CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

Computers are broadly classified into two categories depending upon the logic
used in their design as:

Analog computers:

In analog computers, data is recognized as a continuous measurement of a physical

property like voltage, speed, pressure etc. Readings on a dial or graphs are
obtained as the output, ex. Voltage, temperature; pressure can be measured in this
way.

Digital Computers:

These are high speed electronic devices. These devices are programmable. They
process data by way of mathematical calculations, comparison, sorting etc. They
accept input and produce output as discrete signals representing high (on) or low
(off) voltage state of electricity. Numbers, alphabets, symbols are all represented as
a series of 1s and Os.
Digital Computers are further classified as General Purpose Digital Computers and
Special Purpose Digital Computers. General Purpose computers can be used for
any applications like accounts, payroll, data processing etc. Special purpose
computers are used for a specific job like those used in automobiles, microwaves
etc.

Hybrid Computers:
Hybrid Computers are a combination of Analog and Digital computers. They
combine the speed of analog computers and accuracy of digital computers. They
are mostly used in specialized applications where the input data is in an analog
form i.e. measurement. This is converted into digital form for further processing.
The computers accept data from sensors and produce output using conventional
input/output devices.
 Input Devices and Output Devices
INPUT DEVICES

The various types of input devices most commonly used are :

Punch Cards :
Data is recorded into punch cards or punch tapes using standard codes, like the
Hollerith code. The pattern of these holes is interpreted by a card reader device and
converted into machine readable form. A punch card machine is used to transcribe
the data onto the card.
Characteristic of punch card

 they are cheaper

 they are reliable.

Disadvantage of punch card

The major drawback of these cards is that they cannot be reused. Also the cards
have to be handled and stored carefully. Even if a single card is misplaced or the
arrangement of the cards gets disturbed it becomes very difficult to rearrange them
and to detect there problem. Punched cards require large storage space since they
cannot be folded.

Keyboard

The keyboard is one of the most commonly used input devices. The computer
keyboard is similar to a typewriter keyboard. The keyboard has keys made up of
letters, numbers, symbols and special function keys.
A display screen or monitor (Cathode Ray Tube) is used to display the data entered
by the operator with the keyboard. This monitor can also display the results of
processing as well as messages generated by the computer. A special symbol,
called a cursor, indicates the position on the screen. There are special keys on the
keyboard which allow the cursor to move in up, down, left and right directions.
Other special keys on the keyboard include keys like Tab, Del, Ctrl, Ins, PgUp,
PgDn etc.
The keys on the keyboard include:
A-Z : Used to enter alphabets
0-9 : Used to enter numbers
Up, Down, Left, Right (Arrow Keyes): To Move the cursor in the specified
direction
F1-F12 : Special Function Keys
PgUp/PgDn : To move cursor up or down by one page enter:
To move cursor to a new line
Shift: A Special key To Select the other option shown normal character on the
same key
Num Lock : Activates the keypad on the right side of the keyboard. In the normal
mode this numeric pad works as per the function written below the number on the
key
The standard computer keyboards typically contain 101 keys for inputting
character sets including alphabets, numbers, symbols, or functions.

Advantages of the keyboard:

 It is very easy to use a keyboard
 It offers a number of facilities
 Editing or changing the input data is very easy with the help of the keyboard
 It is relatively Inexpensive
Mouse

The mouse is a pointing device. The mouse is used to control and manipulate
cursor movement on the monitor. The mouse usually has three or four buttons on it
and a roller ball which signals the movements made by the mouse on a flat surface.
These movements are transferred to the system. The mouse is rolled on a flat
surface by the user. It can be used independently, but normally it is used in
conjunction with the keyboard to improve the efficiency of the input operation.
The mouse can be used to select data. Also the mouse makes it possible to move
fast from one par of the screen to the other.

