CLASSIFICATION /

TYPES OF COMPUTER
DEFINITION OF COMPUTER
• A computer is a general purpose device that can
be programmed to carry out a finite set of
arithmetic or logical operations. Since a sequence
of operations can be readily changed, the
computer can solve more than one kind of
problem.
WHAT IS THE FULL FORM OF
COMPUTER?
• Some people say that COMPUTER stands for
Common Operating Machine Purposely Used for
Technological and Educational Research.

• A computer is a general purpose electronic

device that is used to perform arithmetic and
logical operations automatically.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS BASED ON
GENERATION
• Generations of computers have seen changes based on evolving
technologies. With each new generation, computer circuitry, size, and
parts have been miniaturized, the processing and speed doubled,
memory got larger, and usability and reliability improved.

• Note that the timeline specified for each generation is tentative and not
definite. The generations are actually based on evolving chip technology
rather than any particular time frame.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS BASED ON
GENERATION
• The five generations of computers are characterized by the electrical
current flowing through the processing mechanisms listed below:
 The first within vacuum tubes
 The second within transistors
 The third within integrated circuits
 The fourth within microprocessor chips
 The fifth unveiled smart devices capable of artificial intelligence
 FIRST GENERATION COMPUTERS 1940S-1950S:
VACUUM TUBES AND PLUGBOARDS
• First generation computers were actually the first general
purpose and true digital computers. They came in time to
replace the electromechanical systems which were way too
slow for assigned tasks.

• First generation computers used vaccuum tubes as switching

device and magnetic drum for memory. These computoers
were often huge and can occupy and entire hall.
 FIRST GENERATION COMPUTERS 1940S-1950S:
VACUUM TUBES AND PLUGBOARDS
• Because first generation of computers used vacuum tubes, they
consumed a lot of electricity and produced excessive heat. You
require cooling facilities to operate computers. This was the
major problem of this generation of computers. Moreover,
these tubes burned out because of too much heating and need
to be replaced more frequent.

• The operation cost of these computers were too expensive.

 FIRST GENERATION COMPUTERS 1940S-1950S:
VACUUM TUBES AND PLUGBOARDS

• In first generation computers, the operating instructions or

programs were specifically built for the task for which
computer was manufactured. The Machine language was the
only way to tell these machines to perform the operations.
There was great difficulty to program these computers ,and
more when there were some malfunctions.
SECOND GENERATION COMPUTERS (1956-
1963): TRANSISTORS
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second
generation of computers.

• By 1948, the invention of the transistor greatly changed the

computer’s development. Coupled with early advances in
magnetic-core memory, transistors led to second generation
computers that were smaller, faster, more reliable and more
energy-efficient than their predecessors.
SECOND GENERATION COMPUTERS (1956-
1963): TRANSISTORS
• Features of 2nd Generation Computers

1. Transistors were used

2. Core Memory was developed
3. Faster than First Generation computers
4. First Operating System was developed
5. Programming was in Machine Language & Assembly Language
6. Magnetic tapes & discs were used
7. Computers became smaller in size than the First Generation
computers
8. Computers consumed less heat & consumed less electricity
 THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS (1964-1971):
(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND MULTI-
PROGRAMMING)
• The computers using small scale integration circuits and
medium scale integration circuits are under this class. The
invention of IC Chips made it possible to greatly reduce the
size of computers with improvement in operation speed
(nanoseconds) and reliability.
• One of the most noticeable achievement of third generation
computers is the development of operating systems (OS). The
operating systems allowed the machines to run many different
applications. These applications were monitored and
coordinated by the computer’s memory.
 THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS (1964-1971):
(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND MULTI-
PROGRAMMING)
• CHARACTERISTICS OF THIRD GENERATION
COMPUTERS
Third Generation Computers were based on integrated circuit
(IC) technology.
Third Generation Computers were able to reduce
computational time from microseconds tonanoseconds
Third Generation Computers utilized operating systems to
centrally control and made it possible for multiple programs to
run on a computer
 THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS (1964-1971):
(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND MULTI-
PROGRAMMING)
• CHARACTERISTICS OF THIRD GENERATION
COMPUTERS
Users interacted with computers through keyboards and mouse
rather than traditional punched cards and printers.
Third Generation Computers devices consumed less power and
generated less heat. In some cases, air conditioning was still
required.
The size of Third Generation Computers was smaller as
compared to previous computers
 THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS (1964-1971):
(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND MULTI-
PROGRAMMING)
• CHARACTERISTICS OF THIRD GENERATION
COMPUTERS
Since hardware of the Third Generation Computers rarely
failed, the maintenance cost for it was quite low.
Extensive use of high-level language became possible in Third
Generation Computers.
Manual assembling of individual components was not required
for Third Generation Computers, so it reduced the large
requirement of labor & cost. However, for the manufacture of
IC chips, highly sophisticated technologies were required
Commercial production became easier and cheaper.
FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS (1971-
PRESENT) :MICROPROCESSORS

