Classification of computer development based on size and function

The development of a computer is classified as follows based on the size and function of the computer.

( i ) Main Frame Computer

( ii ) Minicomputer

( iii ) Embedded computer

( iv ) Microcomputer

( v ) Supercomputer

Table of content(TOC)

Depending on the computer's size and function, the computer is divided into various types.

Mainframe computer based on size and function, mini; Microcomputer and supercomputer are divided into.

Personal computers, notebooks, netbooks, tablets, laptops, workstations and palmtops, etc. are different forms of microcomputers.

1. Main Frame Computer 

In mainframe computer, the main computer is kept in a central place which stores all the data and instructions. 

The user connects to the mind frame computer through Dumb Terminal and uses the central database and processing capabilities.

Main Frame Computer

Mainframe computers are much larger in size.  They have higher data storage capacity and faster data processing speed. 

Many people can perform different tasks simultaneously by connecting to the mainframe computer.

Therefore, it is called Multi-User Computer. In this, a large amount of data processing can be done online.

Processing capability is increased by connecting two or more microprocessors together in a mainframe computer. They usually use 32 or 64-bit microprocessors.

Mainframe computers use Time-Sharing and Multi Programming Operating System.

Mainframe computer use  

Mainframe computers are used in the fields of big companies, banks, railway reservation, defense, research, space science, etc.

2. Mini Computer 

These are smaller in size than mainframe computers and larger than microcomputers.  

It was invented in 1965 by a company called DEC - Digital Equipment Corporation.

More than one microprocessor is used in this.  It has high storage capacity and speed. 

Many people can work on it simultaneously, so there is shared use of resources.  

Usage of mini computer: passenger reservation, large office, company, research, etc.

Extra Facts

The city of Bangalore in India is famous as Silicon Valley, being a pioneer in the computer manufacturing industry.

3. Embedded Computer  

A computer is smaller than an appliance such as a television, washing machine, microwave, car, etc. for any specific purpose. It is prepared, called Embedded Computer.

An embedded computer is in the form of a microprocessor or integrated chip that simplifies the functioning of that device.

4. Micro Computer 

The development of microcomputers began in the 1970s when micro-processors were used in CPUs (CPU: Central Processing Unit).  It was first developed by IBM Company.

8,16,32 or 64-bit microprocessors are used in microcomputers.

VLSI - Very Large Scale Integration and ULSI (ULSI - Ultra Large Scale Integration) has reduced the size of microprocessors while capacity has increased manifold.

The development of multimedia and the Internet has brought the utility of microcomputers to every field.  

A computer network can be created by connecting several microcomputers through communication channels.

Desktop computers, personal computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, netbook computers, tablets, and smartphones are various forms of microcomputers.

Microcomputer usage

It is being used in countless fields like home, office, school, business, production, defense, entertainment, medicine, etc.

4.1 Personal Computer - PC 

It is also known as Desktop Computer. The PCs used today are actually microcomputers. It consists of keyboards, monitors, and system units.

The system unit consists of CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, and other hardware. It is a small size computer designed for common tasks.

Only one person can work on it at a time. For this reason, it is called a personal computer.

The operating system of a personal computer is multitasking.

PCs can be connected to each other or to the Internet with the help of a telephone and modem.

Some of the major PC maker companies are IBM (Lenovo), Apple, Apple, Compaq, Zenith, HCL, HP, HP - Hewlett. Packard

Personal computer usage

PC is widely used in many fields like home, office, business, education, entertainment, data collection, publishing, etc.

The PC was developed in 1981 using a microprocessor 8088.

Its capacity was increased by installing a hard disk drive and it was named PC-XT Personal Computer - Extended Technology.

In 1984, PCs made from the new Micro Processor-80286 were given PC-AT (PC-AT- Personal Computer - Advanced Technology) 7TH.

All personal computers of the current generation are called PC-AT only.

4.2. Work Station 

This is a powerful P. C . Which is made keeping in mind the greater processing capacity, larger storage, and better display.

Only one person can work at a workstation at a time.

Work station usage

To study real situations in the fields of science, engineering, building construction, etc.

4.3. Notebook Computer or Laptop 

It is a notebook-sized computer that can be carried anywhere in a briefcase.  

It has all the features of a personal computer.  Since it is used on a lap, it is also called a laptop computer. 

Notebook computer or laptop

The laptop was developed in 1981 by Adam Osborne.

It consists of a foldable LCD monitor, keyboard, touchpad, hard disk, floppy disk drive, CD / DVD drive, and other ports.

In order to work without electricity, a charged battery is used in it.

In general, Lithium-ion batteries are used in laptops.

It can also be connected to the Internet with the help of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

4.4 . Netbook 

It is a miniature version of a notebook or laptop computer designed specifically to access the Internet by a wireless network in a dynamic state.

