COMPUTER PLATFORMS 1 Computer Platforms Week 3 Types of computers.

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Computer PlatformsComputer PlatformsWeek 3Week 3

Types of computersTypes of computers

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AimsAims

Distinguish between the different types of Distinguish between the different types of computers that are available and what computers that are available and what they are used for.they are used for.

Know about supercomputers and who uses them

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Computer are everywhere?Computer are everywhere?

Affects every aspect of our lives. Affects every aspect of our lives. Process the data which makes a modern society Process the data which makes a modern society function.function.Embedded in a huge range of devices.Embedded in a huge range of devices.Microcomputers bring computing directly to Microcomputers bring computing directly to almost everyone.almost everyone.Opening up new ways of communication.Opening up new ways of communication.Breaking down political and national boundaries.Breaking down political and national boundaries.

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What do all computers have in What do all computers have in common?common?

A computer responds to a set of well A computer responds to a set of well defined instructionsdefined instructionsThey can execute a pre-recorded list of They can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions (a program). instructions (a program). They can store and retrieve dataThey can store and retrieve dataComputers can perform complex and Computers can perform complex and repetitive procedures quickly to the same repetitive procedures quickly to the same standardstandard

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Different types of computerDifferent types of computer

The main types of computer are mainframe, desktop, laptop, PDA and wearable computers, such as mobile phones, embedded computers.

Each type of computer is suitable for a different purpose.

Using the internet find out about each type of computer and find out where it would be used.

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Different types of computerDifferent types of computer

Mainframe (“enterprise servers”)Mainframe (“enterprise servers”)

Large-scale computers executing millions of Large-scale computers executing millions of instructions per second. Used to process very instructions per second. Used to process very large volumes of data; multi-user (used to run large volumes of data; multi-user (used to run networks) require special accommodation and networks) require special accommodation and facilities . facilities .

Users: banks, airlines.Users: banks, airlines.

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Different types of computerDifferent types of computer

Desktop (Microcomputer or person computer)Desktop (Microcomputer or person computer) Can be used at home or within the workplace, if Can be used at home or within the workplace, if

un-un- networked it is known as a stand-alone PC, if networked it is known as a stand-alone PC, if however it is networked then it is known as a however it is networked then it is known as a workstation or a client workstation or a client

Users: anyone requiring modest computing Users: anyone requiring modest computing facilities. facilities.

Laptop Laptop A portable personal computer with the facilities of a A portable personal computer with the facilities of a desktop personal computer but generally are harder desktop personal computer but generally are harder to upgradeto upgradeUsers: anyone requiring modest computing facilities Users: anyone requiring modest computing facilities on the moveon the move

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Different types of computerDifferent types of computer

PDAPDA

A small hand-held computer used as an A small hand-held computer used as an electronic personal organiser. It can input data electronic personal organiser. It can input data using a pen, recognise hand-writing, run using a pen, recognise hand-writing, run personal organisational tools and has personal organisational tools and has communications capabilities.communications capabilities.

Users: People on the move with a busy Users: People on the move with a busy schedule, used by teachers, doctors, business schedule, used by teachers, doctors, business managersmanagers

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Different types of computerDifferent types of computer

Wearable computersWearable computers

Wearable computers are being built into bands that log physical data from the wearer – they can be used to monitor athletes, patients or people who want to lose weight. Wearable computers can also be attached to police and fire fighters, sending messages back when heart rates suggest stress or danger.

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Different types of computerDifferent types of computer

Embedded computersEmbedded computers

You could say that any device that has a microprocessor in it is a computer, and that would include washing machines and microwave ovens.

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Embedded computersEmbedded computers

As technology moves forward, you can start to see that mobile phones can connect to the

Internet, a PDA can make calls - all of these devices are starting to become one.

Have ago at the PowerPoint quiz.

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SupercomputersSupercomputers

The world’s fastest and most powerful computers are known as supercomputers.

The speed of a computer is measured in flops (floating point operations).

Computer developers are racing to produce the

first petaflop computer. It would be over a billion

times faster than a standard computer and could

perform 1,000,000,000,000,000

(one thousand trillion) operations per second

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Supercomputers Cont.Supercomputers Cont.

Who would need such a computer?– A large food company used a supercomputer to find a

way to stop its potato crisps being blown off the assembly line.

– Supercomputers provide the power behind large-scale climate change models. These computers look at millions of pieces of data, from temperature to trends in CO2 emission, to provide predictions of the future climate.

– Users: Nasa, Met office

Can you think of any more?

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ConclusionConclusion

We discussed the different types of We discussed the different types of computerscomputers

Looked into who would use a Looked into who would use a supercomputersupercomputer