Introduction to computing technology

The word computer comes from the word “compute”, which means, “to calculate”. A computer
is an electronic device that can perform arithmetic operations at high speed. A computer is also
called a data processor because it can store, process, and retrieve data whenever desired.
Computing technology is ubiquitous, in the form of computers, tablets, smart phones, the web,
cloud computing, email, text messages, social media, and much more.

“The activity of processing data using a computer is called data processing.”

Data is raw material used as input and information is processed data obtained as output of data
processing.

Characteristics of a Computer
1. Speed: Computers can perform millions of calculations per second. The computation speed is
extremely fast.
2. Accuracy: Because computers operate on pre-programmed software, there is no space for
human error.
3. Diligence: They can perform complex and long calculations at the same time and with the
same accuracy.
4. Versatile: Computers are designed to be versatile. They can carry out multiple operations at
the same time.
5. Storage: Computers can store a large amount of data/ instructions in its memory, which can be
retrieved at any point of time.

Evaluation of computer
Charles Babbage is considered to be the father of modern digital computers. He designed
“Difference Engine” in 1822. He designed a fully automatic analytical engine in 1842 for
performing basic arithmetic functions. His efforts established a number of principles that are
fundamental to the design of any digital computer

Some Well Known Early Computers

 The Mark I Computer (1937-44)
 The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (1939-42)
  The ENIAC (1943-46)
 The EDVAC (1946-52)
 The EDSAC (1947-49)
 Manchester Mark I (1948)
 The UNIVAC I (1951)

Computer Generations
“Generation” in computer talk is a step in technology. It provides a framework for the growth of
computer industry. Originally it was used to distinguish between various hardware technologies,
but now it has been extended to include both hardware and software. Till today, there are five
computer generations.
Electronic Devices Used in Computers of Different Generations
 Components of a Computer

There are basically three important components of a computer:

1. Input Unit
2. Central Processing Unit(CPU)
3. Output Unit

1. Input Unit:
The input unit consists of input devices that are attached to the computer. These devices take
input and convert it into binary language that the computer understands. Some of the common
input devices are keyboard, mouse, joystick, scanner etc.
 The Input Unit is formed by attaching one or more input devices to a computer.
 A user input data and instructions through input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, etc.
 The input unit is used to provide data to the processor for further processing.

2. Central Processing Unit:

Once the information is entered into the computer by the input device, the processor processes
it. The CPU is called the brain of the computer because it is the control centre of the computer.
It first fetches instructions from memory and then interprets them so as to know what is to be
done. If required, data is fetched from memory or input device. Thereafter CPU executes or
performs the required computation, and then either stores the output or displays it on the output
device. The CPU has three main components, which are responsible for different functions:
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit (CU) and Memory registers
A. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU): The ALU, as its name suggests performs mathematical
calculations and takes logical decisions. Arithmetic calculations include addition, subtraction,
 multiplication and division. Logical decisions involve the comparison of two data items to see
which one is larger or smaller or equal.
 Arithmetic Logical Unit is the main component of the CPU
 It is the fundamental building block of the CPU.
 Arithmetic and Logical Unit is a digital circuit that is used to perform arithmetic and logical
operations.
B. Control Unit: The Control unit coordinates and controls the data flow in and out of the CPU,
and also controls all the operations of ALU, memory registers and also input/output units. It is
also responsible for carrying out all the instructions stored in the program. It decodes the fetched
instruction, interprets it and sends control signals to input/output devices until the required
operation is done properly by ALU and memory.
 The Control Unit is a component of the central processing unit of a computer that directs the
operation of the processor.
 It instructs the computer’s memory, arithmetic and logic unit, and input and output devices on
how to respond to the processor’s instructions.
 In order to execute the instructions, the components of a computer receive signals from the
control unit.
 It is also called the central nervous system or brain of the computer.
C. Memory Registers: A register is a temporary unit of memory in the CPU. These are used to
store the data, which is directly used by the processor. Registers can be of different sizes(16 bit,
32 bit, 64 bit and so on) and each register inside the CPU has a specific function, like storing
data, storing an instruction, storing address of a location in memory etc. The user registers can be
used by an assembly language programmer for storing operands, intermediate results etc.
Accumulator (ACC) is the main register in the ALU and contains one of the operands of an
operation to be performed in the ALU.
Memory attached to the CPU is used for the storage of data and instructions, and is called
internal memory. The internal memory is divided into many storage locations, each of which can
store data or instructions. Each memory location is of the same size and has an address. With the
help of the address, the computer can read any memory location easily without having to search
the entire memory. When a program is executed, its data is copied to the internal memory and
stored in the memory till the end of the execution. The internal memory is also called the
Primary memory or Main memory. This memory is also called RAM, i.e., Random Access
Memory. The time of access of data is independent of its location in memory; therefore, this
memory is also called Random Access memory (RAM).
 Memory Unit is the primary storage of the computer.
 It stores both data and instructions.
 Data and instructions are stored permanently in this unit so that they are available whenever
required.
3. Output Unit:
 The output unit consists of output devices that are attached to the computer. It converts the
binary data coming from the CPU to human understandable form. The common output devices
are monitor, printer, plotter, etc.
 The output unit displays or prints the processed data in a user-friendly format.
 The output unit is formed by attaching the output devices of a computer.
 The output unit accepts the information from the CPU and displays it in a user-readable form.

