Don't Miss! The Difference Between Analog And Digital Computer

Computers are an inevitable part of modern life. From a five-year-old child to an eighty-year-old person, everyone uses computers for day-to-day activities. But did you know there is a long history and evolution of computers behind this? Much before digital and hybrid computers, people used analog computers. It is interesting to learn the key difference between analog and digital computers. Moreover, it will help you compete with others by making your fundamental knowledge of computer science topics stronger.

In this article, we have simplified the history of the digital evolution of computers. The article will briefly describe an analog and a digital computer. Then, you will be introduced to the difference between analog computer and digital computer. Although becoming a computer science guru is tough, we will surely make you capable of understanding how computers evolved and where this evolution might be headed!

From Analog to Digital Computers

Computers are broadly classified into three major categories. These are:

• Analog Computers
• Digital Computers
• Hybrid Computers

Analog computers were widely used during the 1950s-1960s. They basically operate on mathematical variables and were not as efficient in accepting high-level computing problems. On the other hand, the world welcomed digital computers in the 1980s and 1990s, which worked on the binary number system of 0 and 1. They used a simple mechanism of input, processing, and output. Digital computers were also capable of storing large amounts of memory.

Now let’s plunge deeper into analog and digital computers and see how they have come to redefine our interaction with the digital world.

Analog Computer

An analog computer is a device in which continuously variable physical quantities are represented to match the corresponding quantities in the problem to be solved. These variable physical quantities could be fluid pressure, mechanical motion, or electrical potential. To facilitate this, the analog system is organized according to the initial conditions, and a scope is left for these conditions to be changed. In this way, the answer to the problem is determined by measuring the variables in the analog model.

It was first developed by William Thomson in 1873. Later, A.A. Michaelson and S.W. Stratton made further developments by adding more complex features to the prototype. For instance, the harmonic analyzer, developed in 1898, carried 80 components. Each of these components could be used for generating sinusoidal motion, which could be multiplied by constant factors by the adjustment of a fulcrum on levers. Again in the 1930s, Vannevar Bush invented a differential analyzer that could be used for solving differential equations with the help of mechanical integrators. In this way, it can be seen that analog computers could be customized to solve various problems.

Analog computers saw further advancements when they began to be used for critical purposes. By the late 20th century, analog computers began to be used for simulating dynamic systems. Moreover, with the developments in advanced weaponry and the industrial sector, one could find analog computers used in nuclear power plants, aircraft, and industrial chemical processes. This growth was accelerated by electronic analog computers, which used a device called an operational amplifier. The device allowed establishing output current that was proportional to its input potential difference.

Did you know?

Even today, we are familiar with several examples of analog computers. For instance, everyday items such as an analog clock, a speedometer, tide predictors, and flight stimulators, are analog computers. Along with this, we have plainmeters, electrical integrators, operational amplifiers, and nanograms, which are also analog computers.

The era of analog computers came to an end by the 1970s, when there was a need for more powerful and faster computers. This gave birth to digital computers, which could compensate for the shortcomings of analog computers. Let’s learn about digital computers. It will better highlight the difference between analog and digital computers.

Digital Computer

A digital computer is a device that breaks down critical information into discrete units to solve complex problems. The most potent tool of a digital computing device is the binary number system: 0 and 1. Apart from this, it also employs letters, symbols, and magnitudes for executing complex operations. With the help of these methods, digital computers can perform tasks involving controlling heavy machinery, analyzing and organizing data, and even simulating complex systems.

There are four main functional elements in a digital computer. These are:

1. Input-output equipment
2. Main memory
3. Control unit
4. Arithmetic-logic unit

Along with these functional elements, there are input devices, such as a keyboard, and mouse. The results are displayed on computer displays. Then, we have the main storage or auxiliary devices. These storage devices are crucial, as it is from them that the control unit retrieves memory and uses it during different units. Hence, a digital computer is an amalgamation of different functional elements and peripheral devices.

The development of a digital computer peaked after 1939 when John V. Atanasoff built the first electronic digital computer. However, it was Howard Aiken’s Harvard Mark 1 that is considered a breakthrough in the world of digital computing. Harvard Mark 1, built at International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, used electric relays to control data-processing operations. It paved the way for more advanced technology, involving complicated procedures.

Did you know?

Today, we have tons of examples of digital computers, such as a calculator, digital clocks, a smartphone, personal computers, weighing machines, digital cameras, and ATM machines.

Now, we know how analog and digital computers evolved. Let us now move on to understanding the difference between analog and digital computer.

Difference Between Analog and Digital Computer

Some major points of difference between analog and digital computer are as follows:

So here, we tried to present the difference between analog and digital computer. We learned that analog computers were early-age computers that were designed to perform specialized but limited operations. Analog computers use a continuous signal to process information. Moreover, the results from an analog computer are displayed in the form of a voltage signal that can be accessed from a connected meter. As opposed to this, a digital computer uses discrete signals to undertake operations. You need a digital screen to display results on a digital computer.

These were some of the major difference between analog and digital computer. Hope hope you found this article informative. Stay tuned to Unstop for more articles that make your college journey smooth.

You may also like to read:

• Central Bank Of India Apprenticeship Program 2023, 5k Vacancies!
• Resume Summary That'll Take Your Resume To The Next Level!
• Process Management In Linux | Stages, Types & Commands
• What Is Kill Process In Linux | Commands To Locate & Kill
• Top 50+ TCS HR Interview Questions And Answers 2023