What are the characteristics of a computer? Explain.

Semester :-1

Unit:-1

What are the characteristics of a computer? Explain.

The main and most important characteristics of computer are.

1. Speed
2. Accuracy
3. Diligence
4. Versatility
5. Power of Remembering
6. No. I. Q.
7. No feelings

a) speed :-

                   A computer is a very fast calculating device. It can perform in a few seconds the amount of work that a human being can do in an entire year.

While talking about the speed of a computer, we do not talk in terms of seconds or even milliseconds. A powerful computer is capable of performing about 3 to 4 million instructions per second.

b) Accuracy :-

                         The accuracy of a computer is consistently high and the degree of accuracy of a particular computer depends upon its design. Each and every calculation is performed with the same accuracy.

                 Errors can occur in a computer, but these are mainly due to human than technological weakness, that is, due to imprecise thinking by the programmer or due to inaccurate data.

c) Diligence :-

                       Unlike human beings, a computer is free from tiredness, lack of concentration etc., and hence can work for hours together without creating any error and without grumbling.

d) Versatility :-

                         Versatility is one of the most wonderful things about the computer. One moment, it is preparing the result of particular examination, the next moment it is busy preparing electricity bills, and in between, it may be helping an office secretary to trance an important letter in seconds. In other words, a computer is capable of performing almost any task provided that the task Can be reduced to a series of logical steps. 

e) power of Remembering :-

                                                  A computer can store and recall any amount of information because of its secondary storage capability. Every piece of information can be retained as long as desired by the user and can be recalled as and when required. A computer forgets or looses certain information only when it is asked to do so. So it is entirely upto the user to make a computer retain or forget a particular information. 

f) No. I. Q ( Intelligent Quotient) :-

                                                           A computer is not a magical device. It can only perform tasks that a human being can The difference is that it performs these tasks with unthinkable speed and accuracy It possesses no intelligence of its own. Its I. Q. Is zero, at least till today. It has to be told what to do and in what sequence. Hence, only the user can determine what tasks a computer will perform. A computer cannot take its own decisions in this regard. 

g) No feelings :-

                            Computer have no feelings because they are machines. Although men have succeeded in building a memory for the computer, but no computer possesses the equipment of a human heart. Based on our feelings, taste, knowledge, and experience, we often make certain judgments in our day to day life. But computers cannot make such judgment on their own. Their judgment is based  on the instruction given to them in the form of programs that are written by us.