Thursday, February 13, 2014

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS

The main characteristics of computers are:
a) Speed
b) Storage
c) Accuracy
d) Versatility
e) Automation
f) Diligence
g) Reliability
a) Speed :
Computers are capable of carrying out the task with enormous speed. Today’s computers,
according to their class, can perform from 4 MIPS (Millions of instructions per second) to 100
MIPS. What may take days for manual calculations may take only a few hours for computers to
perform. Inside the computer the information signal travels at incredible electronic speed.
b) Storage:
Computers can store enormous quantity of information. Which is expressed in terms of
Kilobytes (or) Mega Bytes (MB) or Gega Bytes (GB). It is achieved through its ‘Main memory’
or ‘Primary storage’ and through ‘auxiliary storage’ or ‘Secondary storage’. The Hard disks
Floppy disk, Compact Disc(CD) and Magnetic Tape storage are examples of secondary storages.
These large volumes of storage occupy much lesser space compared to paper documents and this
aspect of computers makes them more powerful.
c) Accuracy:
The accuracy of a Computer is consistently high. In fact, this quality of the computers
make them indispensable in various fields such as Scientific Research, Space Research, Weather
Predictions and many other areas where precision of a high order is required. The accuracy of the
computer is best achieved by programming them in the most efficient manner. When it comes to
very complex mathematical or scientific problem the computer’s accuracy has no substitute.
d) Versatility:
Computers are versatile in that they can perform almost any task, provided they are given
the appropriate logical steps. For example, they are capable of performing wide ranging tasks
such as construction of a payroll, inventory management in a factory, hotel billing, hospital
management, banking applications and any imaginable task in every walk of life.
e) Automation:
The biggest advantage of computers is that it is automatic in its operation. Once a programming
logic is initiated the computer performs repeated operations without human interventions until
program completion.
f) Diligence:
Computers are machines and that do not get tired or ‘lose concentration’ like human
beings. If a large number of calculations say million calculations are to be performed the
resultant output will remain exactly the same even if operations are repeated any number of
times. But when a human being is asked to do the same job this consistency cannot be achieved.
Thus for those who want consistent and continuous standard output, computer’s ‘diligence’ is of
great help.
g) Reliability:
The computers give very accurate results with predetermined values. They correct and
modify the parameters automatically, giving suitable signals. They give formatted results with
high degree of precisions.

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