movement of the special-purpose pen and record the movement on the LCD screen. The
effect is like writing on paper with liquid ink.

Servers

These are types of computers used to provide resources, services, and functionality to client
computers in a server-client network model. Resources provided are based on the functions of a
particular server, which may fall under these categories:
 File server
 Database server
 Print server
 FTP servers
 Application server
 Web server

 Their sizes will depend on the purpose and tasks in the network. Of course bigger and
more multitasking installations will require multiple system and storage installation.

 A common errant is that desktop systems can be used as servers. Far from it, true server
systems are specialized computers with abilities far beyond what personal computers can
deliver.

 Servers are optimized to run 24 hours and are capable of hot swapping of storage and
other hardware without having to shut down the system.