Computer Types:
1. Personal Computer
2. Mini Computer
3. Main Frame Computer
4. Super Computer
5. Workstation
Personal computer:
It maintain above list of hardware and software components. It can be defined as a small that range
up to the limited pounds. It appeared in the year of 1970’s that work with small CPU, RAM and
memory chips. It is useful to the word processing, accounting, desktop, database management
applications and etc. Number of home users use this software for play games and learn anything from
internet easily.
Personal computer maintains several kinds of computers such as following.
1. Notebook
2. Tower computer
3. Laptop
4. Subnotebook
5. Handheld
6. Plamtop
7. PDA
Mini Computer:
It is a midsize computer useful in work stations that can cover 200 users simultaneously.
Workstation:
It designs forengineering applications SDLC and various kinds of applications with moderate power
and graphic technologies. It generally maintains high storage media along with large RAM.
Workstation only work by the UNIX and Linux operating systems. It has several types of storage
media that maintain both diskless and disk drive workstations.
Supercomputer and Mainframe:
Supercomputer is best fastest computer in world that is very expensive. It work based on
mathematical calculations so, everything work well with simple procedure. Supercomputers deals
with scientific simulations, animated graphics, electrical design, perform dynamic calculations and
etc.
Computer Input and Output Devices
I. Definition Of An Input And Output Device:
1. Input Device Definition: A piece of equipment/hardware which helps us enter data into a computer is
called an input device. For example keyboard, mouse, etc.
2. Output Device Definition: A piece of equipment/hardware which gives out the result of the entered
input, once it is processed (i.e. converts data from machine language to a human-understandable
language), is called an output device. For example printer, monitor, etc.
II. List of Input Devices:
1. Keyboard
A simple device comprising keys and each key denotes either an alphabet, number or number commands
which can be given to a computer for various actions to be performed
It has a modified version of typewriter keys
The keyboard is an essential input device and computer and laptops both use keyboards to give
commands to the computer
2. Mouse
It is also known as a pointing device
Using mouse we can directly click on the various icons present on the system and open up various files
and programs
A mouse comprises 3 buttons on the top and one trackball at the bottom which helps in selecting and
moving the mouse around, respectively
In case of laptops, the touchpad is given as a replacement of the mouse which helps in the movement of
the mouse pointer
3. Joy Stick
It is a device which comprises a stick which is attached at an angle to the base so that it can be moved
and controlled
Mostly used to control the movement in video games
Apart from a computer system, a joystick is also used in the cockpit of an aeroplane, wheelchairs,
cranes, trucks, etc. to operate them well
4. Light Pen
It is a wand-like looking device which can directly be moved over the device’s screen
It is light-sensitive
Used in conjunction with computer’s cathode ray tube
5. Microphone
Using a microphone, sound can be stored in a device in its digital form
It converts sound into an electrical signal
To record or reproduce a sound created using a microphone, it needs to be connected with an amplifier
6. Scanner
This device can scan images or text and convert it into a digital signal
When we place any piece of a document on a scanner, it converts it into a digital signal and displays it
on the computer screen
7. Barcode Reader
It is a kind of an optical scanner
It can read bar codes
A source of light is passed through a bar code, and its aspects and details are displayed on the screen
III. List of Output Device:
1. Monitor
The device which displays all the icons, text, images, etc. over a screen is called the Monitor
When we ask the computer to perform an action, the result of that action is displayed on the monitor
Various types of monitors have also been developed over the years
2. Printer
A device which makes a copy of the pictorial or textual content, usually over a paper is called a printer
For example, an author types the entire book on his/her computer and later gets a print out of it, which is
in the form of paper and is later published
Multiple types of printers are also available in the market, which can serve different purposes
3. Speakers
A device through which we can listen to a sound as an outcome of what we command a computer to do
is called a speaker
Speakers are attached with a computer system and also are a hardware device which can be attached
separately
With the advancement in technology, speakers are now available which are wireless and can be
connected using BlueTooth or other applications
4. Projector
An optical device which presents an image or moving images onto a projection screen is called a
projector
Most commonly these projectors are used in auditoriums and movie theatres for the display of the videos
or lighting
If a projector is connected to a computer, then the image/video displayed on the screen is the same as the
one displayed on the computer screen
5. Headphones
They perform the same function as a speaker, the only difference is the frequency of sound
Using speakers, the sound can be heard over a larger area and using headphones, the sound is only
audible to the person using them
Also known as earphones or headset
EXERCISE: Choose the right answer.
Q 1. The ________ pen is an input device which is used to select and display objects on a computer screen.
1. Ink
2. Light
3. Magnetic
4. Character Reader
5. None of the above
Q 2. The small element at the base of a mouse is called _________.
1. Ball Pin
2. TrackBall
3. RollerBall
4. None of the above
Q 3. Which of the following is NOT an input device?
1. Barcode Reader
2. Scanner
3. Touchpad
4. Microphone
5. Speaker
Q 4. Which of the following is an example of a pointing device?
1. Mouse
2. Scanner
3. Printer
4. Barcode Reader
5. All of the above
Q 5. What all keys can be found on a keyboard?
1. Alphabet keys
2. Numerical keys
3. Command keys
4. Start button
5. All of the above
Answers
Q1 (2) Light
Q2 (3) Trackball
Q3 (5) Speaker
Q4 (1) Mouse
Q5 (5) All of the above