Hardware

The term hardware refers to mechanical device that makes up computer. Computer hardware
consists of interconnected electronic devices that we can use to control computer’s operation,
input and output. Examples of hardware are CPU, keyboard, mouse, hard disk, etc.

Hardware Components

Computer hardware is a collection of several components working together. Some parts are
essential and others are added advantages. Computer hardware is made up of CPU and
peripherals as shown in image below.
Software

A set of instructions that drives computer to do stipulated tasks is called a program. Software
instructions are programmed in a computer language, translated into machine language, and
executed by computer. Software can be categorized into two types −

 System software
 Application software

System Software

System software operates directly on hardware devices of computer. It provides a platform to run
an application. It provides and supports user functionality. Examples of system software include
operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Unix, etc.

Application Software

Application software is designed for benefit of users to perform one or more tasks. Examples of
application software include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Oracle, etc.
Differences between Software and Hardware are sorted out below –

Software Hardware
It is a collection of programs to bring computer It includes physical components of computer
hardware system into operation. system.
It consists of electronic components like ICs,
It includes numbers, alphabets, alphanumeric
diodes, registers, crystals, boards, insulators,
symbols, identifiers, keywords, etc.
etc.
Software products evolve by adding new Hardware design is based on architectural
features to existing programs to support decisions to make it work over a range of
hardware. environmental conditions and time.
It will vary as per computer and its built-in It is mostly constructed for all types of
functions and programming language. computer systems.
It is designed and developed by experienced The hardware can understand only low-level
programmers in high-level language. language or machine language.
It is represented in any high-level language The hardware works only on binary codes 1’s
such as BASIC, COBOL, C, C++, JAVA, etc. and 0’s.
The software is categorized as operating
The hardware consists of input devices, output
system, utilities, language processor,
devices, memory, etc
application software, etc.

What is Software
"Software is a set of programs (sequence of instructions) that allows the users to perform a well-
defined function or some specified task."

Software is responsible for directing all computer-related devices and instructing them regarding
what and how the task is to be performed. However, the software is made up of binary language
(composed of ones and zeros), and for a programmer writing the binary code would be a slow
and tedious task. Therefore, software programmers write the software program in various
human-readable languages such as Java, Python, C#, etc. and later use the source code.
Types of Software

Software's are broadly classified into two types, i.e., System Software and Application Software.

1. System Software

System software is a computer program that helps the user to run computer hardware or software
and manages the interaction between them. Essentially, it is software that constantly runs in the
computer background, maintaining the computer hardware and computer's basic functionalities,
including the operating system, utility software, and interface. In simple terms, you can say that
the system acts as a middle man that checks and facilitates the operations flowing between the
user and the computer hardware.

System software is not limited to the operating system. They also include the basic I/O system
procedures, the boot program, assembler, computer device driver, etc. This software supports a
high-speed platform to provide effective software for the other applications to work in
effortlessly. Therefore system software is an essential part of your computer system. They are the
first thing that gets loaded in the system's memory wherever you turn on your computer. System
software is also known as "low-level software" because the end-users do not operate them.
Companies usually employ the best software development programmers who can deploy
efficient system software.

