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01 CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS
Your Aim
to learn about:
l Categories of Computers l Some Other Special Computers
As you know, a computer is an electronic device used in different places for different purposes,
such as managing accounts in schools and reading at home. You have also learnt about computer
programs and programming in the previous class. In this chapter, you will learn about the different
types of computers and computer languages.
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS
The different types of computers are used for various purposes and they can be categorised on
the basis of their:
Type Purpose Size, speed, processing power, and cost
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: It refers to a computer that operates by measuring instead
of counting. It measures continuously changeable physical quantities
like voltage, pressure, water flow, etc. This type of computer
generally displays the output in the form of a graph. Examples of
analog computers are analog thermometers, speedometers in cars,
old radios, etc. An Analog Computer
Digital: It 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 those of analog computers.
All the modern computers that we use, like desktops, laptops, and
smartphones are the examples of digital computers. Digital watch,
digital thermometer, electricity meter, etc., are also called digital
computers.
A Digital Computer
Categories of Computers 7

