Catholic University of Mozambique

Faculty of Natural Resources Management

and Mineralogy

Department of Information Technology

English IV lesson notes
 Introduction

Information and communication technologies

based on computers are commonplace. From the
moment you wake up, ICT affects you every day.
ICT systems control the power supply.
Computers also print your electricity and
telephone bills and many others.
 Cont.

The milk you use at breakfast comes in a package.

The checkout at the supermarket serves as an electronic
point-of-sale machine, reading the pattern and
recognizing the number.
The computer then knows which item has been
purchased and what its price should be.
 Cont.

Computers are used to design and test many

parts of the car, bus or motorcycle that we use.
So, the ICT systems can be seen everywhere.
 1. Computer technology

In this unit we are going to look at the following subtopics:

1.1. Microcomputers and mainframes
1.2. The use of microprocessors
1.3. Backing storage devices
1.4. Types of software
 Classification of computers

Computers, whether digital or analog can be

classified either according to:
1. Size and capacity,
2. Purpose or task
3. Hardware design and type
1.Classification according to size and capacity

According to size and capacity, computers can be classified into

four main categories:
 Supercomputers
 Mainframe
 Minicomputers
 Microcomputers.
 Supercomputer (features)

• Very fast, powerful and expensive type of

computer for processing data.
• Huge: designed to process vast amount of data in
short time with high productivity
• Made to perform multi-specific task
 Application

• In research and study of energy and nuclear

weapons and designing the aircraft, airplanes,
and flight simulators.
• Climate research and Weather Forecasting and
Prediction of Natural Disasters.
 Cont.

• Spaceship and Satellite Launching.

• Used in scientific research laboratories.
• Used in Chemical and Biological research
and for highly calculation complex tasks.
 Cont.

• Examples supercomputers include, IBM

Roadburner, IBM Blue Gene, Intel ASI Red.
PARAM-1000, and CRSY-XMP-14.
 Mainframe computers

Mainframes are less powerful and less expensive

than the supercomputers. While supercomputers
may be described as giant computers, mainframe
are said to be big in size.
 Cont.

They are used for processing data and performing

complex mathematical calculations.
They have a large storage capacity and can support a
variety of peripherals.
Mainframe computers handle all kinds of problems
whether scientific or commercial.
 Cont.

They are mostly found in government agencies,

big organizations and companies such as banks,
hospitals and airports, which have large
information processing needs.
• Examples of mainframe computers include IBM
Es000 series, ICL39 Series, and CDC 6600.
 Minicomputers

• Minicomputer is a digital and multi-

user computer system with the connection of
more than one CPU. Thus, many people can work
on these computers simultaneously instead of a
single person. Also, it can process with other
accessories like a printer, plotter, etc.
 Cont.

• Minicomputers are the medium type of

computers that have more functionality power
and are expensive than microcomputers. On the
other hand, the size, storage, and speed of
minicomputers are large but less than the
mainframe and supercomputers.
 Cont.

• Minicomputers are made for performing multiple

computing tasks at a single point of time, instead
of assigning many microcomputers for a single
task, which will be time-consuming and
expensive.
 Cont.

• In general, a minicomputer is a multi-threaded

system (several processes at a time) capable of
supporting from one to up to 200 users
simultaneously: these computers are currently used
to store large databases, multi-user applications, and
the automation industry.
 Cont.

• The minicomputers are used as real-time applications in

Industries, bookings, and Research Centres. Banks also
use minicomputers for preparing payroll for employees’
salaries, records, tracking of financial accounts, etc. As
well as in the field of Higher Education and Engineering.
Examples: PDP 11 and IBM (8000 Series).
 Microcomputers

A microcomputer is a smallest, cheapest and

relatively least powerful type of a computer. It is
called a microcomputer because, its CPU is called a
microprocessor, which is very small compared to
that of minicomputer, mainframe and
supercomputer. E.g.
 Cont.

Microcomputers are commonly used in training and

learning institutions, small business enterprises,
communication centers, among others.
Today the power of microcomputers has grown
tremendously, closing the gap that formally existed and
reserved for minicomputers and mainframes.
 Cont.

Technological advancement has seen the

development of smaller microcomputers. The
following are the various types of microcomputers
in operation today: Desktop computer, notebook or
laptop computer, palmnote or Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA).
 Cont.