The size and weight of a netbook are smaller than a laptop computer and the processing and storage capacity is also less.

The term Netbook is derived from the combination of the words Internet and Notebook.

Connecting to the Internet, surfing the World Wide Web (www), sending and receiving e-mail, using social media, uploading or downloading videos and audio files, etc. can be easily done by netbooks.

4.5. Tablet Computer 

A tablet is a small computer that does not use a keyboard or mouse. It uses a stylus, pen, or touch screen technology for input.

A virtual or On-Screen keyboard is used to insert data into the tablet. It can also be connected to the Internet through a wireless network. It can also be used as a smartphone.

Since the tablet computer is used in the hand, it is also called a handheld computer.

Apple company's iPad is an example of a tablet computer.

 Tablet computer

4.6. Palmtop

This is a very small computer that can be done by hand.  It can also be called a mini laptop.

Instead of a keyboard, it takes the function of input by voice. PDA Personal Digital Assistant) is also a small computer that can be connected to the network and perform many tasks. It can also be treated as a phone. 

4.7. Smartphone

A smartphone is a mobile phone that has almost all the features of a computer. It uses touch screen technology for data input.

A tablet or PDA is a computer that can also be used as an alternative phone.

On the other hand, a smartphone is primarily a phone that can be used for some tasks of computer processing and using the Internet.

Smartphones can be used with one hand while tablets or PDAs have to be operated with both hands.

Smartphones, tablets, and PDAs are called Hand Held Devices.

4.8. Difference between Laptop, Notebook, Netbook, Tablet, and PDA ) 

The development in computer technology and the decrease in the size of devices have reduced the gap between these devices.  It has become extremely difficult to draw a line between these devices.

The laptop is the mobile version of a desktop computer.  It consists of keyboards, mouse, and speaker devices.

It has all the characteristics of a desktop computer, although the processing and storage capacity is relatively small.

A notebook is a miniature version of a laptop computer. Its weight is relatively less and it is easy to carry with it. The size of its monitor screen can be from 12 to 15 inches.

Netbook computers are primarily designed to use the Internet and its associated facilities in a dynamic state.

Network speed is given more attention than processing and storage capacity.

The size of its monitor screen can be from 10 to 14 inches. Netbooks generally do not have an optical disk drive.

Keyboards and mouse are not used in tablet computers. Stylus or touch screen and virtual keyboards are used to insert data and instructions.

Laptops, notebooks, and netbooks are used in the lap while tablet computers and smartphones are used in hand.

5. Super Computer

Computers with extremely fast processing power and huge storage capacity (memory) are called supercomputers.

Supercomputers are built by combining thousands of processors with high capacity in parallel.

It uses multi-processing (Mula processing) and parallel processing.

In parallel processing, a task is broken into separate pieces and done by different processors.

Many users can work together on a supercomputer, so they are called multi-user computers.

The processing speed of a supercomputer is calculated in FLOPS (Floating Point Operations Per Second).

The floating-point here refers to any work done by the computer including Fractional numbers.

The speed of the current supercomputer is being measured in Peta Flops. (I Peta Flops = 10% Flops)

The credit for building the world's first supercomputer goes to the Cray Research Company of America.  Which was founded by Seymour Cray.

Seymour Cray is called the father of Super Computer for his contribution in the field of supercomputers.

Uses Of Super Computer

Supercomputers are being used in many fields.  Such as - for research and design in the scientific and technological field, for locating oil deposits in the petroleum industry, in designing design in airplane and automobile industry;  In space research;  In weather forecasting in meteorology;  In the defense sector;  In performing subcritical testing of nuclear furnaces on computers, etc.

5.1 . Super Computer in India 

The 'Param' series supercomputers in India have been built by C-DAC - Center for Development of Advanced Computing, Pune.

'Param-8000' was the first supercomputer developed by C-DAC which was built in 1991.

The credit for its creation is Dr. C-DAC Director Dr. Vijay goes to Bhaskar.

The 'Param Padma' supercomputer was built in 2003, which had a computation capacity of 1 teraflop (I Tera = 1012) i.e. 1 trillion counts per second.

The 'Param Yuva-II' supercomputer was built in 2013, which is the fastest supercomputer developed by C-DAC.  It has a computation capacity of 500 terra flops (T Flops).

Such supercomputers are available in only five countries in the world - America, Japan, China, Israel, and India.

The 'Anupam' series supercomputer has been developed by BARC Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai.

The PACE (Processor for aerodynamically and Evaluation) series supercomputer was created by DRDAO (DRDO - Defense Research and Development Organization) by ANURAG - Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group Hyderabad.

India's first supercomputer 'Flosalver' was developed in 1980 by NAL - National Aeronautical Lab, Bangalore.

Extra Facts

Deep Blue computer of IBM defeated the world champion of chess Gary Kasparov.  It can think of 200 million moves of chess in 1 second.

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