Group members:
Nicola McLeod
Natalia Mullings
What is a Computer?
• A computer is an electronic device that
manipulates information, or "data." It has the
ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You
can use a computer to type documents, send
email, and browse the internet. You can also
use it to handle spreadsheets, accounting,
database management, presentations, games,
and more.
There are four (4) types of computers that
were designed by mankind. These include:
• Supercomputers
• Mainframe computers
• Minicomputers
• Microcomputers
Supercomputers
• A supercomputer is a computer that performs at
or near the currently highest operational rate for
computers. A supercomputer is typically used for
scientific and engineering applications that must
handle very large databases or do a great amount
of computation (or both). It was first created in
1960.
SUPERCOMPUTERS
Advantages
• Decreasing Processing
Time
• Solving New Problems
• Lowering Costs
• Improving Safety
• High Capacity
Disadvantages
• Storage and Bandwidth
• Maintenance and Support
• Expensive
• Processing Time
Uses
A supercomputer is used for:
Processing of information on quantum mechanics
Large scale weather forecasting
Molecular studies
Polymer research
To solve mathematical problems
Wind tunnel research
Chemical composition.
Main Frames
• A data processing system employed mainly in
large organizations for various applications,
including bulk data processing, process
control, industry and consumer statistics,
enterprise resource planning, and financial
transaction processing.
Main Frames
Advantages
• Supports thousands of
transactions per second.
• Can serve thousands of users and
applications simultaneously.
• Able to manage huge amounts of
data.
• More reliable and secure than
client-server networks.
• Backwards compatibility with
legacy mainframe software, which
is useful if your organization has
already invested heavily in
mainframe computing.
Disadvantages
• Requires backwards-compatibility with
Mainframe Operating Systems.
• Dedicated staff are needed to run the
system.
• Initial start-up costs can be high,
compared to client-server networks which can start small and be expanded
later. A small client-server system
might be all you need.
• By default, there is no geographical
distribution built into the system, and
this is something that client-server
networks are designed for.
• They can take up a lot of space and
require dedicated environmental
management, for example, cooling
systems.
Uses
Businesses and large institutions often use mainframe
computers as network servers for their personnel
workstations. Because of their massive capacity for
memory and storage, they are also commonly used as
web servers.
• E-Business and E-Commerce
• Health Care
• Military Use
• Academics and Research
Minicomputers
• A minicomputer is a type of computer that
possesses most of the features and capabilities of a
large computer but is smaller in physical size.
• Minicomputers are mainly used as small or
midrange servers operating business and scientific
applications. However, the use of the term
minicomputer has diminished and has merged
with servers.
Minicomputers
Advantages
• Cost
• Size
• Probability
Disadvantages
• Maybe weak in
performance
• Maybe difficult to
upgrade
Uses
• Process Control
• Data Management
• Communications
Microcomputers
• A microcomputer is a complete computer on a
smaller scale and is generally a synonym for the
more common term, personal computer or PCs,
a computer designed for an individual.
Microcomputers
Advantages
• Widely used
• Research and
Information
• Connections with
People
Disadvantages
• Least powerful
• Negative
Physical Aspects
• Computer
Addiction
Uses
Home
• Families use microcomputers for education; software can
hold thousands of book volumes worth of information.
Businesses
• Took a huge leap forward in bookkeeping, inventory and
communication when microcomputers were made readily
available.
Medical Uses
• The first microcomputer (dubbed the "Sac State 8008") was
built specifically for storing medical records. Before
microcomputers were available, medical records were stored
in paper form. Microcomputers make it possible to
download patients' medical histories.
Now let’s recap!!!
• What is a Computer?
• List the types of computers
• Give a disadvantage and an
advantage of each.
Let’s Play!!
a) Which of the following is not a type of
computer?
• Supercomputer
• Microcomputer
• Printers
What is another name for
microcomputers?
• Personal computers
• Mainframes
• None of the above
References
• http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics/
1
• http://jm.infodora.com/web?ts=go&q=type+o
f+computer+systems
• http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~fgandon/lecture/uk
1999/computers_types/