What Is an Electronic Digital Computer?

Electronic digital computer is an accurate high-speed calculation tool that uses electronic technology to automatically comprehensively analyze and calculate numerical values. Its basic principle is based on program storage and binary operations. Therefore, its more accurate name is electronic storage program digital computer.

Chinese name: Electronic digital computer
Foreign name: electronic digital computer

Also known as: "Digital Electronic Computer."
Pinyin: diàn z shù zì jì suàn j
Classification: Supercomputer, Mainframe, Medium

Introduction to Electronic Digital Computer

An electronic digital computer is an electronic computer that performs calculations and storages in the form of quantities in digital form. Numbers are often represented in binary. It consists of arithmetic unit, controller, memory, input and output devices, input and output channels, etc. According to the main performance indicators, sub-computers and mini-computers.

Electronic digital computers are famous for their fast calculation speeds, high calculation accuracy, large amount of information storage, high degree of automation, and logical judgment. It can be used not only for numerical calculation and data processing, but also for automatic control and information processing. Electronic digital computers have been widely used in atomic energy, nuclear weapons, missiles, space technology, aviation, metallurgy, chemical industry, petroleum, machinery, water conservancy, electric power, transportation, meteorology, textiles, health and other departments. ^[1]

Electronic digital computer classification

Electronic digital computers can be classified according to the purpose, the composition of basic logic circuits, the amount of storage, and the speed of operation.

Electronic digital computer use angle

From the point of use, it can be divided into three categories: general-purpose computers, data processors and control machines.

Universal machine

It is used to calculate complex mathematical problems in scientific research and engineering design (such as differential equations, algebraic equations, etc.), the laws of object movement, and selecting the best scheme. For example, the calculation of missiles, artificial satellites' trajectories, thermonuclear reactions, molecular motion, crystal structure, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, stress, optics, etc., and the best solution for selecting the design of dams, bridges, factory buildings, etc.

Data processor

Used for comprehensive analysis of data. For example, the experimental data, observation data, statistical data, and raw data are summarized, sorted, classified, and statistics, and the data distribution curve is automatically drawn or the report is automatically printed.

3.Control machine

Also called real-time control machine, that is, the actual and timely collection of detection data, after calculation and judgment, according to the best value for automatic control or automatic adjustment. The control machine can be divided into direct control machine, supervisory control machine and institutional computer. ^[1]

Composition of electronic digital computer circuit

According to the composition of basic logic circuits, it can be divided into electron tubes, transistors, integrated circuits, and large-scale integrated circuits. This kind of division is called four generations abroad. The first generation from 1946 to 1957, the basic logic circuit was composed of electronic tubes, the computer structure was organized around a central processing unit, and machine language was used. The second generation from 1958 to 1964, the basic logic circuit was composed of transistors, the computer structure was centered on memory, the channel concept was introduced, and a series of programming languages were created. The third generation from 1965 to 1973, the basic logic circuit was composed of integrated circuits, the computer structure was still centered on memory, and the central processing unit, channels, input and output devices were connected through the memory bus, and the software functions were greatly expanded Developed a man-machine conversational language system, and small computers developed rapidly. However, the transition to the fourth generation began in the mid-1970s, and large-scale integrated circuits were used in the device. The structure will be organized with the concept of distributed computing, the operating system will be introduced into the database, and the microcomputer will develop rapidly. ^[1]

Electronic digital computer other angles

According to the storage capacity, it can be divided into large, medium, small, supercomputers and microcomputers.

From the perspective of speed, there are low speed, medium speed, high speed and ultra high speed. From the scope of use, there are general and special. Divided by the number representation, there are fixed-point and floating-point.

In addition, there are serial and parallel machines, and so on. ^[1]

Electronic digital computer composition

Computer systems are based on hardware, and are a combination of hardware and software.

Electronic digital computer hardware

Hardware is also called hard device. The hardware includes the host and external devices. The host is mainly composed of an arithmetic unit, an internal memory and a controller. External equipment refers to the equipment for entering and removing information when transferring with the host, including basic input, output equipment, external memory, etc. In addition, there are power supplies, consoles, and more.

Electronic digital computer software

Software is also called soft device. Software is a general term for various programs that manage and use machines. These programs are prepared in advance for the convenience of use and the full use of computer performance, and are different from ordinary calculation programs. Software includes system software and application software. ^[1]