The further classifications of system software are as follows:

1. Operating

2. System

The operating system is the most prominent example of system software that acts as an interface
between the user and system hardware. It is a group of software that handles the execution of
programs and offers general services for the application that runs over the computer. There are
various types of operating systems available in the market, such as embedded operating systems,
real-time OS, distributed OS, single or multi-user operating system, mobile, Internet, and various
others.

Some of the commonly used examples of operating systems are given below.

o Microsoft Windows
o Apple's iOS
o Apple's MacOS
o Android
o CentOS
o Linus
o Ubuntu
o Unix
2. Device Drivers

In computing, the device driver is a type of software that operates or controls some specific
hardware devices linked to your system. They provide a software interface to hardware devices
allowing computer operating systems and other applications to fetch hardware functions without
knowing the exact specifications of the hardware. Some common examples of such device
drivers that connect hardware devices (printers, sound cards, network cards, hard disks, floppy
disk, keyboard, mouse, etc.) to a system easily are as follows:

o BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) Device Driver

o USB (Universal Serial Bus) Drivers
o Motherboard Drivers
o Display Drivers
o Printer Drivers
o Sound Card Driver
o ROM (Read-only memory) Drivers
o VGA (Video Graphic Array) Drivers

3. Firmware

In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a type of permanent software embedded in the
system's ROM (read-only memory) to provide low-level control for some particular system
device hardware. It is a set of instructions that are stored permanently on your computer's
hardware device.

Common examples of devices utilizing firmware are given below:

o Computer Peripherals
o Consumer Appliances
o Embedded Systems
o UEFI (United Extensible Firmware Interface)
o BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

4. Utility

Utility software is developed to provide support in analyzing, optimizing, along configuring and
maintaining a computer. The job of the utility program is to offer support to the system
infrastructure. Though the system will work even if it doesn't have any utility software, the right
kind of utility software enhances its performance and makes it more reliable.

Some of the common examples of utility software are as follows:

o Norton and McAfee Antivirus

o WinRAR
 o Directory Opus
o Disk defragmenter
o WinZip
o Windows File Explorer
o Razer Cortex

Application Software

Application programs or software applications are end-user computer programs developed

primarily to provide specific functionality to the user. The applications programs assist the user
in accomplishing numerous tasks such as doing online research, completing notes, designing
graphics, managing the finances, watching a movie, writing documents, playing games, and
many more. Therefore, many software applications are designed and developed every year by
companies as per the demand and requirements of the potential users. The application software
can either be designed for a general-purpose or specially coded as per the requirements of
business cooperation.

Today there are varieties of application software available in the market. Given below are some
of the popular examples:

a. Word Processors

Word processor applications are globally used for documentation, making notes, and typing
data. It also helps the end-users store and format data. They also enable the users to print their
documents.

Some examples of Word Processor software's are as follows:

o MS Word (Microsoft)
o iWork-Pages (Apple)
o Corel WordPerfect
o Google Docs

b. Database Software

Database software is used to create, manage, modify and organize a massive amount of data
quickly retrieved. Another name for database software is Database Management System
(DBMS). Such software helps companies in their data organization. Common examples of
Database Software's are:

o Oracle
o MS Access
o SQLite
o Microsoft SQL Server
 o FileMaker
o dBase
o MariaDB
o MySQL

c. Multimedia Software

This software enables the users to play, create or record images, music, and video files. Different
graphic designing companies widely use multimedia software to make animation, images, posts,
packaging, marketing creative, gif, or even video editing. Due to their popularity and increasing
demand, every software product development corporation has massive avenues in creating and
upgrading them.

Common examples of Database Software's are given below:

o Adobe Photoshop
o Windows Movie Maker
o Adobe Illustrator
o Picasa
o Windows Media Player
o Corel Draw

d. Web Browsers

These are a type of software that is globally used to browse the Internet. Web browsers help the
users in positioning as well as fetching data across the web. Common examples of web browsers
are given below:

o Chrome
o Mozilla Firefox
o Microsoft Internet Explorer
o Opera
o Microsoft Edge
o UC Browser
o Apple Safari

However, there also occurs another classification of the software that exists on the basis of their
availability and share ability. The classification is given below:

