Computer appreciation

                Computer today has become so common that many people regard it as a game facility, portable video machine, music player and so many other things. This is what the world of today has made it to be. It ought not to be that we shall today discuss computer, define it in order to get its full meaning.

                Computer cannot first be defined without first mentioning first what make if a computer which include:

·         Electronic device

·         Intake of data

·         Processing of data

·         Output of data

·         Storage of data

·         Communication

Some may also give it as GIGO

                Anyway we shall know why and what made it so

Computer as an electronic device

                First, electronic devices are devices that make use of electricity and electric charges. This is to say that before anything can be called a computer it must be an electronic device. Now, what can we say about electronic device; these are devices that make use of electrons. This can come either from electricity or from mechanical energy or solar, but in the end it’s transformed to the electrons which is needed by the machine to power up. Electrons on its own are negative charges in an electron.

Input of data

Data means many things to different peoples in different spheres of life. What it means to you in computer it might not in film production. But in the case of our study, Data of its own can be seen as a raw information, raw fact, and unprocessed information amongst many others. (Data is a plural form of datum). Input of data can then be seen as the intake or sending in of data into the computer through the input devices which may included the keyboard, mouse etc

Processing of data

Haven known that data is unprocessed information or a raw fact, it is then necessary for it to be processed. Processing in this contest can then be seen as the transformation of data into useful information which will be in accordance to the expected result. Processing of information is done by only one device which is the processor. Processor in the recent day computer is a microchip that has the soul function and over sees all that is going on in the computer. Some say it is the brain of the computer. We shall discuss this in full in the next chapter

Output of data

After the input and processing of data, the result is being given out and this is the function of the output devices. The giving off of expected result is the output is done through the output devices and what is being giving off is no longer data but information. Some output devices include the monitor, speaker, and printer and so on.

Storage

Storage is the ability of the computer to retain the result or store the result. This function is being carried out by the storage devices. This is equally divided into temporal and permanent storage devices. The temporal storage devices are devices that do not retain information permanently, we have RAM as the only temporal storage device. Again is the permanent storage device which stores information permanently. Here we have the ROM, hard disk, cds, DVDs, and so many of them.

Internal storage and external storage

Communication

This comes down to the use of computer for the purpose of communication. This might not be seen as one of the importance or characteristics of computer but for the case of full details this attached for fully explain some controversial argument about computer and also are able to categorise our cell phones as a computer.

Haven known all this computer can then be seen as an electronic device which has the ability to accept data through input devices process it can give out the expected result through output devices and the store the needed information.

Other definitions of computer can be seen below           

What is Computer: Computer is an electronic device that is designed to work with Information. The term computer is derived from the Latin term ‘computer’, this means to calculate or programmable machine. Computer cannot do anything without a Program. It represents the decimal numbers through a string of binary digits. The Word 'Computer' usually refers to the Center Processor Unit plus Internal memory.

Computer is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data as input from the user and processes these data under the control of set of instructions (called program) and gives the result (output) and saves output for the future use. It can process both numerical and non-numerical (arithmetic and logical) calculations.

Digital Computer Definition

The basic components of a modern digital computer are: Input Device, Output Device, Central Processor Unit (CPU), mass storage device and memory. A Typical modern computer uses LSI Chips.  

Input (Data):

Input is the raw information entered into a computer from the input devices. It is the collection of letters, numbers, images etc.

Process:

Process is the operation of data as per given instruction. It is totally internal process of the computer system.

Output:

Output is the processed data given by computer after data processing. Output is also called as Result. We can save these results in the storage devices for the future use.

Classification of computer

Computer can be classified into two parts: Computers differ based on their data processing abilities. They are classified according to purpose, data handling and functionality.

According to purpose, computers are either general purpose or specific purpose. General purpose computers are designed to perform a range of tasks. They have the ability to store numerous programs, but lack in speed and efficiency. Specific purpose computers are designed to handle a specific problem or to perform a specific task. A set of instructions is built into the machine. Such computers include calculators, speedometer, thermometer etc

According to data handling, computers are analogue, digital or hybrid. Analogue computers work on the principle of measuring, in which the measurements obtained are translated into data. Modern analogue computers usually employ electrical parameters, such as voltages, resistances or currents, to represent the quantities being manipulated. Such computers do not deal directly with the numbers. They measure continuous physical magnitudes. Digital computers are those that operate with information, numerical or otherwise, represented in a digital form. Such computers process data into a digital value (in 0s and 1s). They give the results with more accuracy and at a faster rate. Hybrid computers incorporate the measuring feature of an analogue computer and counting feature of a digital computer. For computational purposes, these computers use analogue components and for storage, digital memories are used.

Classification based on size

Classification based of function

Based on size

Supercomputer: The fastest and most powerful type of computer Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations. For example, weather forecasting requires a supercomputer. Other uses of supercomputers include animated graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, and petroleum exploration.

Mainframe computer: this computer can is a large size of computer that is very large and performs multi functions; it allows the use of many clients. It can take as many as fifty or more use                rs. It is not portable because of the size. A very large and expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously. In the hierarchy that starts with a simple microprocessor (in watches, for example) at the bottom and moves to supercomputers at the top, mainframes are just below supercomputers. In some ways, mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because they support more simultaneous programs. But supercomputers can execute a single program faster than a mainframe.

Minicomputer: this is a computer that is after the mainframe computer. It is big but not as big as the mainframe computer. It is equally a multi user computer. It can take up to twenty users and more and not also portable.  Midsized computer. In size and power, minicomputers lie between workstations and mainframes. In the past decade, the distinction between large minicomputers and small mainframes has blurred, however, as has the distinction between small minicomputers and workstations. But in general, a minicomputer is a multiprocessing system capable of supporting from 4 to about 200 users simultaneously.

Micro computer: this is the computer that we call the personal computer which is the desktop laptop, palm top and the rest. They are single user computer and are very portable Desktop Computer: a personal or micro-mini computer sufficient to fit on a desk.

 Laptop Computer: a portable computer complete with an integrated screen and keyboard. It is generally smaller in size than a desktop computer and larger than a notebook computer.

 Palmtop Computer/Digital Diary /Notebook /PDAs: a hand-sized computer. Palmtops have no keyboard but the screen serves both as an input and output device.

Workstations

A terminal or desktop computer in a network. In this context, workstation is just a generic term for a user's machine (client machine) in contrast to a "server" or "mainframe."

Classification according to function:

Analogue Computer

 An analogue computer (spelt analogue in British English) is a form of computer that uses continuous physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to model the problem being solved

Digital Computer

 A computer that performs calculations and logical operations with quantities represented as digits, usually in the binary number system

Hybrid Computer (Analogue + Digital)

 A combination of computers those are capable of inputting and outputting in both digital and analogue signals. A hybrid computer system setup offers a cost effective method of performing complex simulations.