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patient’s heart as shown in Figure 2.12.
The measurements of the heart from
this device are converted into digital
form and the digital device checks for Computer Science
abnormalities.
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Figure 2.11: Audio mixer
Digital computers
Digital computers are the most common
class of computers used today. They
perform computational and logical Figure 2.12: Electrocardiogram machine
operations with discrete quantities
represented as numbers in digital form. Another example is a modem. The
When the data supplied is in text or modem converts digital signals into
numeric format, it is first converted to analog signals. It then carries these
digital form using the digits 0 and 1 signals along a telephone line. The other
before processing. Nowadays, when the modem at the receiving end changes
word computer is used, we mostly refer them back to digital signals. Figure 2.13
to digital computers. Personal computers shows an example of a universal modem.
like desktop computer and laptop in
Figure 2.2 (a) and (b), respectively, are
some examples of digital computers.
Hybrid computers
Desirable features of analog and digital
computers can be combined to create a
hybrid computer. This computer performs
arithmetic operations and measures
different phenomena. The output can
be in the form of either numbers or
specific units of measurement. An
example of a hybrid computer is the
electrocardiogram (ECG). The ECG
device records electrical changes in a Figure 2.13: Universal modem
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