1. Freeware

As the name suggests, Freeware software is available free of cost for an unlimited time. Any user
can easily download their respective software from the Internet and start using them instantly
without paying any charges or fees. Software development companies mostly design and develop
freeware software as a strategy to reach out to more people. Typical examples of Freeware
Software are as follows:

o Adobe Reader
o Zoom
o Skype
o ImgBurn
o Audacity
o Whatsapp
o Anydesk

2. Shareware

Shareware software is readily available on the Internet to download on a fixed trial basis. It is
distributed freely with a set time limit, and at the end of the trial period, the user is asked either
to pay the fee or uninstall the software. Some shareware, mainly including the gaming softwares,
have a fixed trial based on the counts an application is opened rather than the number of days it
has been installed on the system.

Give below are some of the popular examples for Shareware Software:

o Adobe Acrobat
o Adobe Photoshop
o AnyDVD
o PHP Debugger
o WinZip

3. Open-source

People usually get confused with freeware and open-source, but both are different. Though both
the software are available on the Internet free of cost with the only difference that open source
software is available online along with their source code. It means the user can change,
transform, and even can add additional features to them. Based on their services, they can be
chargeable as well free of cost.

Give below are some of the popular examples for open-source Software:

o Mozilla Firefox
o MySQL
o Thunderbird
o OpenOffice
o ClamWinantivirus
 o Apache Web Server

What is a Computer Virus?

A computer virus is a type of malicious computer program that replicates itself and adds its own
code when executed. When the replication process is complete, this code infects the other files
and programs on your system. These computer viruses exist in a variety of types, and each of
them can infect a device in a unique way.