• The Microprocessor brought the fourth generation of

computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built on a
single silicon chip.
FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS (1971-
PRESENT) :MICROPROCESSORS
• It reduced the size and price of the computers at the same time
increasing power, efficiency and reliability.
• "The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, took the integrated
circuit one step further by locating all the components of a
computer (central processing unit, memory, and input and
output controls) on a minuscule chip.
• Soon, microprocessors moved out of the reserve of desktop
computers into other platforms in businesses and homes. First
was the laptop, followed by tablets and smartphones, consoles,
embedded systems, and smart cards. These devices increased
the need to use the internet while on the move.
FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS (1971-
PRESENT) :MICROPROCESSORS
FEATURES
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's
central processing unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit
(IC), or at most a few integrated circuits.
It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital
data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its
memory, and provides results as output. It is an example of
sequential digital logic, as it has internal memory.
FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS (1971-
PRESENT) :MICROPROCESSORS
FEATURES
Microprocessors operate on numbers and symbols represented
in the binary numeral system.
Fourth Generation computers are the modern day computers.
The Size started to go down with the improvement in the
integrated circuits.
Very Large Scale (VLSI) and Ultra Large scale (ULSI) ensured
that millions of components could be fit into a small chip.
 FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS

• Well, up to fourth generation we saw the how computers

evolved as the switching devices improved. Fifth generation
computers are future computers.
• Fifth generation computers are anticipated new type of
computer based on emerging microelectronic technologies with
high computing speeds and parallel processing. Other major
expectations out of this generation is the ability to use natural
language and acquire artificial intelligence (AI). Computers
will be able to learn by its experience. These computers are
being made using ULSI (Ultra Large Scale IC) and Bio-Chips.
 FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS

• We can see some development in achieving these features

already. Parallel processing, voice recognition systems and
some level of intelligence is been already realized.
• The proliferation of computing devices with the possibility
they can self-learn, respond and interact in normal and
probably different ways, based on acquired experience and
environment, has also given momentum to the Internet of
Things (IoT) concept.
• At their peak and with the right algorithms, computers will
probably exhibit and process high levels of deep learning,
which humans can learn from too.
 FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS

• We can see some development in achieving these features

already. Parallel processing, voice recognition systems and
some level of intelligence is been already realized.

• The proliferation of computing devices with the possibility

they can self-learn, respond and interact in normal and
probably different ways, based on acquired experience and
environment, has also given momentum to the Internet of
Things (IoT) concept.
 FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS

• At their peak and with the right algorithms, computers will

probably exhibit and process high levels of deep learning,
which humans can learn from too.

• Many AI projects are already being implemented while others

are still in developmental stages. Pioneers in accelerating AI
include Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and
Tesla.
 FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS

• The larger goals in AI is to indulge devices to:

 Understand natural language

 Recognize human speech
 See the world in three-dimensional perspective
 Play interactive games
 Implement expert input in medical and other complex fields
 Exercise heuristic classification analysis
 Implement neural networks
 FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
• Other areas which are geared towards making AI possible are
developments in:
 Quantum computing
 Parallel processing

Ongoing AI projects:
 Virtual personal assistants e.g. Siri, Google Now and Braina.
 Smart cars e.g. Tesla's autopilot cars and Google's self-driving
cars.
 News generation tools like Wordsmith are used by Yahoo and
Fox to generate news snippets.
 Computer Aided Diagnosis for detection of cancer.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS BASED ON
APPLICATION

What are the major types of computer?

