Types of Computers

Classify computers based on purposes:

i. Special-purpose Computers:
Special purpose computers are designed for a specific application or type of application.
They are also known as dedicated computers. Many such computers have instructions
permanently programmed into them that are designed to perform only one major
function. Special purpose computers are used, to control traffic lights, to control the
collection of tolls on certain highways, and in automobiles, weapons, appliances and
games etc.

ii. General-purpose computers:

General-purpose computers are used to handle a variety of tasks. This is possible by the
stored-program concept. By this concept, a program containing a series of instructions is
prepared for each application and input to and temporarily stored in the computer. Once
stored in the computer's memory, this program can be executed, causing the computer to
perform the specific function. After the completion of the execution of this program,
another program can be input to the computer and the cycle repeated. That is, the same
combination of hardware can be used to execute many different programs.

General-purpose computers have the advantage of versatility over special-purpose computers.

But typically general purpose computers are less efficient and slower than special-purpose
computers when applied to the same task.

Classify computers based on capacity:

1. Supercomputer.
2. Mainframe Computer.
3. Minicomputer
4. Microcomputer.

i. Supercomputer
The most powerful computers in terms of performance and data processing are the
Supercomputers. These are specialized and task specific computers used by large organizations.
These computers are used for research and exploration purposes, like NASA uses
supercomputers for launching space shuttles, controlling them and for space exploration
purpose.
Titan Super Computer
 k-super computer Japan
The supercomputers are very expensive and very large in size. It can be accommodated in large
air-conditioned rooms; some super computers can span an entire building.

Seymour Cray designed the first Supercomputer "CDC 6600" in 1964. CDC 6600 is known as
the first ever Supercomputer.

Presently, China’s "Tianhe – 2" is the world’s faster Supercomputer.

The Tianhe – 2 can perform 100 Petaflops, i.e quadrillions of floating point operations per
second.

Uses of Supercomputers

In Pakistan Supercomputers are used by Educational Institutes like NUST for research purposes.
Pakistan Atomic Energy commission & Heavy Industry Taxila uses supercomputers for
Research purposes.
 Space Exploration
Supercomputers are used to study the origin of the universe, the dark-matters. For these
studies scientist use IBM’s powerful supercomputer “Roadrunner” at National
Laboratory Los Alamos.
 Earthquake studies
Supercomputers are used to study the Earthquakes phenomenon. Besides that
supercomputers are used for natural resources exploration, like natural gas, petroleum,
coal, etc.
 Weather Forecasting
Supercomputers are used for weather forecasting, and to study the nature and extent of
Hurricanes, Rainfalls, windstorms, etc.
 Nuclear weapons testing
Supercomputers are used to run weapon simulation that can test the Range, accuracy &
impact of Nuclear weapons.

ii. Mainframe computer

Although Mainframes are not as powerful as supercomputers, but certainly they are quite
expensive nonetheless, and many large firms & government organizations uses Mainframes to
run their business operations. The Mainframe computers can be accommodated in large air-
conditioned rooms because of its size. Super-computers are the fastest computers with large data
storage capacity, Mainframes can also process & store large amount of data. Banks educational
institutions & insurance companies use mainframe computers to store data about their
customers, students & insurance policy holders.

Popular Mainframe computers

 Fujitsu’s ICL VME
 Hitachi’s Z800
 Fujitsu’s ICL VME

Hitachi’s Z800

iii. Minicomputer
Minicomputers are used by small businesses & firms. Minicomputers are also called as
“Midrange Computers”. These are small machines and can be accommodated on a disk with not
as processing and data storage capabilities as super-computers & Mainframes. These computers
are not designed for a single user. Individual departments of a large company or organizations
use Mini-computers for specific purposes. For example, a production department can use Mini-
computers for monitoring certain production process.
Popular Minicomputers
 K-202
 Texas Instrument TI-990
 SDS-92
 IBM Midrange computer
 K 202 Texas Instrument TI-990

Texas Instrument TI-990 IBM Midrange computer

iv. Microcomputer
Desktop computers, laptops, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablets & smartphones are all
types of microcomputers. The micro-computers are widely used & the fastest growing
computers. These computers are the cheapest among the other three types of computers. The
Micro-computers are specially designed for general usage like entertainment, education and
work purposes. Well known manufacturers of Micro-computer are Dell, Apple, Samsung, Sony
& Toshiba.