Computer Virus
A computer virus is a sort of malware that attaches itself to another program and can replicate
and propagate once it has been installed on a user’s computer. When a computer changes the
way in which it should work normally, it is said to be infected by a virus. This virus may spread
from one computer to another.
For example, you may receive an email with a harmful attachment, inadvertently open the file,
and the computer virus then infects your machine. Or in other words, a harmful software
application that is installed without the user’s knowledge/ consent on their computer and then
performs some malicious acts is known as a virus. A virus attaches itself to another software,
once infected the system, in such a way that the host program’s execution activates the virus’s
actions simultaneously. It has the ability to self-replicate itself into other programs or files and
infecting them. Computer viruses are harmful but the majority of them engage in malicious
activity, such as data destruction.
History of Computer Virus
Viruses have been infecting various devices for a long term via the Internet or some other
medium. The viruses are created with an intention to steal information, completely destroy the
device, etc. The “Creeper system, ” the first computer virus, was an experimental self-
Multiplying virus launched in 1971. Then, the Rabbit virus came in the mid-1970s and was
extremely active and it self-replicated very fast & wrecked the functionality at the same speed.
The first computer virus was known as “Elk Cloner” and was built in 1982, by Rich Skrenta. It
spread by a floppy disc with a game on it and hooked itself to the Apple II operating system.
“Brain,” the first computer virus for MS-DOS, was introduced in 1986. The boot sector of the
floppy disc would be overwritten, preventing the computer from booting. It was created by two
Pakistani brothers and was intended to be used as a copy protection system. In 1988, the age of
catastrophic viruses began. Most viruses were basically joked with humorous names and
messages till then. In 1988, “The Morris” was the first virus that propagated widely.
Types of Computer Virus
 Boot sector virus: This virus infects the boot sector of the computer and runs every time the
computer boots and before the operating system loads. Floppy disks and other bootable media
become infected. They are sometimes referred to as memory viruses because they do not
infect the file system.
 File Virus: Infects the system by appending itself to the end of a file. It changes the start of a
program such that the control jumps to its code.
 Email-Virus: They are comprised of malicious code that is propagated through email
messages and can be activated when a user clicks on a link in an email message, opens an
email attachment, or interacts in any manner with the infected email message.
 Polymorphic Virus: Poly means many and morphic means forms. So this virus changes its
form every time. A virus signature is a pattern that can be used to assess whether a virus
exists or not (a series of bytes that make up virus code). This virus changes itself every time
when it is installed so that it can avoid detection by antivirus software. Here, only the
signature of this virus is updated, the functionality remains the same.
 Macro Virus: These viruses are activated when a program capable of performing a macro is
executed. Macro viruses, for example, can be found in spreadsheet files.
 Multipartite Virus: This virus has the power to infect a computer’s boot sector, memory,
and files, among other areas. This complicates its detection and containment.
 Encrypted Virus: To avoid detection by antivirus software, this type of virus is encrypted.
There’s also a decryption algorithm included. As a result, before running, the virus decrypts.
 Stealth Virus: This virus is difficult to detect because it modifies the code used to detect it. As
a result, virus detection is extremely difficult.
 Resident Virus: A virus that saves itself in the computer’s memory before infecting
additional files and programs after the original software stops working. Because it is hidden
in the computer memory and difficult to remove, this virus can easily infect other files.
 Direct action Virus: If a virus is tied to an executable file and when the file is opened or run,
that virus gets installed/ spread, it is known as “direct action”. This virus does not delete any
files or lay impact on the speed of the system; it just renders your files inaccessible.
 Browser Hijacker Virus: This virus attacks and can adjust the computer browser’s settings.
it can also force your browser to malicious sites.
What Does a Computer Virus Do?
A virus can harm or destroy data, slow down system resources, and log keystrokes, among other
things. A virus has the ability to have unexpected or harmful outcomes during this procedure,
such as destroying system software by corrupting data. Some computer viruses are designed to
damage your computer by destroying files, corrupting applications, or reformatting the hard
drive. Even less dangerous computer infections can have a substantial impact on your system’s
performance, eating up RAM and triggering frequent crashes. Other viruses may just clone
themselves or flood a network with traffic, rendering all internet activity difficult.
How a Computer gets A Virus?
Through the following activities you may get your device infected by the virus :
 Sharing the data like music, files, and images with each other.
 If you open a spam email or an attachment in an email that is sent by an unknown person.
 Downloading the free games, toolbars, media players, etc.
 Visiting a malicious website.
 Installing pirated software(s) etc.
Common Signs of Computer Viruses
If your system is infected by the virus, the following symptoms may be seen :
 Opening of Pop-up window frequently. Pop-ups may entice you to visit odd locations. They
will take you to a page to download any antivirus (which is actually not an antivirus), or other
harmful software.
 Slowing down of system without any reason.
 Updated homepage. For example, the homepage is replaced by a website and you would not
be able to undo that replacement.
 Identifying that your files are corrupted.
 Change in the name of your hard drive & also change in its volume.
 Change in amount of free memory available.
 Not able to find your files or programs.
 Unknown change in the password that does not let you login.
 A virus may damage your hard drive and our device may freeze or crash as a result of this.
Examples of Computer Viruses
Below are some examples of computer viruses.
 Morris Worm: One of the first and most widespread computer viruses, this self-replicating
computer program spread across the early Internet in 1988, delaying or crashing many
devices.
 Nimda: In 2001, this type of worm targeted web servers and machines running Microsoft
Windows, propagating via several attack vectors.
 ILOVEYOU: A extremely damaging worm that spread via email disguised as a love
confession and overwrote data, causing extensive damage in 2000.
 SQL Slammer: A computer worm that propagated quickly in 2003 by exploiting a
vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server, causing network congestion and disabling Internet
services.
 Stuxnet: It was a sophisticated worm that was built in 2010 to target and damage industrial
control systems, primarily Iran’s nuclear program, by exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities.
 CryptoLocker: In 2013, this ransomware Trojan infected hundreds of thousands of computers,
encrypted victims’ files and demanded a fee to unlock them.
 Conficker: This worm, which first appeared in 2008, targeted vulnerabilities in Windows
operating systems, resulting in the creation of a vast botnet and widespread infestation.
 Tinba: This banking Trojan, discovered in 2012, primarily targeted financial institutions,
attempting to steal login passwords and banking information.
 Shlayer: Since 2018, a macOS-specific Trojan has been distributing adware and potentially
unwanted programs via bogus software updates and downloads.
How To Remove Computer Viruses?
To get rid of a computer infection, you have two options:
 Do-it-yourself manual approach
 Seek the assistance of a reliable antivirus product.
In the manual approach, online search is usually the first step in this approach. You can be
requested to complete a huge list of tasks. To finish the procedure, you’ll need time and maybe
some experience.
What is Antivirus?
Antivirus software is a program that searches for, detects, prevents, and removes software
infections that can harm your computer. Antivirus can also detect and remove other dangerous
software such as worms, adware, and other dangers. This software is intended to be used as a
preventative measure against cyber dangers, keeping them from entering your computer and
causing problems. Antivirus is available for free as well. Anti-virus software that is available
for free only provides limited virus protection, whereas premium anti-virus software offers
more effective security. For example Avast, Kaspersky, etc.