The various types of mouse in use are

 Mechanical mouse
 Optical mouse
 Opt mechanical mouse
Light Pen
The light pen is a picking device. The light pen contains a photocell placed in a
small tube. This photo- cell detects the presence of light on the CRT (monitor).
The tip of the pen is moved on the surface of the screen to write or sketch data. The
light pen is especially useful in Computer Aided Design (CAD) applications.
Joy Stick

The position and speed with which the joystick is moved is converted into digital
signals by the use of a lever. These signals are then sent to the computer system.
This in turn controls the movement of the cursor on the screen. The joystick is
mainly used in video games applications.

Track Ball

The track ball uses a hard sphere to control cursor movement. The ball can be
rotated in any direction by hand and this is translated into a digital signal to control
the cursor movement on the screen.

Touch screen:

A touch panel is a transparent plate which is fitted over the CRT. Input is
registered when a finger or any other object comes in contact with the plate.

There are two types of touch panels:

 Optical touch panels
 Electric touch panels
Digitizer or Graphic table:
A digitizer converts a graphical or pictorial data into digital form which can be
directly entered and stored in a computer. A digitizer is also called as a graphics
tablet.
There are two types of digitizers:

Image scan digitizer and flat bed digitizer

In the image scan digitizer the entire image is scanned and reproduced
automatically. Therefore the image scan digitizers are more powerful as compared
to flat bed digitizers. Flat bed digitizers are mainly used in simple drawings, graphs
etc. whereas image scan digitizers are used for photographs and pictures.

Scanner :

Scanner is able to directly enter text and images into the computer memory.
Therefore the duplication work of entering data is eliminated and this also results
in increased accuracy. The speed of data entry also increases.
There are two types of scanners:
1. Optical Scanners
2. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition devices

a) Optical Scanner:
The optical scanner uses a light source and sensor for reading the information on
the paper. It can read characters, pictures, and graphics from the paper.
The common types of optical scanners are:

1. The Optical Mark Reader (OMR):

This is capable of reading pre specified marks made by pencils or pens with the
help of light. Light is focused on the page that is to be scanned. The reflected light
pattern is detected by the device. These types of scanners are normally used where
the data is preprinted for applications. eg. answer papers of the objective tests
where the answers are marked with pencils or preprinted forms.

2. Optical Character Reader (OCR):

The Optical Character Reader (OCR) can read alphabets, characters and numbers
printed on paper. These characters can be either handwritten or typed. However
special fonts are required to be used while typing. Incase of handwritten data, the
characters have to be of standard predefined size. The OCR reads each character as
a collection of pixels. The light which is reflected from the page to be scanned is
converted into binary data. OCRs are available in various sizes and speeds. These
devices are expensive and are mainly used in processing where the data volumes
are large.

Bar code reader is a device which reads bar coded data. Data which is coded in the
form of light or dark lines (bars) is a bar code. Bar code readers are normally used
in applications like labeling of products in retail shops, super markets etc. A laser
beam scanner is used to read the bar code.
b) Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR):

A special type of input device, this mainly finds application in banking areas. A
magnetic ink is used to encode the characters to be read. This ink contains iron
oxide particles. When a cheque is presented in the bank, the amount is encoded by
the bank employee in the lower right corner and the cheque is then processed with
MICR.

Voice Recognition Systems :

This system allows the user to talk with the computer. The Voice Recognition
System consists of a microphone or telephone into which the operator speaks. The
speech is converted into electrical signals. The signal is input as the voice of the
operator. This is matched with an already entered pre-stored pattern of words
called vocabulary. When the closest match is found the word is recognized. Since
each operator may have a different style of speaking, all Voice Recognition
systems are highly operator dependent. Also a separate vocabulary for each
operator is required to be maintained. The advantages of the Voice Recognition
systems are that they reduce the cost of data entry. Also the operator can move
freely while talking into the computer.
OUTPUT DEVICES

The output device allows the compute to communicate with the outside world by
accepting data from the computer and transforming it into user readable form.

