Classifications of computers with computer hardware and examples with descriptions. Mobile computers, Micro computers, Minicomputers, Mainframes and Super computers.
2. Classification of computers by size
• Mobile computers
• Microcomputers
• Minicomputers
• Mainframes
• Supercomputers
3. Mobile computers
Mobile computers are the smallest computers designed
to be carried around by users.
Laptops
Notebooks
Tablets
E-book readers
Portable media players
4. Laptop
Same as PCs in functionality. More Compact,
Portable. Less Power requirement, operated on
battery. Less capacity compared to PCs.
Maintenance are more cost than desktop.
5. PDA – Personal Digital Assistant
Like Mini computer in a general sense . Smaller than
laptops (can be called Palmtops).Used to store
information used frequently wherever you go
.Nowadays work with smart cards which has all the
information of a user and his/her transactions.
6. These are the smallest range of computers used by one
person at a time. They were introduced in the early 70’s
having less storing space and processing speed. The
micro computers have a wide range of applications
including uses as portable computer that can be
plugged into any wall.
Micro Computers
7. Mini computers are smaller than mainframes, both in
size and other facilities such as speed, storage capacity
and other services. They are versatile that they can be
fitted where ever they are needed. Their speeds are
rated between one and fifty million instructions per
second (MIPS).
MiniComputers
8. Mainframes
Large computers both in terms of physical size as well
as computations. They support huge numbers of users.
Basically used to store and process huge amount of
data. These computers are used in government
organizations, airlines and banks.
9. Biggest and most powerful computers used are called
Super Computers. These computers are extremely
expensive and the speed is measured in billions of
instructions per seconds.
Large scientific and research laboratories as well as the
government organizations have extra ordinary demand
for processing data which may not be provided with
any other category to meet their needs.
Supercomputers
10. Hardware
The term hardware refers to the physical
components that we can see and touch of your
computer.
Ex: Keyboard
Mouse
Monitor
12. An input device is a peripheral device used to send data
to a computer. An input device allows users to
communicate and feed instructions and data to
computers
Ex: Keyboard
Mouse
Joystick
Light pen
Scanners
Digital Camera
Bar code reader
Input devices
13. Barcode readers
A bar code is a unique combination of vertical
bars that represents product information, such
as price, place of manufacture etc. Barcode
reader is use to scan barcode. The computer
uses the bar codes o identify the product.
14. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) is a
technology used originality of paper
documents, especially checks. The use of MICR
can enhance security and minimize the losses
caused by some types of crime.
15. Optical Character Recognition
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is the
mechanical or electronic conversion of images of
typewritten or printed text into machine-encoded
text.OCR is used by gas and electricity companies
to input data collected on meter-reading cards and
by personal digital assistants to recognize user’s
handwriting
16. Optical mark recognition (also called optical
mark reading). OMR is the process of
capturing human-marked data from
document forms such as surveys and tests.
Optical Mark Recognition
17. A smart card is a plastic
card about the size of a
credit card, with an
embedded microchip that
can be loaded with data,
used for telephone calling,
electronic cash payments. A
smart card can store much
more data than a magnetic
strip card
Smart cards