UNDERSTANDING COMPUTER

At the end of the lesson the students will be able to;

1. Understand Computer
2. Identify the different types of computer and devices
3. Familiarize the classification of computer
What is computer?
- A computer is one of the most brilliant inventions
of mankind. A computer is an electronic device
that has the capability to manipulate information
or data, store, retrieve, and process it for more
useful information. It is programmable so it can
respond to specific instructions or commands.
Different types of Computer
Digital Computer – Digital computers are suitable for
complex computation and have higher processing speeds.
They are programmable. Digital computers are either
general purposes computers or special purpose ones.
Hybrid Computer – These computers are a combination
of both digital and analog computes. In this type of
computers, the digital segments perform process control
by conversion of analog signals to digital ones.
Classification of Computer
The following are the classification of the different types of
computers based on their sizes and functionalities;
Mainframe Computer- large organization use mainframes
for highly critical applications such as bulk data processing
and ERP. Most of the mainframe computers have the
capacities to host multiple operating system and operate
as a number of virtual machines and can substitute for
several small servers.
Minicomputer- In terms of size and processing capacity,
minicomputer lie in between mainframes and
microcomputer. Minicomputer are also called mid-range
system or workstation. The term began to be popularly
used in the 1960s to refers to relatively smaller third
generation computers.
Servers- They have larger storage capacities and
powerful processor. Running on them are programs that
serve client request and allocate resources like memory
and time to client machines.
Supercomputers- The highly -intensive tasks can be
effectively performed by means of supercomputers. Their
ability of parallel processing and their well-designed
memory hierarchy give the supercomputer large
transaction processing powers.
Microcomputer- Computer with a microprocessor and its
central processing unit it is know as a microcomputer.
These computer can fit on desks or tables and prove to be
the best choice for single – user tasks.
Personal Computers
Desktops- A desktop is intended to be used on a single
location. The spare parts of a desktop computer are
readily available at relatively lower costs. Power
consumption is not as critical as that in laptops. Desktop
are widely popular for daily use in the workplace and
households.
Laptops- Similar operation to desktops, laptop computer
are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use. Laptops
run on a single battery or an external adapter that charges
the computer batteries.
Netbooks- They fall in the category of laptops, but are
inexpensive and relatively smaller in size. They had a
smaller feature set and lesser capacities in comparison to
regular laptops at the time they came into the market.
Personal Digital Assistant (PDAs)- It is a handheld
computer and popularly known as a palmtop. Most of them
can access the internet by means of Bluetooth of Wi-Fi
communication.
Tablet Computer- Tablets are mobile computers that are
very handy to use. They use the touch screen technology.
Wearable Computer- A record-setting step in the
evolution of computers was the creation of wearable
computers. These computers can be worn on the body
and are often used in the study of behavior and human
health.