The various types of output devices are :

Printers:

A printer produces the output from the computer on the paper. It is the most
commonly used output device. The printers produce a hard copy i.e. a permanent
copy of the results which can be stored and read later.
Printers are classified as :

a) Impact Printer
b) Non Impact Printer

a) Impact Printer

Impact printers are similar to typewriters. They use hammer to strike a character
against an inked ribbon and the impact of the hammer causes the image of the
character to be printed on paper. E.g. Dot matrix printers, line printers, daisy wheel
printers,

Advantages of impact printers:

 Their functioning is relatively easy

 Multiple copies can be produced at the same time with the help of carbon paper.
 Impact printers are noisy in operation and are subject to wear and tear of
mechanical parts.
Types of impact printers :

1) Dot Matrix Printers

Dot matrix printer prints each character as a pattern of dots. The printer has a
printer head with a matrix of pins (needles). Typical heads have a matrix of 7 rows
and 9 columns. These pins produce a pattern of dots to form the individual
characters.

These printers are relatively low in cost and print at speeds of 50-500 characters
per second. The programmer can also define the shape of characters for this
printer. Therefore it is possible to print many special characters, characters in
various sizes as well as charts and graphs on such printers. Dot matrix printers are
very commonly used in most computer systems.

2) Daisy Wheel Printer :

These printers are also called as letter quality printers. These printers have a
daisy wheel with a number of petals. A character is embossed on each wheel.
There is a motor which spins the wheel at a fast rate. When the desired character is
brought to the correct position, a hammer strikes the petal to produce the output.
Thus these printers are impact printers. The letter quality of these printers is much
superior as compared to the dot matrix printers. But they are slow and typically
print in the range of 10-50 characters per second.
3) Line Printer:
Line printers are very fast printers which print at speed of 200-2500 lines per
minute. These printers are impact printers and normally have 132 print positions
per line. Different types of character set are available for different printers. Line
printers are normally used in applications where large volumes of data are to be
printed.

The two types of line printers are :

(i) Drum printers

This consists of a metallic cylinder. On the surface of this drum there are
characters in bands. Each column or band on the drum contains all the characters.
Opposite to each band there is a hammer located behind the paper. The drum
rotates at a fast rate. The hammer strikes the paper along with the inked ribbon and
produces the output. One line is printed in each revolution of the printer.
(ii) Chain printers

In the chain printers there is one print hammer for each print position on a line.
There is a fast moving chain called the print chain. W hen this chain rotates, the
print hammer and the inked ribbon strike the paper against the proper character on
the chain.

b) Non Impact Printer

They use thermal, chemical, electrostatic and inkjet technologies for printing as
against the hammer mechanism of impact printers. E.g. Laser printers, DeskJet
printers.

Ink Jet Printer:

Ink jet printer is a non impact printer. It prints characters by spraying ink from tiny
nozzles onto the paper. A special type of ink which has high iron content is used.
This ink is charged electrically when it comes out of the nozzle. This ink is
absorbed by the paper and dries instantly. The output of the ink jet printer is of a
superior quality. Also it is possible to obtain colored output. A number of character
styles and sizes are available. However, being a non impact printer it is not
possible to prepare carbon copies with this printer.
Laser Printers:
These printers are used where a very superior quality output is desired. The image
is created on a photo sensitive drum ; with a laser beam. The laser is turned on and
off when it moves back and forward across the drum. It leaves a negative charge
on the drum to which a positively charged black toner powdersticks. When the
paper rolls by the drum, the ink is transferred to the paper. Laser printers have a
buffer memory to store entire pages and hence their speed is very fast. The biggest
advantage of these printers is that no mechanical movement is involved, therefore
they are noiseless in operation. However there are comparatively expensive.
Plotter:

A plotter is an output device used in applications where printouts of graphs and

drawings are required. Plotters are of two types :

1) Flat bed i.e. X-Y plotter:

This plotter plots on a paper which is fixed on a rectangular flatbed table. One
recording pen moves in the x direction and one in the y direction to plot on the
paper. Color plotting is al so possible by using pens of different colors.
2) Drum Plotter:

In this plotter the paper on which the output is to be obtained, is placed over a
drum. The drum rotates back and forth to produce motion. The pen is mounted
horizontally across the drum and the horizontal motion of the pen is achieved with
the help of the pen holder. The drum and the holder move simultaneously to
produce output. Multi colored printing is possible by changing the pens. The speed
of plotters is very slow. Therefore normally the output is first sent to some
secondary storage device like a magnetic tape and then directed to the plotter.

