CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

CLASSIFICATIONS OF COMPUTER

By: Yusuf Basirat Bolanle

Topic Outline

- Classification of Computers According to their uses

- Classification of Computers according to their Sizes

In the previous lesson, we discussed The Definition and Characteristc Features of A Computer System. Today, we are going to talk about the Classification of Computers.

Computer can be classified according to their technological use and sizes.

 

Classification By Technology Used:

Computers, according to their technological uses can be classified into three main categories, They are:

1.      Digital computers

2.      Analog computers

3.      Hybrid computers

1- Digital Computers:

 Digital computers are  computers that can store data in numbers. They are commonly referred to as general purpose computers because they are used in processing  of numeric representation (binary digits) of data and information. They usually convert the data into binary digit of zeros and ones when data is entered into them.

 Examples of digital computer are  Laptops and Personal Computers PC. When data is entered into digital computers, the first thing is to convert the data into 0s and 1s, this is the language which is understood by the computers. After that, they results will be displayed on the screen as the language of the users. i.e alphabetical forms.

2- Analog Computers:

Analog computers are the type of computers that are programmed for measuring physical quantities of data like pressure, temperature, speed, etc. They are the type of computers usually used by the engineers because they can store data in various physical quantities forms. The following are good examples of analog computers.

 

Examples of Analog computers are:

Thermometer: It is a simple analog computer used to measure temperature. In thermometer, the mercury moves up or down as the temperature varies.

Speedometer: like a Car’s speedometer where the position of the needle on dial represents the speed of the car.

3- Hybrid computers: 

Hybrid computers combines the features of both analog and digital computer together. They can perform the functions meant for both digital and analogy computers because they can store and process analog signals and can also convert the digital numbers into analog signals

Examples  are: Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or any money counting machines.

 

Classifications of According to their Sizes

Computers, according to their sizes can be classified into the following:

1-Microcomputers:

Microcomputers are also called personal computers (PCs) that uses microprocessor as its CPU, a memory unit, and input device and an output device.

They are small in size and do not have large storage capacities.

Examples are: Desktops and Portables, like IBM

2-Minicomputers:

Microcomputers are the type of computers that can act faster than they other counterpart. They are the classes of computer that are faster and more powerful than microcomputers. they can perform more complex tasks and cost more than microcomputers..They are larger in size and their storage capacity is small to medium. Example is WIPRO

 

3-Mainframes:

Mainframe are more powerful than minicomputers. They have high processing speeds and can store large amounts of data.

They are useful in research organizations, large industries, large business and government organizations, banks  However, these computers consume more electricity.

Example is International Business Machine IBM 

 

4- Super Computers:

These are the fastest of them all.These are the largest and fastest computers. They are very expensive and  has a number of Central Processing Units which operate in parallel to make it faster. Example   HITAC S-300. They are used for big and extensive data processing and solving big and lots of problems