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
   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14