Video Display Terminal :( MONITOR)

SPEAKAR
PROJECTOR
Storage Unit
A storage unit is that part of the computer system which is used to store the data
and instructions to be processed. There are two types of storage:

1) Primary storage

Primary memory is also known as internal memory. This is a section of the CPU
which holds program instructions, input data and intermediate results. Primary
memory is also known as main memory.

2) Secondary storage

Secondary storage is a memory that is stored external to the computer. It is used

mainly for permanent and long term storage of programs and data.

Characteristics of Storage units:

The storage units have special characteristics which decide the :
 Speed of operation of the computer,
 Its efficiency,
 Cost and
 The amount of data which the computer can store. The storage unit of the
computer is graded according to the following characteristics (whether primary or
secondary):

Access time:

This is the time required to locate and retrieve a particular data from the storage
unit. A fast access to data and programs always yields higher efficiency.

Storage Capacity:

Storage capacity is the amount of data that can be stored by a storage unit. Large
capacity of data storage is always desirable. As seen earlier, the smallest unit of
data which the computer understands is the bit. A group of 8 bits forms a byte. The
storage capacity of a computer system is defined in terms of bytes or words. One
kilobyte (1 KB) is 2^ or 1024 bytes, eg. 4 KB memory implies that it can store 4 x
1024 bytes or characters. Storage capacities of primary and secondary units are
measured in Kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes.

Cost:

Low cost storage media are always desirable.

Thus, storage units with faster access time, higher storage capacity and low costs
are the ones which are considered to be of a superior nature.

PRIMARY STORAGE

Primary storage is characterized by faster access time, less storage capacity and
higher costs as compared to secondary storage units. Primary storage or main
memory is that part of the computer system which stores the programs, data and
intermediate results during the program execution.
RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. The processor accesses all memory
addresses directly, irrespective of word length, making storage and retrieval fast.
RAM is the fastest memory available and hence most expensive. These two
factors imply that RAM is available in very small quantities of up to 1GB.
Random access memory, also called the Read/Write memory, is the temporary
memory of a computer. It is said to be ‘volatile’ since its contents are accessible
only as long as the computer is on. The contents of RAM are cleared once the
computer is turned off.
RAM is further classified into two types- SRAM (Static Random Access
Memory) and DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).
Read Only Memory (ROM) –

 Stores crucial information essential to operate the system, like the program
essential to boot the computer.
 It is not volatile.
 Always retains its data.
 Used in embedded systems or where the programming needs no change.
 Used in calculators and peripheral devices.
 ROM is further classified into 4 types- ROM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM.

Types of Read Only Memory (ROM) –

1. PROM (Programmable read-only memory) – It can be programmed by

user. Once programmed, the data and instructions in it cannot be changed.
2. EPROM (Erasable Programmable read only memory) – It can be
reprogrammed. To erase data from it, expose it to ultra violet light. To
reprogram it, erase all the previous data.
3. EEPROM (Electrically erasable programmable read only memory) – The
data can be erased by applying electric field, no need of ultra violet light. We
can erase only portions of the chip.
 Secondary Memory

Secondary Memory is also called “storage device” and “auxiliary memory“,

“external memory“. Secondary storage devices are volatile in nature, it means that
data does not discard while power turn-off, in which all data store for long
time. Secondary memory has the speed of access of data is very slow compare
to primary memory, and cheaper as well. Without primary memory,
those secondary storage devices are useless because for processing the secondary
memory must be needed the primary memory, first of all data are transferred
into primary memory then these data make for executable.