Desktop computers, Gaming consoles, Sound & Navigation system of a car, Netbooks,
Notebooks, PDA’s, Tablet PC’s, Smartphones, Calculators are all type of Microcomputers.
 Applications

Business

A computer has high speed of calculation, diligence, accuracy, reliability, or versatility which
made it an integrated part in all business organizations. Computer is used in business
organizations for:

 Payroll calculations
 Budgeting
 Sales analysis
 Financial forecasting
 Managing employees database
 Maintenance of stocks etc.

Banking

Today banking is almost totally dependent on computer. Banks provide following facilities:

 Banks provide online accounting facility, which includes current balances, deposits,
overdrafts, interest charges, shares, and trustee records.
 ATM machines are making it even easier for customers to deal with banks.
Education

The computer has provided a lot of facilities in the education system.

 The computer provides a tool in the education system known as CBE (Computer Based
Education).
 CBE involves control, delivery, and evaluation of learning.
 The computer education is rapidly increasing the graph of number of computer
students.
 There are number of methods in which educational institutions can use computer to
educate the students.
 It is used to prepare a database about performance of a student and analysis is carried
out on this basis.

Marketing

In marketing, uses of computer are following:

 Advertising - With computers, advertising professionals create art and graphics, write
and revise copy, and print and disseminate ads with the goal of selling more products.
 At Home Shopping - Home shopping has been made possible through use of
computerized catalogues that provide access to product information and permit direct
entry of orders to be filled by the customers.

Health Car

Computers have become important part in hospitals, labs, and dispensaries. The computers are
being used in hospitals to keep the record of patients and medicines. It is also used in scanning
and diagnosing different diseases. ECG, EEG, Ultrasounds and CT Scans etc., are also done by
computerized machines. Some major fields of health care in which computers are used are:

 Diagnostic System - Computers are used to collect data and identify cause of illness.
 Lab-diagnostic System - All tests can be done and reports are prepared by computer.
 Patient Monitoring System - These are used to check patient's signs for abnormality such
as in Cardiac Arrest, ECG etc.
 Pharmacy Information System - Computer checks Drug-Labels, Expiry dates, harmful
drug’s side effects etc.
 Surgery - Nowadays, computers are also used in performing surgery.
Engineering Design

Computers are widely used in Engineering purpose. One of major areas is CAD (Computer
aided design). That provides creation and modification of images. Some fields are:

 Structural Engineering - Requires stress and strain analysis for design of Ships, Buildings,
Budgets, Airplanes etc.
 Industrial Engineering - Computers deal with design, implementation and improvement of
integrated systems of people, materials and equipment’s.
 Architectural Engineering - Computers help in planning towns, designing buildings,
determining a range of buildings on a site using both 2D and 3D drawings.

Military

Computers are largely used in defense. Modern tanks, missiles, weapons etc. Military also
employs computerized control systems. Some military areas where a computer has been used
are:
 Missile Control
 Military Communication
 Military Operation and Planning
 Smart Weapons

Communication

Communication means to convey a message, an idea, a picture or speech that is received and
understood clearly and correctly by the person for whom it is meant for. Some main areas in this
category are:

 E-mail
 Chatting
 Usenet
 FTP
 Telnet
 Video-conferencing
Government

Computers play an important role in government. Some major fields in this category are:

 Budgets
 Sales tax department
 Income tax department
 Male/Female ratio
 Computerization of voters lists
 Computerization of driving licensing system