WEEK 4
TYPES OF COMPUTER
There are three basic kinds of computers. The following are the three types.
Digital Computer
a computer that processes information in digital form. They convert the data into digits (binary digits 0 and 1) and all operations are carried out on these digits at extremely fast rates. Digital Computers are much faster than analog computers and far more accurate. Computers used for business and scientific applications are digital computers.
Analog Computer
A computer that represents data by measurable quantities in order to solve a problem, rather than by expressing the data as numbers. Computations are carried out with physical quantities such as voltage, length, current, temperature etc. for example voltmeter, Speedometer, ammeter. Analog computers operate by measuring rather than counting, but accuracy is poor. An electronic weighing scale is an example of an analog computer.
Hybrid Computer
Hybrid computers utilize the best qualities of both the digital and analog computers. In these computers some calculations take place in analog manner and rest of them take place in digital manner. Hybrid computers are best used in hospital where analog part is responsible for measurement of patient’s heart beat, blood pressure, and then the operation is carried out in digital fashion to monitor patient’s vital sign. Hybrid computers are also used in weather forecasting.
EXERCISE
State and explain the three types of computer