Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Scribd
Upload
50 views

Lesson 5 Understanding Computer (Autosaved)

A computer is one of mankind's most brilliant inventions. Early computers were room-sized but technology has allowed computers to shrink dramatically in size. Computers store and process huge amounts of data, allowing humans to offload information to computer memory. Computers have sped up daily work and ensured accuracy and precision. Depending on their size and functionality, computers can be classified as mainframes, minicomputers, servers, supercomputers, or microcomputers like desktops, laptops, tablets, and wearable devices.

Uploaded by

alma agnas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
50 views

Lesson 5 Understanding Computer (Autosaved)

A computer is one of mankind's most brilliant inventions. Early computers were room-sized but technology has allowed computers to shrink dramatically in size. Computers store and process huge amounts of data, allowing humans to offload information to computer memory. Computers have sped up daily work and ensured accuracy and precision. Depending on their size and functionality, computers can be classified as mainframes, minicomputers, servers, supercomputers, or microcomputers like desktops, laptops, tablets, and wearable devices.

Uploaded by

alma agnas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 27

Lesson 5

UNDERSTANDING
COMPUTER
A computer is one of the most brilliant inventions of
mankind. Thanks to the computer technology, we were
able to achieve storage and processing of huge amounts
of data; we could rest our brains by employing
computer memory capacities for storing information.
Due to computers, we have been able to speed up daily
work, carry out critical transactions and achieve
accuracy and precision in work. Computers of the
earlier years were of the size of a large room and were
required to consume huge amounts of electric power.
However, with the advancing technology, computers
have shrunk to the size of a small watch. Depending on
Different Types of Computers Based on
the operational principle of computers,
they are categorized as analog, digital
and hybrid computers.
1. Analog Computers: Perform
several mathematical operations
simultaneously. It uses continuous
variables for mathematical
operations and utilizes mechanical
or electrical energy.
2. Digital Computers: They use digital circuits and are
designed to operate on two states, namely bits 0 and 1.
They are analogous to states ON and OFF. Data on these
computers is represented as a series of 0s and 1s.
Suitable for complex computation and have higher
processing speeds. They are programmable. Digital
computers are either general purpose computers or
special purpose ones. Special purpose computers, as
their name suggests, are designed for specific types of
data processing while general purpose computers are
meant for general use.
3. Hybrid Computers: These computers
are a combination of both digital and
analog computers. In this type of
computers, the digital segments perform
process control by conversion of analog
signals to digital ones.
Classification of Compute based
on their sizes and functionalities:
1. Mainframe Computers: Large
organizations use mainframes for highly
critical applications such as bulk data
processing and ERP. Most of the mainframe
computers have the capacities to host
multiple operating systems and operate as a
number of virtual machines and can
substitute for several small servers.
2. Minicomputers: In terms of size and
processing capacity, minicomputers lie in
between mainframes and microcomputers.
Minicomputers are also called mid-range
systems or workstations.
3. Servers: They are computers designed to
provide services to client machines in a computer
network. They have larger storage capacities and
powerful processors. Running on them are
programs that serve client requests and allocate
resources like memory and time to client
machines. Usually they are very large in size, as
they have large processors and many hard drives.
They are designed to be fail-safe and resistant to
crash.
4. Supercomputers: The highly calculation-
intensive tasks can be effectively performed
by means of supercomputers. Quantum
physics, mechanics, weather forecasting,
molecular theory are best studied by means
of supercomputers. Their ability of parallel
processing and their well-designed memory
hierarchy give the supercomputers, large
transaction processing powers.
5. Microcomputers: A computer with a
microprocessor and its central processing unit.
They do not occupy space as much as mainframes
do. When supplemented with a keyboard and a
mouse, microcomputers can be called personal
computers. A monitor, a keyboard and other
similar input output devices, computer memory in
the form of RAM and a power supply unit come
packaged in a microcomputer. These computers
can fit on desks or tables and prove to be the best
choice for single-user tasks.
• Desktops: A desktop is intended to be used on a single location.
• Laptops: Laptop computers are miniaturized and optimized for
mobile use. Laptops run on a single battery or an external
adapter that charges the computer batteries.
• Netbooks: They fall in the category of laptops, but are
inexpensive and relatively smaller in size. They had a smaller
feature set and lesser capacities in comparison to regular
laptops.
• Tablet Computers: Tablets are mobile computers that are very
handy to use. They use the touch screen technology.
• Wearable Computers: These computers can be worn on the
body and are often used in the study of behavior modeling and
human health.
Direction: Identify the type of computer being
described in the following sentences and
write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. These are mobile computers that are
very handy to use.
2. They are computers designed to
provide services to client machines in a
computer network.
3. They are also called mid-range systems
or workstations.
4. A computer with a microprocessor and
its central processing unit.
5. They fall in the category of laptops, but
are inexpensive and relatively smaller in
size.
6. A type of computer which is intended
be used on a single location.
7. They use digital circuits and are
designed to operate on two states, namely
bits 0 and 1.
8. Computers that have the capacities to
host multiple operating systems and
operate as a number of virtual machines
and can substitute for several small
servers.
9. It is a handheld computer and
popularly known as a palmtop.
10. These computers can be worn on the
body and are often used in the study of
behavior modeling and human health.

You might also like