Types of Computer
 There are two bases on which we can define the types of computers. We will discuss the type of
computers on the basis of size and data handling capabilities. We will discuss each type of
computer in detail. Let’s see first what the types of computers are.
 Super Computer
 Mainframe computer
 Mini Computer
 Workstation Computer
 Personal Computer (PC)
 Server Computer
 Analog Computer
 Digital Computer
 Hybrid Computer
 Tablets and Smartphone
Now, we are going to discuss each of them in detail.
Super computer
When we talk about speed, then the first name that comes to mind when thinking of computers
is supercomputers. They are the biggest and fastest computers (in terms of speed of processing
data). Supercomputers are designed such that they can process a huge amount of data, like
processing trillions of instructions or data just in a second. This is because of the thousands of
interconnected processors in supercomputers. It is basically used in scientific and engineering
applications such as weather forecasting, scientific simulations, and nuclear energy research. It
was first developed by Roger Cray in 1976.

Characteristics of Supercomputers
 Supercomputers are the computers that are the fastest and they are also very expensive.
 It can calculate up to ten trillion individual calculations per second, this is also the reason
which makes it even faster.
 It is used in the stock market or big organizations for managing the online currency world
such as Bit coin etc.
 It is used in scientific research areas for analyzing data obtained from exploring the solar
system, satellites, etc.
Mainframe computer
Mainframe computers are designed in such a way that they can support hundreds or thousands
of users at the same time. It also supports multiple programs simultaneously. So, they can
execute different processes simultaneously. All these features make the mainframe computer
ideal for big organizations like banking, telecom sectors, etc., which process a high volume of
data in general.
Characteristics of Mainframe Computers
 It is also an expensive or costly computer.
 It has high storage capacity and great performance.
 It can process a huge amount of data (like data involved in the banking sector) very quickly.
 It runs smoothly for a long time and has a long life.
Minicomputer
Minicomputer is a medium size multiprocessing computer. In this type of computer, there are
two or more processors, and it supports 4 to 200 users at one time. Minicomputer is similar to
Microcontroller. Minicomputers are used in places like institutes or departments for different
work like billing, accounting, inventory management, etc. It is smaller than a mainframe
computer but larger in comparison to the microcomputer.
Characteristics of Minicomputer
 Its weight is low.
 Because of its low weight, it is easy to carry anywhere.
 less expensive than a mainframe computer.
 It is fast.
Workstation Computer
A workstation computer is designed for technical or scientific applications. It consists of a fast
microprocessor, with a large amount of RAM and a high-speed graphic adapter. It is a single-
user computer. It is generally used to perform a specific task with great accuracy.
Characteristics of Workstation Computer
 It is expensive or high in cost.
 They are exclusively made for complex work purposes.
 It provides large storage capacity, better graphics, and a more powerful CPU when compared
to a PC.
 It is also used to handle animation, data analysis, CAD, audio and video creation, and editing.
Personal Computer (PC)
Personal Computers is also known as a microcomputer. It is basically a general-purpose
computer designed for individual use. It consists of a microprocessor as a central processing
unit(CPU), memory, input unit, and output unit. This kind of computer is suitable for personal
work such as making an assignment, watching a movie, or at the office for office work, etc. For
example, Laptops and desktop computers.
 Characteristics of Personal Computer (PC)
 In this limited number of software can be used.
 It is the smallest in size.
 It is designed for personal use.
 It is easy to use.