• Some of the major PC manufacturers are IBM,

Lenovo, Apple, HCL, HP, etc.
• Examples: Desktops, tablets, smartphones, and
Laptops.
2. Classification according to purpose/task

According to purpose or tasks they perform,

computers can be classified either as general or
special purpose computers.
 General purpose computers

They have been designed to perform a variety of

tasks when loaded with appropriate programs.
They are the most common types of computers in
use today.
 Cont.

Their flexibility enables them to be applied in a wide

range of application(versatility) like document
processing, performing calculations, accounting, data
and information management among others.
Desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets are used on
daily basis for general purposes.
 Special purpose computers

They are designed to serve a specific purpose or to

accomplish one particular task. Such computers can
perform no other task except the one they were
meant to do. That means that the sets of
instructions, which drive a special purpose
computer,
 Cont.

are limited in number at the time of manufacture. E.g. robots

used in manufacturing industries, basic phones for voice
communication only and electronic calculators that carry out
calculations only.
Since special purpose computers are dedicated to a single
task, they can perform the task quickly and very efficiently.
 Exercise

1. Differentiate a digital from an analogue computer.

2. Give two reasons why smaller computers like laptops
tend to be more expensive than desktop computers.
3. Which of the following is most suitable for travellers?
Supercomputer, mainframe computer, palmnote and
minicomputer.
 Cont.

• The special computer needs specific processors,

specific input and devices to conduct work efficiently.
• These computers are used for special
purposes in weather forecasting, space research,
agriculture, engineering, meteorology, satellite
operation, traffic control, and research in chemical
sciences.
 Cont.

• Automatic teller machines (ATM), washing

machines, surveillance equipment, weather-
forecasting simulators, traffic-control computers,
defense-oriented applications, oil-exploration
systems, military planes controlling computers.
 3. Classification according to Hardware design and data handling.

• Based on Hardware design and data handling

Computers can be classified as Analogue, digital
and hybrid.
 Analogue computer

• An analogue computer performs tasks using

continuous data (the physical amount that changes
continuously). Analogue computers are used
primarily to measure physical units like the
voltage, pressure, electric current, temperature,
and convert them into digits.
 Cont.

• It is also used to measure and perform arithmetic

calculations of numbers, the length of an object,
or the amount of voltage that passes through a
point in an electrical circuit. Analog computers
obtain all their data from some measurement way.
 Cont.

• Analog computers are mainly used in the fields

of science and engineering. Analog computers are
slow and equipped to measure things rather than
countable or check.
 Cont.

• The efficiency of this computer increases when we

get the result of the data in graphs, etc. Analog
Computers cannot store statistics.
• An analog computer installed on a petrol pump
measures the amount of petrol coming out of the
pump and appears in liters.
 Cont.

• And calculates its value. These quantities vary

continuously while measuring the amount, such as the
temperature of a human body changes consistently.
• A simple clock, the vehicle’s speedometer, Voltmeter,
etc. are examples of analog computing.
 Digital Computer

• A digital computer represents the digital computer’s

letters, numerical values, or any other special symbols.
This computer is the computer that calculates the
number for processing data. They run on electronic
signs, and the binary numeral method Binary System 0
or 1 is used for calculation. Their speed is fast.
 Cont.

• Digital computers use discrete electrical signals

for operation rather than continuous electrical
signals as analog computers have, making them
the most common form of computers today
because of their versatility, speed, and power. 
 Cont.

• Examples of digital computer include: Personal

Desktop Computers, Calculators, Laptops,
Smartphones, and Tablets, Digital watch,
Accounting machines, Workstations, Digital
clock
 3. Hybrid Computer

• A hybrid computer is a combined complex

computer unit built using both analogue and
digital properties and united by a single control
system. The purpose of designing hybrid
computers is to provide functions and features that
can be found on both analog and digital devices.
 Cont.

• Auto Gasoline pump is the example of a hybrid

computer, this device is installed on a petrol
pump do not only to measure the amount of
petrol but also to calculates its value, in this way
It is capable of both functions i.e hybrid function.
 Lesson Summary
• Information and communication technologies based on computers are
commonplace and they play important role in our day to day life.
• Computers System can be Classified according to
1.  Size and Capacity as Supercomputer, Mainframe, Minicomputer, and
Microcomputer.
2. Purpose as General and Special Purpose.
3. Hardware Design and Type as Analog, Digital, and Hybrid Computer.