Types of Secondary Memory

Secondary memory (Storage Devices) can be used in computer either internally or

externally. Secondary Storage devices (memory) have four examples like as

 Magnetic Storage Devices

 Optical Storage Devices
 Online Cloud System

 Magnetic Storage Devices

In the Magnetic storage devices, all data are stored with using magnetized
medium, and those types of data saved in that medium in the binary form like as 0
and 1. This magnetic storage has also non-volatile storage nature. Today’s, mostly
people are preferred to magnetic medium because on the magnetic storage
devices can be performed read/write activities very easily. Magnetic storage
devices have huge capacities for storing data that it’s more attractive point. These
storage devices are not more costly but their data accessing power is slow, but this
magnetic mechanism also to be used in the RAM that have good data accessing
power to other.
Types of Magnetic Storage Devices:-

Hard Drive

Hard drive is also known as the “Hard Disk Drive”. Hard drive is a storage area,
where are stored your all data (Files and Folders) in magnetic form with
physically. It is capable to store data more than 200 GB. Hard drive contains the
stack of disks which are mounted internally with solid encasement, and all data is
stored on that disk. These disks move very higher speed (5500 to 7500 RPM), so
any data can be retrieved immediately from any area on the hard drive. In Hard
Drive, All data does not discard after getting to discontinue power supply

Floppy Disk

Floppy disk was introduced by IBM, in 1969. Floppy disk is also called the
“Floppy Diskette”. It is a hardware data storage medium that is used in the
personal computers. Floppy disk is a plastic cartridge measuring 3.5 inches square
and about 2 millimeters thick, and it is secured with protective casing. In the
floppy disk, iron oxide was used to coat internally for storing data in magnetic
form, just similar to hard disk. But, now floppy disk is completely obsolete.

Zip Diskette

Zip diskette was developed by Lomega Company, and it was an advance

technology to tradition floppy disk, and it was used as a secondary storage device.
Zip drive is used to operate the Zip disk. Zip disks had 100 and 250 MB storage
space that was used to save, share and back up huge amount of data. But, now Zip
disk is not getting popular in the market.
Optical Storage

In the optical storage devices, all read and write activities are performed by light.
All recording information stores at an optical disk. As per the opinions of data
scientist that compact space is most useful for huge data storage. Their big
advantages are not more costly, light weight, and easy to transport because it is
removable device unlike hard drive.

CD-ROM

CD-ROM stands for “Compact Disc Read Only Memory”, and CD-ROM comes in
the “Random Access” category’s devices. These types of disc can capable to store
almost 800 MB of digital data. These data can’t discard by mistaken.

DVD-ROM

DVD-ROM stands for “Digital Versatile Disc – Read Only Memory”, and it also
comes in the “Random Access” category’s devices. DVD-ROM discs can store
data up to 4.7 GB, but Dual Layer DVD device’s storage capacity is double. These
types of disc are used to store ultra quality video.
 Blue Ray

Blue Ray discs are totally replaced by DVDs, because these discs are capable to
hold data up to 25-50 GB, as well as double layer Blue Rays discs can store double
data. Due to high storage capacity, Blue Ray discs are used to store HD (High
Definition) videos.

HD DVD

HD DVD stands for “High Density DVD”, and these devices are capable to store
data up to 15 GB (Dual Layer HD DVDS have storage capacity double). High-
Density DVD discs are also used to hold HD Videos.

Advantages of Optical Storage Devices

 It is capable to store vast amount of data.

 Affordable price
 It can be recycled (Re-used).
 It has ultra data stability.
 Countable/uncountable storage units
 Best Durability, Transport-ability, and archiving.

Disadvantages Optical Storage Devices

 Some traditional PCs are not able to read these disks.

 It is getting trouble while recycling.
 Online Cloud System

Clouding is systematically model for storing data in computer, and in which entire
data are stored in logically nature. Those clouding system are managed by other
hosting companies. With the help of online clouding, all data can be access by
couples of users anytime and anywhere. Big advantages are not place limitation as
well as no need carry any storage device.

There are some types:

 Cloud storage
 Network media