Types of Computer

Depending upon the internal structure and subsequent features and

applicability, computer system is categorized as follows −

Mainframe Computer
It is high capacity and costly computer. It is largely used by big organizations
where many people can use it simultaneously.

Super Computer
This category of computer is the fastest and also very expensive. A typical
supercomputer can solve up to ten trillion individual calculations per second.

Workstation Computer
The computer of this category is a high-end and expensive one. It is
exclusively made for complex work purpose.

Personal Computer (PC)

It is a low capacity computer developed for single users.

Apple Macintosh (Mac)

It is a sort of personal computer manufactured by Apple company.

Laptop computer (notebook)

It is a handy computer that can be easily carried anywhere.

Tablet and Smartphone

Modern technology has advanced further. It has helped develop computers

that are pocket-friendly. Tablets and smartphones are the best examples of
such computer.
Salient Features of Computer System
Following are the salient features of a Computer System −

 Automation − The operating system of a computer system is automatic, as no

human intervention is required; simply you need to give the command and then
it will do the work automatically.

 Speed − Depending upon the power of the computer, it can perform, it can take
Millions of instructions per second.

 Storage − A computer system can store enormous quantity of data in different

format. The storage capacity of a computer system is normally expressed in terms
of Kilobytes (KB), Megabytes (MB), Gigabytes (GB), or Terabytes (TB).

 Accuracy − The accuracy of a computer system is very high.

 Versatility − A computer system is capable of performing a wide range of tasks.

 Diligence − A computer neither get tired nor lose concentration.

 Reliability − As a computer system always gives accurate result; therefore, its

reliability is very high.

 Vast memory − A computer system can have a wide range of memory which can
recall the desired data at any point of time.

Components of Computer System

Let us now understand the following basic components of a computer system.

 Hardware

 Software

 Humanware

 Firmware

 Bridgeware
Hardware
The physical components collectively form the hardware of a computer
system. Hardware comprises of the equipment that helps in the working
system of the computer.

Following are the different types of hardware components (which have

specific functions) −

 Monitor − It displays (visual) the result.

 CPU − It is the Central Processing Unit that controls the computer’s functions and
transmits data.

 Motherboard − It is mainly accountable to establish communication between

components and transmission of information.

 RAM − It is the Random Access Memory and responsible for the storage of
programs that are currently running and also stores data temporarily.

 Hard Disk Drive − It is a permanent memory storage device.

 Floppy Disk Drive − It is hardly being used in recent times.

 Optical disks − It is a device that also store data. For example, CD, DVD, etc.

Input & Output Device

The following table categorically lists down the input and output device −

Input Device Output Device Input Device Output Device

Mouse Monitor Microphone Speaker

Keyboard Printer Camera Earphone

Scanner Projector Trackball Monitor

Touchpad Plotter Joystick Monitor

Software
The hardware components can only function when software components are
added to the computer system. Software is a program that performs different
commands given by a user.

Software is an intangible part of hardware and controls the sequence of

operations.

Types of Software
Depending on the basic features and functionality, software can be
categorized as −

 Operating Systems (OS)

 Application Software (AS)

 E-accessibility Software

Let us now discuss the software components in brief.

Operating System
This software helps to load the basic program automatically as soon as the
computer is started. Following are the major types of operating system −

Operating Software Examples

Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, etc.

Mac OS X Panther, Cheetah, Snow leopard, etc.

Linux Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Knoppix, etc.

Application Software
The software, which can be used on an installed operating system, is known
as application software. Following are the significant examples of application
software −

Application Software Examples

Office programs Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, LibreOffice, etc.

Web browser Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome,

Opera, Safari, etc.

Antivirus Program Norton, McAfee, Quick Heal, Avira, Kaspersky, etc.

E-accessibility Software
The E-accessibility software components additional facilities to users such as
−

 Voice recognition software

 Screen reader

 Magnifying tool

 On-screen keyboard

 Video games

 Learning software, etc.

Every network has a ‘topology’ (shape/arrangement)

• Star

• Ring

• Bus

• Mesh

• Tree

• Hybrid

Network Classification

Personal Area Network (PAN)

• Connects computer (and other) technology close to one person (within

physical reach – say on a desktop or in car)

• Connects PC, PDA, smartphone, headsets and peripherals

• Typically uses wireless technology such as:

• Bluetooth: https://www.bluetooth.com/
 • ZigBee: http://www.zigbee.org/

• Z-wave: http://www.z-wave.com/

• Closely related to ‘smart’ buildings and ‘home automation’

Local Area Network (LAN)

• Can be wired (Ethernet) or wireless (Wi-Fi)

• Physically close connectivity, but larger scale than a PAN

• Typically for a single building, single site or college campus

• For example, your college network or a home network

• Usually owned and run by one organisation – the host

• Can be extended, connected to other LANs and partitioned:

• Bridges & Switches

• Virtual LANs

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

• Spans a city, large campus or other geographical are

• In scale, it sits between a LAN and a WAN in size

• Single company or co-operatively managed

• Can involve the interconnection of many LANs across a city

• Offers a single city-wide network

• Can blend wired and wireless technologies

• Related to ‘smart’ cities and public Wi-Fi hotspots

• Examples: Connecting all emergency services in a city

Wide Area Network (WAN)

• The next step up from a MAN

• Covers physically large distances – national or international

• Links up office branches, campuses etc. over long distances

• Uses a range of technologies, such as leased telephone lines, fibre optic
cables, satellite links, microwave links, Frame Relay and
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

• A WAN is defined by geographical size, not its technology

• The Internet is actually the worlds biggest WAN!

