Section 5: Lesson 3.1: Other Computing Devices and the IoT

Computing devices are becoming increasingly powerful, compact, and interconnected. Growing trends include server farms, embedded computers in everyday appliances, and the rise of mobile computing with smartphones and tablets. Read the following sections of Chapter 2 in D684 Introduction to Computer Science to learn about different computer types and recent trends in hardware. 2.1 Types of computers 2.2 Hardware trends

desktop PC

a personal computer designed for regular use at a single location, typically on a desk, with separate components like a monitor, keyboard, and mouse

embedded computer

a specialized computer integrated into larger systems or devices to perform specific control functions, such as in appliances, cars, and industrial machines

graphics processing unit (GPU)

a specialized processor designed to accelerate graphics rendering and perform parallel processing tasks; commonly used in gaming, video editing, and machine learning

Internet of Things (IoT)

a network of interconnected devices that can communicate and exchange data over the internet, enabling smart functionality in everyday objects like thermostats, lights, and appliances

laptop PC

a portable personal computer with an integrated screen, keyboard, and battery designed for mobile use

mainframe

a large, powerful computer organizations use for critical applications, bulk data processing, and large-scale transaction processing

multicore processor

a single computing component with two or more independent processing units (cores), which can run multiple tasks simultaneously, enhancing performance and efficiency

server

a computer or system that provides resources, data, services, or programs to other computers (known as clients) over a network

server farm

a collection of servers working together in a single location to provide large-scale processing power, storage, and network resources

smartphone

a mobile phone that combines cellular communication capabilities with advanced computing functions, including internet access, apps, and multimedia

supercomputer

an extremely fast, powerful computer used for complex scientific calculations, simulations, and research requiring immense processing power

tablet

a portable, touch-screen device larger than a smartphone and designed for browsing the web, reading, entertainment, and simple productivity tasks