Classification of Computers
Based on Size, Computing Capabilities, and Operating Principles.
Nibedan Pathak
Lecturer,
DIET Biswanath
INTRODUCTION: WHY CLASSIFY
COMPUTERS?
• WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT TAKES INPUT, PROCESSES DATA, AND PROVIDES
OUTPUT.
• COMPUTERS COME IN DIFFERENT FORMS WITH VASTLY DIFFERENT CAPABILITIES.
• WHY CLASSIFY?
- RECOGNIZE THE RIGHT COMPUTER FOR A TASK.
- APPRECIATE THE SCALE OF TECHNOLOGY.
- MAKE INFORMED CHOICES AS EDUCATORS AND USERS.
THE THREE MAIN CLASSIFICATIONS
- SIZE AND CAPACITY: HOW BIG AND POWERFUL IS IT?
- COMPUTING CAPABILITIES: HOW DOES IT HANDLE DATA?
- OPERATING PRINCIPLES: WHAT WAS IT DESIGNED TO DO?
CLASSIFICATION 1: BY SIZE AND
CAPACITY
• CATEGORIZES COMPUTERS BASED ON PHYSICAL SIZE AND
PROCESSING POWER:
- SUPERCOMPUTERS (LARGEST)
- MAINFRAME COMPUTERS
- MINICOMPUTERS
- MICROCOMPUTERS (SMALLEST)
SUPERCOMPUTERS: THE GIANTS
• DESCRIPTION: LARGEST, FASTEST, MOST EXPENSIVE. CAN FILL A
ROOM.
• CAPABILITY: TRILLIONS OF OPERATIONS PER SECOND (FLOPS).
• USE CASES:
- SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
- WEATHER FORECASTING
- MILITARY SIMULATIONS
• EXAMPLE: PARAM SERIES (INDIA)
MAINFRAME COMPUTERS: THE
POWERHOUSES
• DESCRIPTION: LARGE MULTI-USER SYSTEMS, SMALLER THAN
SUPERCOMPUTERS.
• CAPABILITY: HIGH RELIABILITY AND SECURITY.
• USE CASES:
- BANKING
- AIRLINE RESERVATIONS
- GOVERNMENT CENSUS AND TAX SYSTEMS
MINICOMPUTERS: THE MID-RANGERS
• DESCRIPTION: MULTI-USER SYSTEMS, BETWEEN MAINFRAME AND
MICROCOMPUTERS.
• CAPABILITY: SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF USERS.
• USE CASES:
• - SMALL BUSINESS SERVERS
• - MANUFACTURING
• - DEPARTMENTAL COMPUTING
MICROCOMPUTERS: FOR EVERYONE
• DESCRIPTION: SINGLE-USER SYSTEMS WITH MICROPROCESSOR CHIPS.
• TYPES:
• - DESKTOP, LAPTOP, TABLET, SMARTPHONE
• - EMBEDDED SYSTEMS (E.G., IN CARS, TVS)
• USE: EVERYDAY TASKS AND EDUCATION
CLASSIFICATION 2: BY COMPUTING
CAPABILITIES
- ANALOG COMPUTERS: HANDLE CONTINUOUS DATA
- DIGITAL COMPUTERS: HANDLE BINARY DATA
- HYBRID COMPUTERS: COMBINE BOTH
ANALOG COMPUTERS
• WHAT ARE THEY?
ANALOG COMPUTERS WORK WITH CONTINUOUS DATA OR PHYSICAL
QUANTITIES THAT CHANGE CONSTANTLY.
• HOW DO THEY WORK?
THEY MEASURE PHYSICAL CHANGES, LIKE A TRADITIONAL CLOCK OR
THERMOMETER.
• KEY CHARACTERISTICS:
- PRINCIPLE: MEASUREMENT OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES.
- DATA TYPE: CONTINUOUS DATA (ANALOG SIGNALS).
- SPEED: VERY FAST, REAL-TIME PROCESSING.
- ACCURACY: LESS ACCURATE THAN DIGITAL COMPUTERS.
- MEMORY: LIMITED STORAGE.
• EXAMPLES:- CAR SPEEDOMETER,SEISMOGRAPH TRADITIONAL THERMOMETER
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
• WHAT ARE THEY?
DIGITAL COMPUTERS PROCESS DISCRETE DATA USING THE BINARY
SYSTEM (0S AND 1S).
• HOW DO THEY WORK?
THEY COUNT AND PERFORM FAST CALCULATIONS USING NUMBERS.
• KEY CHARACTERISTICS:
- PRINCIPLE: COUNTING DISCRETE VALUES.
- DATA TYPE: DISCRETE DATA (0S AND 1S).
- SPEED: VERY FAST, PROCESSES IN STEPS.
- ACCURACY: HIGHLY ACCURATE AND RELIABLE.
- MEMORY: LARGE STORAGE CAPACITY.
• EXAMPLES:- LAPTOPS AND DESKTOPS, SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS,
CALCULATORS, DIGITAL WATCHES
HYBRID COMPUTERS
• WHAT ARE THEY?
HYBRID COMPUTERS COMBINE ANALOG AND DIGITAL COMPONENTS.
• HOW DO THEY WORK?
THEY ACCEPT ANALOG INPUTS, CONVERT THEM TO DIGITAL FOR
PROCESSING, AND OUTPUT IN EITHER FORMAT.
• KEY CHARACTERISTICS:
- PRINCIPLE: BOTH MEASURING AND COUNTING.
- DATA TYPE: PROCESSES BOTH ANALOG AND DIGITAL.
- SPEED: VERY FAST (ANALOG COMPONENT).
- ACCURACY: VERY HIGH (DIGITAL COMPONENT).
- USE CASE: SPECIALIZED APPLICATIONS.
• EXAMPLES:- ECG MACHINE, PETROL PUMP MACHINE, HOSPITAL ICU COMPUTERS
ANALOG VS. DIGITAL VS. HYBRID
Type of Computer Data Type Description Examples Use Case
Processes real-
world, continuous Speedometer, Monitoring
Analog Continuous signals like Mercury changing physical
temperature, Thermometer quantities
speed, etc.
Processes discrete
General
numeric data; Laptop,
computing,
Digital Binary (0s and 1s) most modern Smartphone,
communication,
computers fall into Calculator
media, gaming
this category.
Combines analog
Medical
signal input with
ECG Machine, monitoring, real-
Analog input + digital
Hybrid Petrol Pump time fuel
digital processing computation for
Computer measurement and
precision and
billing
speed.
CLASSIFICATION 3: BY OPERATING
PRINCIPLES
- GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS: VERSATILE, MULTI-TASKING
- SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS: DESIGNED FOR SPECIFIC TASKS
GENERAL VS. SPECIAL PURPOSE
• GENERAL PURPOSE:
- EXAMPLES: LAPTOP, PC
- USE: WRITING, BROWSING, PRESENTATIONS ETC
• SPECIAL PURPOSE:
- EXAMPLES: ATM, CALCULATOR, TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
- USE: ONE FIXED FUNCTION
SUMMARY OF CLASSIFICATIONS
• SIZE & CAPACITY: SUPER, MAINFRAME, MINI, MICRO
• → SCALE AND PERFORMANCE
• COMPUTING CAPABILITIES: ANALOG, DIGITAL, HYBRID
• → HOW DATA IS HANDLED
• OPERATING PRINCIPLES: GENERAL VS. SPECIAL PURPOSE
• → FUNCTION RANGE
THANK YOU!
• QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
