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They are used in very big organisations and government departments to do tasks such as
weather forecasting and rocket launching. PARAM was India’s first supercomputer, developed
in 1991. Some other examples of supercomputers are PACE, Titan, Sunway TaihuLight, Pratyush,
Mihir, etc.
SOME OTHER SPECIAL COMPUTERS
Apart from the types of computers that we have discussed in the previous sections, some other
types of computers are embedded computers and handheld computers. Let us learn about these
computers in detail.
Embedded Computers
An embedded computer is a special type of microprocessor-based system that is developed for
performing a specific task. It is different from a general-purpose computer. Today, embedded
computers are used in various applications. Some commonly used examples of embedded
computers are the digital camera, microwave, ATM, etc. Let us learn about some of these
embedded computers in detail.
Digital Camera
The digital camera is one of the most commonly used embedded
computers. With tiny computers built inside them, modern
cameras are now very smart and have many new features that
old cameras didn't have. The main functions of a camera are to
capture photos and shoot videos. It also has a memory to store
the captured photos and videos.
Digital Camera
ATM
An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is another example
of an embedded computer that allows us to withdraw
money from our bank account anywhere and anytime. This
machine is connected to the bank’s server. When a user
withdraws some money from an ATM, an equal amount is
ATM debited from our bank account.
Microwave
The microwave that we use at home is also an example of an
embedded computer that allows user to warm and cook food.
It contains a computer system embedded inside to control the
time and temperature.
Handheld Computers Microwave
A handheld computer is a type of computer that can easily be stored in our pockets and used by
holding it in the hand. Most handheld computers have a touchscreen on which data can be input
using our fingers. Some commonly used examples of handheld computers are smartphones,
smartwatches, PDAs, and gaming consoles.
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