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In this fast-paced world, computers have become a necessity. We are dependent on computers
                  to a great extent. Their invention has made our lives easier as they help us carry out several tasks,                                CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS
                  be it making an airline reservation or paying electricity bills, making railway reservations, online
                  bank transactions, etc.                                                                                                   Nowadays, different types of computers are used that can be categorised on their type, size,
                                                                                                                                            speed, processing power and price. Let us learn about these categories in detail.
                  In this chapter, we will learn about categories of computers. Let us recall the journey of computers
                  through different generations.                                                                                            TYPE

                                                                                                                                            On the basis of their type, computers can be classified into three categories which are analog,
                                                                                                                                            digital and hybrid computers. Let us learn about them.
                           EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS
                                                                                                                                            Analog Computer
                  The evolution of computers has been classified into generations. Let us learn about them in detail.
                                                                                                                                            It refers to a computer that operates by measuring instead of counting.
                  FIRST GENERATION (VACUUM TUBE-BASED COMPUTERS)                                                                            It measures the continuously changeable physical quantities like voltage,

                  The first generation  computers  used  vacuum  tubes for circuitry, and  magnetic  drums  for                             pressure, water flow, etc. This type of computer generally displays the
                  memory. They were as large in size as the space of a room.                                                                output  in the form of a graph. Examples  of analog computers  are
                                                                                                                                            mercury thermometers, speedometers in cars, old radios, etc.
                  SECOND GENERATION (TRANSISTOR-BASED COMPUTERS)
                                                                                                                                                                  Digital Computer
                  In the 1960s, transistor-based  computers  replaced  vacuum  tubes,  marking  them  the  second

                  generation of computers. The transistors were far superior to vacuum tubes which allowed the                                                    It refers to a computer that uses digits (binary numbers 0’s and 1’s) to generate,
                  computer to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more efficient and reliable. These were also the                                                   process  and display  data.  The  results produced  by digital  computers  are
                  first computers that stored instructions in their memory which moved from a magnetic drum to                                                    more accurate than that of analog computers. All the modern computers
                  magnetic core technology.                                                                                                                       that we use like desktops, laptops and smartphones are examples of digital
                                                                                                                                                                  computers. Some other examples of digital computers are digital watches,

                  THIRD GENERATION (INTEGRATED CIRCUIT-BASED COMPUTERS)                                                                                           digital thermometers, electricity meters, etc.
                  This generation of computers were built using integrated circuits. Small transistors were placed on                       Hybrid Computer

                  silicon chips called semiconductors which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers.
                                                                                                                                            It refers to a computer that provides the functionality of both an analog
                                                                                                                                            and a digital computer while processing and displaying data. It uses the
                  FOURTH GENERATION (MICROPROCESSOR-BASED COMPUTERS)
                                                                                                                                            speed of an analog computer and the accuracy of a digital computer. This
                  In this generation, computers used components like the microprocessor, where micro refers to                              type of computer is generally used in scientific research and specialised
                  the physical size of the component. A microprocessor is an integrated chip on which the entire                            applications. The heartbeat measuring machine is a common example of
                  CPU (Control Unit and ALU) is fabricated.
                                                                                                                                            a hybrid computer.


                     PURE                                                                                                                   SIZE, SPEED, PROCESSING AND COST
                     FACT        The first microprocessor chip Intel 4004 was introduced by Intel in 1971.                                  On the basis of size, speed, processing and cost, computers can be categorised as follows:


                                                                                                                                            Microcomputers
                  FIFTH GENERATION (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
                                                                                                                                            Microcomputers were earlier termed personal computers. A personal computer consists of a
                  The development of fifth generation computers is underway. What sets this generation of computers                         CPU, computer memory (primary and secondary), input and output devices. There are various
                  apart is the infusion of artificial intelligence. Developers are aiming at building computers that                        microcomputers available nowadays. Let us discuss about them.

                  are capable of organising themselves.




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