• A ‘walled garden’ or private network for a single firm

• Available only to members of staff on the ‘inside’

• Provides access to wide range of internal IT resources:

• Databases

• Websites (Internal)

• Email

• Scheduling and Diary functions

• Specialist software

Intranets

• Intra’ means ‘inside’ or ‘within’

• A ‘walled garden’ or private network for a single firm

• Available only to members of staff on the ‘inside’

• Provides access to wide range of internal IT resources:

• Databases

• Websites (Internal)

• Email

• Scheduling and Diary functions

• Specialist software
 Extranets

• Still a private ‘walled garden’ with tight security, but:

• Selected external partners, suppliers and customers are allowed

(limited) access to the company’s internal systems and data

• Like a guest list, if your name isn’t down, you don’t get in!

• Allows common data and software applications to be shared without the

outside world having access

• Useful for multi-company projects – such as big construction projects –

where distinct organizations need to work closely together

The Internet

• The mother of all networks - the world’s biggest WAN

• A ‘network of networks’ (short for ‘Internetworking’)

• A logical concept comprising many different connections and

technologies – the ‘plumbing’ of the information superhighway!

• Not the same as ‘The Web’ or other ‘services’ like email, Skype etc.

• The Internet is like the physical road or railway network.

• The Web is like a coach or train service that runs on it.

• Central Processing Unit (‘processor’ or computer ‘brain’)

• Some items are inside the CPU…

• Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU) or Maths Co-Processor

• Control Unit

• Registers

• Cache Memory

• Some items are outside the CPU…

- Main Memory (RAM)

- Read Only Memory (ROM)

- Secondary Storage (Hard Disk, DVD etc.)

A computer system is basically a machine that simplifies complicated tasks.
It should maximize performance and reduce costs as well as power
consumption.The different components in the Computer System Architecture
are Input Unit, Output Unit, Storage Unit, Arithmetic Logic Unit, Control Unit
etc.

A diagram that shows the flow of data between these units is as follows:
The input data travels from input unit to ALU. Similarly, the computed data
travels from ALU to output unit. The data constantly moves from storage
unit to ALU and back again. This is because stored data is computed on
before being stored again. The control unit controls all the other units as well
as their data.

Details about all the computer units are:

1. Input Unit

The input unit provides data to the computer system from the outside.
So, basically it links the external environment with the computer. It
takes data from the input devices, converts it into machine language
and then loads it into the computer system. Keyboard, mouse etc. are
the most commonly used input devices.

2. Output Unit
 The output unit provides the results of computer process to the users
i.e it links the computer with the external environment. Most of the
output data is the form of audio or video. The different output devices
are monitors, printers, speakers, headphones etc.

3. Storage Unit

Storage unit contains many computer components that are used to

store data. It is traditionally divided into primary storage and
secondary storage.Primary storage is also known as the main memory
and is the memory directly accessible by the CPU. Secondary or
external storage is not directly accessible by the CPU. The data from
secondary storage needs to be brought into the primary storage before
the CPU can use it. Secondary storage contains a large amount of data
permanently.

4. Arithmetic Logic Unit

All the calculations related to the computer system are performed by

the arithmetic logic unit. It can perform operations like addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division etc. The control unit transfers data
from storage unit to arithmetic logic unit when calculations need to be
performed. The arithmetic logic unit and the control unit together form
the central processing unit.

5. Control Unit

This unit controls all the other units of the computer system and so is
known as its central nervous system. It transfers data throughout the
computer as required including from storage unit to central processing
unit and vice versa. The control unit also dictates how the memory,
input output devices, arithmetic logic unit etc. should behave.
TOPIC-WISE REVIEW QUESTIONS (FROM VARIOUS PAST PAPERS)

a) Identify and briefly outline the function of the three key components of the processor.
b) Briefly outline the steps involved in the standard fetch execute cycle.
c) Distinguish between machine code and assembly language.
d) Briefly explain what is meant by a “dual core” processor.
Briefly describe and give ONE (1) example of each of the following terms:
Operating System
User Interface
e) Utility & System Software
Application Software
Open-Source Software

ANS:

a. Arithmetic and Logic unit – does the calculations

Control unit – coordinates the operation of the CPU
Memory – stores current programs and data
b. Fetch next instruction
Increment program counter
Execute instruction
Repeat until end of program
c. Machine code is in binary (machine readable) and needs no
translation to execute. Assembler used mnemonics (human
readable) and needs translating to be run.
d. Two CPUs on one machine