Server Computer

Server Computers are computers that are combined data and programs. Electronic data and
applications are stored and shared in the server computer. The working of a server computer is
that it does not solve a bigger problem like a supercomputer but it solves many smaller similar
ones. Examples of server computer are like Wikipedia, as when users put a request for any
page, it finds what the user is looking for and sends it to the user.
Analog Computer
Analog Computers are particularly designed to process analog data. Continuous data that
changes continuously and cannot have discrete values are called analog data. So, an analog
computer is used where we don’t need exact values or need approximate values such as speed,
temperature, pressure, etc. It can directly accept the data from the measuring device without
first converting it into numbers and codes. It measures the continuous changes in physical
quantity. It gives output as a reading on a dial or scale. For example speedometer, mercury
thermometer, etc.
Digital Computer
Digital computers are designed in such a way that they can easily perform calculations and
logical operations at high speed. It takes raw data as input and processes it with programs stored
in its memory to produce the final output. It only understands the binary input 0 and 1, so the
raw input data is converted to 0 and 1 by the computer and then it is processed by the computer
to produce the result or final output. All modern computers, like laptops, desktops including
smartphones are digital computers.
Hybrid Computer
As the name suggests hybrid, which means made by combining two different things. Similarly,
the hybrid computer is a combination of both analog and digital computers. Hybrid computers
are fast like analog computers and have memory and accuracy like digital computers. So, it has
the ability to process both continuous and discrete data. For working when it accepts analog
signals as input then it converts them into digital form before processing the input data. So, it is
widely used in specialized applications where both analog and digital data are required to be
processed. A processor which is used in petrol pumps that converts the measurements of fuel
flow into quantity and price is an example of a hybrid computer.

Tablet and Smartphones

Tablets and Smartphones are the types of computers that are pocket friendly and easy to carry is
these are handy. This is one of the best use of modern technology. These devices have better
hardware capabilities, extensive operating systems, and better multimedia functionality.
smartphones and tablets contain a number of sensors and are also able to provide wireless
communication protocols.
Tablet and Smartphones

Basic Applications of Computer

Computers play a role in every field of life. They are used in homes, business, educational
institutions, research organizations, medical field, government offices, entertainment, etc.

Home

Computers are used at homes for several purposes like online bill payment, watching movies or
shows at home, home tutoring, social media access, playing games, internet access, etc. They
provide communication through electronic mail. They help to avail work from home facility for
corporate employees. Computers help the student community to avail online educational support.

Medical Field

Computers are used in hospitals to maintain a database of patients’ history, diagnosis, X-rays,
live monitoring of patients, etc. Surgeons nowadays use robotic surgical devices to perform
delicate operations, and conduct surgeries remotely. Virtual reality technologies are also used for
training purposes. It also helps to monitor the fetus inside the mother’s womb.

Entertainment
Computers help to watch movies online, play games online; act as a virtual entertainer in playing
games, listening to music, etc. MIDI instruments greatly help people in the entertainment
industry in recording music with artificial instruments. Videos can be fed from computers to full
screen televisions. Photo editors are available with fabulous features.

Industry

Computers are used to perform several tasks in industries like managing inventory, designing
purpose, creating virtual sample products, interior designing, video conferencing, etc. Online
marketing has seen a great revolution in its ability to sell various products to inaccessible corners
like interior or rural areas. Stock markets have seen phenomenal participation from different
levels of people through the use of computers.

Education

Computers are used in education sector through online classes, online examinations, referring e-
books, online tutoring, etc. They help in increased use of audio-visual aids in the education field.

Government

In government sectors, computers are used in data processing, maintaining a database of citizens
and supporting a paperless environment. The country’s defense organizations have greatly
benefitted from computers in their use for missile development, satellites, rocket launches, etc.

Banking

In the banking sector, computers are used to store details of customers and conduct transactions,
such as withdrawal and deposit of money through ATMs. Banks have reduced manual errors and
expenses to a great extent through extensive use of computers.

Business

Nowadays, computers are totally integrated into business. The main objective of business is
transaction processing, which involves transactions with suppliers, employees or customers.
Computers can make these transactions easy and accurate. People can analyze investments, sales,
expenses, markets and other aspects of business using computers.

Training

Many organizations use computer-based training to train their employees, to save money and
improve performance. Video conferencing through computers allows saving of time and
travelling costs by being able to connect people in various locations.

Arts
Computers are extensively used in dance, photography, arts and culture. The fluid movement of
dance can be shown live via animation. Photos can be digitized using computers.

Science and Engineering

Computers with high performance are used to stimulate dynamic process in Science and
Engineering. Supercomputers have numerous applications in area of Research and Development
(R&D). Topographic images can be created through computers. Scientists use computers to plot
and analyze data to have a better understanding of earthquakes.