TYPES OF COMPUTER
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
Digital computer are the computers that work on discontinuous or discrete data. These computers convert the inputs into binary language of 0’s & 1’s. They carry out operations on binary data at a very fast rate and generate output in user understandable language. These computers basically work by counting and adding the binary digits. Accuracy is the main advantage of digital computers. These computers are more accurate, faster and reliable than analog computers. Due to these features, they are the most commonly used computers in homes and offices. The real life example of a digital computer is a digital watch. Now days, computer used for the purpose of business and education are also example of digital computers.
In digital computers, data flows in the form of clock pulses as shown below:
In digital computers, data flows in the form of clock pulses as shown below:
ANALOG COMPUTERS
Analog computers are the computers that work on continuous data. Analog computers are used to measure the physical quantities like pressure, temperature, speed etc. These computers accept input data in the form of signals and convert them to numeric values. For e.g.: - A thermometer does not perform any calculations but measure the temperature of the body. Analog computers are mainly used for scientific and engineering purpose, because they deal with quantities that vary constantly. Analog computers are faster than digital computers but they are not as accurate as digital computers. That’s why they are less commonly used.
The representation of flow of data in analog computer is shown as:
The representation of flow of data in analog computer is shown as:
HYBRID COMPUTERS
Hybrid computers employ both the features of digital and analog computer i.e. they can work on continuous as well as discontinuous data. These computers are useful in those environments, where both digital & analog signals are used in processing.
The uses of hybrid computers are increasing day by day as there are number of areas in the real world where we need both analog and digital computers. For example: In a hospital, there may be number of device like E.C.G. machine etc. which are used to measure the patient’s heart beat, temperature and other information. This is done by analog computers. The information received from these analog computers is then supplied to digital computers to generate reports. Thus, this whole system uses hybrid computers.
The uses of hybrid computers are increasing day by day as there are number of areas in the real world where we need both analog and digital computers. For example: In a hospital, there may be number of device like E.C.G. machine etc. which are used to measure the patient’s heart beat, temperature and other information. This is done by analog computers. The information received from these analog computers is then supplied to digital computers to generate reports. Thus, this whole system uses hybrid computers.
DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM
The activity of processing data using a computer is called Data Processing.
Data is raw material used as input and information is processed data obtained as output of data processing.
Being a data processing system, compute has importance in providing in-depth knowledge of whatever is involved in processing the data. But before looking into that, we require to define some of the basic terms associated with it.
Data is raw material used as input and information is processed data obtained as output of data processing.
Being a data processing system, compute has importance in providing in-depth knowledge of whatever is involved in processing the data. But before looking into that, we require to define some of the basic terms associated with it.
INPUT
Input refers to the data and instructions given to the computer. Where data is a raw set of facts and figures associated with an individual, an entity, or an event. It is basically a collection of unorganized facts or concepts that does not convey any meaning. Data can be represented in various form i.e. in figures, characters, symbols, pictures, audio, video etc.
Some examples of data are phone numbers, weights, prices, costs, addresses, product name, age or name of a person etc.
Instruction specifies how the data is to be manipulated. It is basically a command given to computer to carry out a particular operation on the data. In simple, instruction specifies what to do with the data.
Example:
2 + 3 (Here 2 and 3 are the data, and the instruction is addition operation (+))
Some examples of data are phone numbers, weights, prices, costs, addresses, product name, age or name of a person etc.
Instruction specifies how the data is to be manipulated. It is basically a command given to computer to carry out a particular operation on the data. In simple, instruction specifies what to do with the data.
Example:
2 + 3 (Here 2 and 3 are the data, and the instruction is addition operation (+))
PROCESS
It is the actual interpretation and execution of the instruction on data, which is carried out by the computer’s unit (microprocessor) to obtain the required result.
Example:
2 + 3 – 4 (Here 2, 3 and 4 is the data, and the process to be carried out is to first take out the sum of 2 and 3, and from the result of the summing process subtract the value of 4).
Example:
2 + 3 – 4 (Here 2, 3 and 4 is the data, and the process to be carried out is to first take out the sum of 2 and 3, and from the result of the summing process subtract the value of 4).
OUTPUT
T he result obtained from the process is called as an output. Computer processes the data according to the instructions fed into it and produce the required results. This result is known as output.
Example:
In the above example stated for process (2 + 3 -4), the output is 1.
Example:
In the above example stated for process (2 + 3 -4), the output is 1.
INFORMATION
Meaningful output is information. When we apply some process on data, we get some result. This result is called output. But if that output is meaningful for someone, then it becomes information for him/her.
Example:
The average performance of a class is derived as an output from the process of summing up all the marks of the class, and dividing it by the number of students. This output would be meaningful to the class teacher, but maybe not to the peon of the school. The output derived is information for the class teacher but not to the peon.
Example:
The average performance of a class is derived as an output from the process of summing up all the marks of the class, and dividing it by the number of students. This output would be meaningful to the class teacher, but maybe not to the peon of the school. The output derived is information for the class teacher but not to the peon.
Write by Ditender Singh and
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