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CLASSIFICATIONS AND
EVOLUTION
LECTURE 2
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Types of computers
■ Supercomputers
An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per
second and applied for a specific application.
Supercomputers are fast because they are actually many computers working together.
Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that
require immense amounts of mathematical calculations (number crunching) such as
forecasting weather and quantum physics.
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Supercomputer
■ Mainframe computers
A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users
simultaneously.
A mainframe computer is a combination of memory (RAM) and many processors. It acts as a central
processing unit for many workstations and terminals connected with it. These terminals are called dumb
terminals. A mainframe computer is used to process the large and huge amount of data in petabytes. It can
control thousands of user ’s.
Mainframe computer plays a significant role in e-business where hundreds to thousands of people connect to a
server to precede their request in a real time. Similarly, In banking, government, education system mainframe
computer play a valuable role.
Examples: banks, airlines, insurance companies, and colleges. They support hundreds of users simultaneously.
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Mainframe
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Components of Microcomputer
■ Microprocessor: Microprocessor has two parts arithmetic logical unit and control unit
■ Memory unit: Memory unit control inflow and outflow of data in memory by using
many memory management techniques like FIFO
■ RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM is also known as Physical memory. RAM is
volatile memory .It is faster than hard disk.RAM is placed between CPU and Hard-disk.
To process any data, first it loaded into RAM from hard-disk and then CPU access it.
■ ROM (Read Only Memory) : Read Only Memory has permanent data storage. Once
the data has written on it, content will not lost if power turned on or power turned off.
Boot record is written on it.
■ Input /output devices: Through buses peripheral devices communicate with CPU.
Control buses used clock signal to activate the devices
Micro controller
■ A microcontroller is a compact integrated circuit designed to govern a specific operation
in an embedded system. A typical microcontroller includes a processor, memory and
input/output (I/O) peripherals on a single chip.
■ Sometimes referred to as an embedded controller or microcontroller unit (MCU),
microcontrollers are found in vehicles, robots, office machines, medical devices, mobile
radio transceivers, vending machines and home appliances, among other devices. They
are essentially simple miniature personal computers (PCs) designed to control small
features of a larger component, without a complex front-end operating system (OS).
Micro controller continued
■ For example, a car might have many microcontrollers that control various individual systems
within, such as the anti-lock braking system, traction control, fuel injection or suspension control.
■ All the microcontrollers communicate with each other to inform the correct actions. Some might
communicate with a more complex central computer within the car, and others might only
communicate with other microcontrollers. They send and receive data using their I/O peripherals
and process that data to perform their designated tasks
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CLASSIFICATION OF
COMPUTERS
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CLASSIFICATION OF
COMPUTERS:-
Computers may be classified based on the following: -
■ Operating principles (based on their construction and working)
■ Applications
■ Size and capability (or classification into micro, mini, mainframe and supercomputer
■ Number of Microprocessors
■ Number of users
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Classification based on Operating Principles
Based on the operating principles, computers can be classified into one of the following
types: -
■ Digital Computers: - Operate essentially by counting. All quantities are expressed as
discrete or numbers. Digital computers are useful for evaluating arithmetic expressions
and manipulations of data (such as preparation of bills, ledgers, solution of
simultaneous equations etc)
■ Analog Computers:- An analog computer is a form of computer that uses the
continuously changeable aspects of physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical
quantities to model the problem being solved..
■ Hybrid Computers:- are computers that exhibit features of analog
computers and digital computers.
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Classification based on area of applications
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Classification digital Computer based on size and
Capability
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Classification based on number of microprocessors
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Classification based on number of users
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COMPUTER
GENERATIONS
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Computer Generations
■ Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology in which a computer is/was
being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware
technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which together
make up an entire computer system. New generations of computer systems spawn new
generations of software that can do more powerful things than previous generations.
■ There are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been discussed in
detail along with their time period and characteristics. In the following table, approximate
dates against each generation have been mentioned.
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The following are the main five generations of computers.
2 Second Generation
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.
3 Third Generation
The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.
4 Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor
based.
5 Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards. ULSI microprocessor
based.
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First generation
Main features of the first generation Some computers of this
generation were:
Vacuum tube technology •ENIAC
Unreliable •EDVAC
Supported machine language only •UNIVAC
Very costly
•IBM-701
Generated a lot of heat
Slow input and output devices •IBM-650
Huge size
Need of AC
Non-portable
Consumed a lot of electricity
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Second generation
The main features of second generation are: Some computers of this generation
were:
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A second generation computer A transistor
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Third generation
The main features of third generation Some computers of this generation
are: were:
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As chip technology advanced, the size of computers decreased while their
computing power increased. Semiconductor chips today can hold many
millions of transistors. For the past two decades, the memory capacity of a
semiconductor chip has doubled approximately every 18 months.
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Fourth generation
The main features of fourth generation Some computers of this generation
are: were:
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Microprocessor
A fourth generation
computer
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Fifth generation
The main features of fifth generation Some computer types of this generation
are: are:
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A fifth
generation
computer
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AI includes:
■ Robotics
■ Neural Networks
■ Game Playing
■ Development of expert systems to make decisions in real-life
situations
■ Natural language understanding and generation
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THE END
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