 We can identify three different classes if we look upon how a

computer works or what they are applied for –
1. Analog,
2. Digital, and
3. Hybrid computers.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS BASED ON
APPLICATION
1. Analog Computers
Analog computers are used to process continuous data. Analog
computers represent variables by physical quantities. Thus any
computer which solve problem by translating physical conditions
such as flow, temperature, pressure, angular position or voltage
into related mechanical or electrical related circuits as an analog
for the physical phenomenon being investigated in general it is a
computer which uses an analog quantity and produces analog
values as output. Thus an analog computer measures
continuously.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS BASED ON
APPLICATION
1. Analog Computers
Analog computers are very much speedy. They produce their
results very fast. But their results are approximately correct. All
the analog computers are special purpose computers.
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS BASED ON
APPLICATION

2. Digital Computers

Digital computer represents physical quantities with the help of

digits or numbers. These numbers are used to perform Arithmetic
calculations and also make logical decision to reach a conclusion,
depending on, the data they receive from the user.
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS BASED ON
APPLICATION

3. Hybrid Computers

Various specifically designed computers are with both digital and

analog characteristics combining the advantages of analog and
digital computers when working as a system. Hybrid computers
are being used extensively in process control system where it is
necessary to have a close representation with the physical world.
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS BASED ON
APPLICATION

3. Hybrid Computers

The hybrid system provides the good precision that can be

attained with analog computers and the greater control that is
possible with digital computers, plus the ability to accept the
input data in either form.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
ACCORDING TO SIZE
1. Super Computers

Large scientific and research laboratories as well as the

government organizations have extra ordinary demand for
processing data which required tremendous processing speed,
memory and other services which may not be provided with any
other category to meet their needs. Therefore very large
computers used are called Super Computers. These computers
are extremely expensive and the speed is measured in billions of
instructions per seconds.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
ACCORDING TO SIZE
2. Main Frame Computers

The most expensive, largest and the most quickest or speedy

computer are called mainframe computers. These computers are
used in large companies, factories, organizations etc. the
mainframe computers are the most expensive computers, they
cost more than 20 million rupees. In this computers 150 users are
able to work on one C.P.U. The mainframes are able to process 1
to 8 bits at a time. They have several hundreds of megabytes of
primary storage and operate at a speed measured in nano second.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
ACCORDING TO SIZE
3. Mini Computers

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). They have primary storage in
hundred to three hundred megabytes range with direct access
storage device..
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
ACCORDING TO SIZE
4. Micro Computers

These are the smallest range of computers. They were introduced

in the early 70’s having less storing space and processing speed.
Micro computers of todays are equivalent to the mini computers
of yesterday in terms of performing and processing. They are
also called “computer of a chip” because its entire circuitry is
contained in one tiny chip. The micro computers have a wide
range of applications including uses as portable computer that
can be plugged into any wall.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
ACCORDING TO SIZE
5. Laptop Computers

This type of small computers look like an office brief case and
called "LAPTOP" computer. The laptops are also termed as
"PORTABLE COMPUTERS." Due to the small size and light
weight, they become popular among the computer users. The
businessmen found laptop very useful, during traveling and
when they are far away from their desktop computers.
A typical laptop computer has all the facilities available in
microcomputer. The smallestlaptops are called "PALMTOP".
SOURCES:

 Question: What Are The 5 Classification Of Computer? -

https://incomputersolutions.com/qa/what-are-the-5-
classification-of-computer.html

 Classification of Computers | Types of Computer -

http://akshaymakana.blogspot.com/2012/09/classification-of-
computers-types-of.html

 Computer History: Classification of Generations of Computers

- https://turbofuture.com/computers/Classification-of-
Computers-by-Generation