Understanding the
Computers
Lesson 1
Computer
A computer is an electronic device
that has the capability to
manipulate information or data,
store, retrieve, and process it for
more useful information. It is
programmable so it can respond to
specific instructions or commands.
Computer
Depending on the
processing power and size
of computers, they have
been classified under
various types.
Different Types of Computers
Based on the operational
principle of computers,
they are categorized as
analog, digital and hybrid
computers.
Different Types of Computers
Analog Computers: These are almost extinct
today. These are different from a digital
computer because an analog computer can
perform several mathematical operations
simultaneously. It uses continuous variables
for mathematical operations and utilizes
mechanical or electrical energy.
Characteristics of Analog Computer
• Real time operations- several signal values can be
manipulated concurrently.
• No need the transducers to transform input/output
to digital electronic form.
• Programmers can analysis the problems in real-time
and fix them.
• Less consumption of bandwidth.
• It has more speed to produce result.
• More accurately
• All data is represented in continuously flow along
with large range of machine.
Examples of Analog Computer
Different Types of Computers
DigitalComputers: 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. Digital computers are suitable
for complex computation and have higher
processing speeds. They are programmable.
Different Types of Computers
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.
Digital Computer
Special purpose computers
•These computers are designed for a specific
task.
•The instruction to carry out the task is
permanently stored in the computers.
•These computers are efficient but not versatile.
Digital Computer
General Purpose Computer
•These computers can work on different tasks
{different types of programs}.
•These programs are not permanently stored.
• These computers are very versatile.
Digital Computer
Examples
• Digital watches
• Smartphones
• Laptop
• Digital Cameras
• PDA’s
Different Types of Computers
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.
Hybrid Computers
Components of a Hybrid Computer
Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)
Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)
Digital Processing Unit
Analog Processing Unit
Input/Output interfaces
Hybrid Computers
How Hybrid Computers Work
Accepts analog input (like temperature,
pressure)
Converts analog signals to digital format
Processes data digitally
Converts results back to analog when needed
Provides both analog and digital outputs
Hybrid Computers
Modern Examples
Modern automobiles
Smart home systems
Healthcare monitoring devices
Industrial automation
Gaming systems with motion controls
Hybrid Computers
Future of Hybrid Computing
Integration with artificial intelligence
Advanced robotics applications
Enhanced medical devices
Smart city infrastructure
Environmental monitoring systems
Personal Computers
Types of Personal Computer
Desktops
- A desktop is intended to be used on a single
location. The spare parts of a desktop computer are
readily available at relatively lower costs. Power
consumption is not as critical as that in laptops.
Desktops are widely popular for daily use in the
workplace and households.
Types of Personal Computer
Laptops
- Similar in operation to desktops, laptop
computers are miniaturized and optimized for mobile
use. Laptops run on a single battery or an external
adapter that charges the computer batteries.
Types of Personal Computer
Netbook
- 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 at the time they
came into the market.
Types of Personal Computer
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
- It is a handheld computer and popularly
known as a palmtop. It has a touch screen and
a memory card for storage of data. PDAs can
also be used as portable audio players, web
browsers and smart phones. Most of them can
access the Internet by means of Bluetooth or
Wi-Fi communication.
Types of Personal Computer
Tablets Computers
- Tablets are mobile computers that are very
handy to use. They use the touch screen
technology. Tablets come with an onscreen
keyboard or use a stylus or a digital pen. Apple's
iPod redefined the class of tablet computers.
Types of Personal Computer
Wearable Computers
- A record-setting step in the evolution of computers
was the creation of wearable computers. These
computers can be worn on the body and are often used
in the study of behavior modeling and human health.
Military and health professionals have incorporated
wearable computers into their daily routine, as a part of
such studies. When the users' hands and sensory organs
are engaged in other activities, wearable computers are
of great help in tracking human 'actions. Wearable
computers do not have to be turned on and off and
remain in operation without user intervention
Advantage of PC’s
• It may be the storage of your important data and files.
• It may be your handy book.
• It may help you solve problems faster than an ordinary human being can
do.
• It has speed, storage, reliability, consistency and communications.
• It helps you to find useful information using the Internet.
• It helps in businesses, factories, offices, schools and homes.
• helps you automate various tasks that you can not do manually
• It helps you organize your data and information in a better way.
• It has much more computing and calculating power then an ordinary
human.
• It may help your work to be a lot easier
Disadvantage of PC’s
• It destroys your social life and interactions with humans if you do not maintain
the balance.
• It may affect to the destruction of your eye sight due to radiation.
• It may cause pimples and wrinkles.
• It may damage your studies.
• Too much time in front of monitor may adverse effect your eye sight and can also
make you fat.
• The way it distracts and can deviate our thoughts and activities towards
unproductive activities.
• getting away from their real life and getting into bad lines
• It could cause violation of privacy, impact on labor force, health risks, impact on
environment, distraction from work, and possible antisocial influences.
