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E0001 Computers in Engineering
“The Computer”Input and Output Devices
Module 4
Categories of computers define 5 major categories of computers
and how they are classifiedInformation Processing CycleInput devicesOutput devices
Categories of Computers
five main categories– microcomputer (personal computer;
PC)– server– minicomputer– mainframe– supercomputer
Microcomputers
most widely used and fastest growing type of computer
two types desk-top e.g. PC, workstation portable
laptopsnotebooks
Minicomputersmidway in cost and capability between
microcomputers and mainframesserve medium-sized companies or
specialised departments e.g. CAD/CAMused as single workstations or a system
serving many terminalsHence server - central computer holding
databases & programs for many PC’s
Server
Mainframes
require specially wired and air conditioned rooms
capable of great processing speeds and data storage
used by large organisations to handle millions of transactions
Supercomputershigh capacity machinesused to model complex phenomena
oil exploration, simulations, worldwide weather forecasting
two designs vector processors - a few (1-16) large specialised
processors run calculations at high speeds massively parallel processors (MPP) - spreads
calculations over hundreds or thousands of standard microprocessors
Define a Computer
“Computers are:-electronic devices that can follow
instructions to accept input, process that input (data) and produce information.”
key words electronic devices process data vs information
Computer Components
computers composed of:input devicessystem unitoutput devicessecondary storage devices
Information Processing Cycle - IPOS
I - InputP - ProcessingO - OutputS - Storage
INPUTINPUT PROCESSINGPROCESSING OUTPUTOUTPUT
STORAGESTORAGE
Categories of Computers
six main categoriesembedded computermicrocomputer (personal computer; PC)serverminicomputermainframesupercomputerDefined by processing speed and number of users
Input to the Computer
Input devices -transmit the data and instructions to the
computer in a form which the processor can understand
two main types keyboard entry direct entry
keyboards pointing devices terminals scanning devices
voice input devices sensors
Output devices
Output devices put the processed data into a form that can be used by people or stored in “computer useable form”
monitorsprintersplottersvoice output“control” output
Readings
Shelly Cashman.. 1995:- p 1.7 - 1.13; p 3.1 - 3.2; p 5.1 - 5.25 1997-2000:- chapter 4 and 5
Computers in Your Future by Meyer 1995:- Unit 1B - p18 - 28; Unit 2A - p50 - 64;
Unit 2C - p 86 - 102 1997:- 2.42 to 2.76
Selected Readings 4.1Module 4 of Study Book
Key points
explain the difference between keyboard and direct entry devices
describe features of keyboards and the three types
of terminals direct entry devices monitors and monitor standards printers and plotters and voice output
devices
Things to do
list types of monitors, pixel sizes and number of colours
list the 4 major types of printers, their characteristics and typical uses
difference between laptops and notebooks