Page 9 - TechPluse_C6_Flipbook
P. 9
1 Categories of Computers
and Software
Your Aim
to learn about:
Categories of Computers Some other Special Computers
Software
In the past two decades, computers have reshaped our lives almost everywhere, whether it is at
home, work, school, hospital, etc. There has been an enormous increase in the use of computers.
A computer can be defined as:
An electronic device that performs diverse operations with the help of instructions to
process the data in order to achieve desired results.
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS
Nowadays, different types of computers are used that can be categorized on the basis of their:
Type Size, speed, processing power and price
Let us learn about these categories in detail.
Type
On the basis of their type or functioning, computers can be classified
into three categories which are as follows:
Analog: refers to a computer that operates by measuring instead
of counting. It measures the continuously changeable physical
An Analog Computer
quantities like voltage, pressure, water flow, etc. This type of
computers generally display the output in the form of graph. Examples of analog computers
are mercury thermometer, speedometer in cars, old radio, etc.
Digital: refers to a computer that uses digits (binary numbers 0’s, and
1’s) to generate, process and display data. The results produced by digital
computers are more accurate than that of analog computers. All the modern
computers that currently we use like Desktop, Laptop, and smartphone
are examples of the digital computers. Some other examples of the digital
computers are digital watch, digital thermometer, electricity meter, etc.
A Digital Computer
Categories of Computers and Software 7

