Introduction to Computing

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
TYPES OF COMPUTER

Types of Computer

Digital computer

Analog computer Hybrid computer

Super computer Mainframe Mini computer Micro computer
COMPUTER CLASS BY OPERATING PRINCIPLE

 Computer can be divided into three

basic categories based on the
operating principle:
 Analog Computer
 Digital Computer
 Hybrid Computer
ANALOG COMPUTER
 Analog computer measures and answer
the questions by the method of “HOW
MUCH”.
 The input data is not a number infect a
physical quantity like temperature,
pressure, speed, velocity.
 Thermometers, voltmeters,
 Speed measuring
 Meters, etc
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
 Digital computer the input data is
represented by a number. These are
used for the logical and arithmetic
operations.
 Signals are two level of (0v to 5v)
 Accuracy

 Mini computer, micro computer,

mainframe and super computers are
digital computers
HYBRID COMPUTERS
 Hybrid computers are computers that
exhibit features of analog computers
and digital computers.
 Measure the Heartbeat of the

patient.
 A computer that maintain

temperature in a burner of a
production plant.
BY SIZE

 Classification of Computers According

to size:
 Super computers
 Mainframe
 Mini Computers
 Micro Computers
SUPER COMPUTERS
 A computer that was the fastest in the world at the time it
was constructed.
 Are used for highly calculation intensive tasks such as
Weather forecasting , climate research, molecular research,
nuclear research biological research etc

 Can tackle tasks that would not be practical for other

computers.
 Typical uses
 Breaking codes

 Modeling weather systems

 Some examples of super com: IBM roadrunner, IBM

blue gene and Intel ASCII red.
SOME SUPERCOMPUTERS
 JAGUAR, Oak Ridge National
Laboratory
 NEBULAE, China
 ROADRUNNER, Los Alamos
National Laboratory
 JUGENE, Juelich Supercomputing
Centre, Germany
 PARAM is a series of supercomputer assembled in India
by C-DAC (centre for development of Advanced
Computing) in Pune.
MAINFRAME

 very large computers that require extensive space

 very expensive to buy and maintain

 general purpose in nature and have very large

computing power
 used in banks,

insurance companies,
manufacturing firms,
universities
MINI COMPUTER
 Was introduced in 1960s smaller in size
than the mainframes but bigger than the
micro computers
 less expensive to mainframes computers

 some are still been used for special or

dedicated purposes
 have the ability

to handle complex
Calculations
× DEC(digital equipment computer)

× 16 bit minicomputer
MICRO COMPUTERS

 the smallest and the cheapest when

compared with mainframes and mini
computers
 otherwise known as personal computers (PC)
 Consist of CPU, input unit, output , storage
unit and software
 Apple Macintoch and other intel
microprocessor are the examples of micro
computers
 Notebook, laptop, tablet , handheld,
smartphones,
BY YEAR

 Generations of Computers
 First Generation
 Second Generation
 Third Generation
 Fourth Generation
 Fifth Generation
FIRST GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

 from the year 1946 – 1960

 Used vacuum tubes as storage unit
 ENIAC (Electronic Integrator and

Computer), EDSAC (Electronic Delay

Storage Automatic Computer) &
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer),
FIRST GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

 FEATURES OF FIRST GENERATION

COMPUTER
 a. They are very large computers
 b. They generate a lot of heat
 c. They consume a lot of power
 d. They are very expensive
SECOND GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

 from the year 1956 – 1964

 used transistors as means of storage
 MERITS OF TRANSISTORS OVER VACUUM
 a. Transistor is a fraction of vacuum tube
 b. It is faster than the vacuum tube
 c. It is accurate
 d. It occupies less space
 e. It is more powerful and can perform the
work of 1000 vacuum tubes.
THIRD GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

 from the year 1965 – 1971

 known as the age of IC’s (integrated
circuits)
 can carryout the job of 40 transistors
FOURTH GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

 from the year 1970 – 1980

 Improvements on the integrated circuit

to the vary large scale integrated

circuit or VLSI circuits. VLSI circuit
having 5000 transistors in single chip.
 operates a million times

faster than old vacuum tube

FIFTH GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

 referred to as future computers

 proposed to be as intelligent and

capable as a human being

 self-sufficient to a very

large storage capacity

from the previous
computers