TYPES AND
CLASSIFICATIONS
OF
COMPUTERS
WE ARE LEARNING TO:
A. State the types of computer
b. Classify computers.
(I) according to data processed
(II) according to speed/size
(III) according to purpose
TYPES OF COMPUTER (According to data
processed)
Analog Digital
computer computer Hybrid
computer
ANALOG COMPUTER
This is not a very common computer. It works by
measuring data. Examples are thermometers, speedometer
and electric meter. They are used by scientist and engineers.
They are used for measuring temperature, speed and
current.
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
They accepts data in binary form (0s and 1s). They work
by counting data. Most computers are digital computers.
Other devices that work like digital computers are
calculators, most resent car speedometers, electronic watch
and stop watch.
HYBRID COMPUTERS
Is a digital computer that accepts analog signals and
converts and processes them into digital form. They work
like both analog and digital computers. They work by
measuring and also by counting data.
CLASSIFICATON OF COMPUTER
ACCORDING TO SIZE AND SPEED
MAINFRA MICRO
SUPER MINI
ME
COMPUTE COMPUTE COMPUTE
COMPUTE
R R R
R
SUPER COMPUTER
This is the biggest, most powerful and the fastest
computer. It is as big as room. A supercomputer is used in
weather forecasting, nuclear power stations, military
simulation, research laboratories and animation movies.
• CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUPERCOMPUTER
• Powerful. Funnels capacity into a few programs as quickly
as possible.
• Expensive. Hundreds of millions of dollars.
• Built for specific applications. Animating graphics.
• Made up of tens of thousands of computing nodes. CPUs.
• Water cooled.
MAINFRAME COMPUTER
this is a large computer with a huge storage capacity. It is
used in large business or in government organization to
perform complex tasks. Bulk data processing such as
census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource
planning, and transaction processing. It is as big as a closet.
They are mostly used for scientific research purposes.
MINI COMPUTER
this is smaller than mainframe computer but bigger than
microcomputer. It can be used by many people at the same
time. It is not as expensive as mainframe. It is not as fast as
mainframe. It is used in universities, polytechnics,
companies etc. It is about the size of a refrigerator. It is used
for scientific research, and also in places like banks and
large organisations.
MICROCOMPUTER
It is the smallest type of computer. It is not as fast and
costly as mini computers. It can be used at homes, offices,
school etc. It can serve only one person at a time and so can
be called personal computer. Peripherals such as keyboard,
mouse, monitor and system unit are parts of the
microcomputer system. Examples ARE modern desktop
computers, video game consoles, laptops, tablet pcs, and
many types of handheld devices, including mobile phones,
pocket calculators.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER BY
PURPOSE:
GENERAL • This are designed to solve a large variety
PURPOSE of problems. Example is microcomputer
which can be used for word processing,
COMPUTE spreadsheet, database, games,
R communication and other jobs
SPECIAL • These computers are made for one particular
PURPOSE purpose. Example is a word processor computer
which can only be used for typesetting of
COMPUTE documents. The computer that landed man on
R the moon was specially built for that purpose.
QUIZ 3
DIRECTION: Identify and Enumerate the following
answers to each questions.
¼ Sheet of Paper
1-3. Three types of computer according to data processed
4-7. 4 classification of computer according to size and speed.
8. Examples of these computer are thermometers, speedometer
and electric meter. They are used by scientist and engineers.
9. Type of computer that work like both analog and digital
computers.
10. It is used in weather forecasting, nuclear power stations,
military simulation, research laboratories and animation movies.
11. It is used in large business or in government
organization to perform complex tasks. Bulk data
processing such as census, industry and consumer
statistics, enterprise resource planning, and transaction
processing.
12. Give one example of super computer
13. It is the smallest type of computer, It can be used at
homes, offices, school etc. It can serve only one person
at a time and so can be called personal computer.
