Classification of Computers

(According to its capability and size)

Super computer

It can process trillions of instructions in seconds. The biggest in size, the most
expensive in price than any other is classified and known as super computer. This
computer is not used as a PC in a home neither by a student in a college. Governments
specially use this type of computer for their different calculations and heavy jobs.
Different industries also use this huge computer for designing their products. In most of
the Hollywood's movies it is used for animation purposes. This kind of computer is also
helpful for forecasting weather reports worldwide.
Mainframes

Also process millions of instruction per second and capable of accessing billions
of data. Another giant in computers after the super computer is Mainframe. This
computer is commonly used in big hospitals, air line reservations companies, and many
other huge companies prefer mainframe because of its capability of retrieving data on a
huge basis. This is normally too expensive and out of reach from a salary-based person
who wants a computer for his home. This kind of computer can cost up to thousands of
dollars.

Minicomputer

This computer is next in the line but less offers less than mainframe in work and
performance. These are the computers, which are mostly preferred by the small type of
business personals, colleges, etc.

Personal computers

Almost all the computer users are familiar with the personal computers. They
normally know what the personal computer is and what its functions are. This is the
computer mostly preferred by the home users. These computers are lesser in cost than
the computers given above and also, small in size; they are also called PCs in short for
Personal computers. This computer is small in size and you can easily arrange it to fit in
your single bedroom with its all accommodation. Today this is thought to be the most
popular computer in all.
Notebook computers

Having a small size and low weight the notebook is easy to carry to anywhere. A
student can take it with him/her to his/her school in his/her bag with his/her book. This is
easy to carry around and preferred by students and business people to meet their
assignments and other necessary tasks. The approach of this computer is also the
same as the Personal computer. It can store the same amount of data and having a
memory of the same size as that of a personal computer. One can say that it is the
replacement of personal desktop computer.
 Description of Computer Processes
The processes that are involved in using a personal computer require the least
amount of effort from the end-user. Once you’ve installed your preferred Operating
System to your pc, the BIOS and the hardware components are working properly, you
now have a fully working computer that will allow you to do things the easy way. If there
are any failures in any of these essentials, there is a possibility of failure to boot the
sequence. When the computer’s power is turned on, the central processing unit
initializes itself which is triggered by series of clock ticks generated by the system clock.

When the computer is booted up, an electrical current travels to the

microprocessor and resets the chip to clear its memory. During the reset, the
microprocessor sends a command to the computer’s read-only memory (ROM) chips to
run the computer’s basic input/output system (BIOS) boot program.The boot program
connects the hard drive, loading your Operating system’s core system files through the
microprocessor and loading the device drivers of software needed to allow
communication between the operating system and the PC’s hardware. Your OS has the
microprocessor test all of the hardware via the system bus. The OS also double-checks
its list of hardware components, making sure no new components have been added.

The selected Operating system follows by again contacting the hard drive and
loading the graphics, files and font files needed to properly display the system’s
desktop. After communicating with the video card to create the desktop environment OS
opens the Startup folder. Any programs that may have been placed in the folder are
immediately accessed from the hard drive and loaded through the microprocessor into
RAM. The Operating System is then ready for use.

All you have to do now is turn the system unit on, wait for a few seconds until
the operating system has finished checking your hardware and software components
and that’s it.
 Classification of Gadgets
 Communication gadgets
 Computer gadgets
 Home accessories
 Toy gadgets
 Entertainment gadgets
 Voice recording gadgets
 Spy gadgets
 Car accessories
 Recording accessories
 Portable gadgets
 Prank gadgets

Virtual Keyboard
The Virtual Laser Keyboard (VKB) leverages the power of laser and infrared
technology and projects a full-size keyboard onto any flat surface. As you type on the laser
projection, detection technology based on optical recognition enables the user to tap the
images of the keys, complete with realistic tapping sounds, which feed into the compatible
Bluetooth-enabled PDA, Smartphone, laptop or PC. Unlike many small snap-on keyboards
for PDAs, the Virtual Laser Keyboard provides a full-size QWERTY keyboard. It is also
smaller and more convenient to use than the folding-type keyboards made by some
manufacturers and similar to them in functionality. There are no mechanical moving parts
whatsoever in the Virtual Laser Keyboard. It provides a projected image that is the perfect
portable input device for PDAs. It's similar in responsiveness to regular keyboards.

The light weight device weighs two ounces and is similar in size to a disposable
cigarette lighter. The Virtual Laser Keyboard includes a self-contained, rechargeable lithium
ion battery. It provides the Virtual Laser Keyboard with its own internal power supply, so it
doesn't drain any battery power from the PDA or PC. The battery lasts two to three hours,
more than enough time to do some instant messaging and SMS messaging from the
handheld device or to update calendar and phone book entries.

You can adjust the sensitivity to your touch movements.

 Sound: users can control the virtual keyboard sound effects (keyclicks)

 Intensity: control the intensity of the projected infrared keyboard

 Connection: easy connection to the appropriate Laptop/PC port

 Sensitivity: users can adjust the sensitivity of the virtual keyboard

 Timeouts: adjustable timeouts to conserve the virtual keyboard's battery

life

 Auto-repeat: allows the VKB to automatically repeat a key based on

 prescribed parameters

Technology

First step: Template creation (Projection Module)

A template of the desired interface is projected onto the adjacent interface surface.
The template is produced by illuminating a specially designed, highly efficient holographic
optical element with a red diode laser. Note: the template serves only as a reference for the
user and is not involved in the detection process. In a fixed environment, the template can
just as easily be printed onto the interface surface.

Second step: Reference plane illumination (Micro-illumination ModuleTM)

An infra-red plane of light is generated just above, and parallel to, the interface
surface. This light is invisible to the user and hovers a few millimeters above the surface.
When the user touches a key position on the interface surface light is reflected from this
plane in the vicinity of the key and directed towards the sensor module.

Third step: Map reflection coordinates (Sensor Module)

Reflected light from user interactions with the interface surface is passed through an
infra-red filter and imaged on to a CMOS image sensor in the sensor module. Custom
hardware embedded in the sensor chip (the Virtual Interface Processing CoreTM) then
makes a real-time determination of the location of the reflected light. The processing core
can track multiple reflection events simultaneously and can thus support both multiple
keystrokes and overlapping cursor control inputs.

Fourth step: Interpretation and communication (Sensor Module)

The micro-controller in the sensor module receives the positional information corresponding
to the light flashes from the sensor processing core, interprets the events (e.g. keydown,
keyup, mouse or touchpad control etc..) and communicates them through an appropriate
interface to external devices.
Keyboard Projection
Light source Red diode laser
Keyboard layout 63 key / full sized QWERTY layout
Keyboard size 295 x 95mm projected keyboard size
Keyboard position 60mm from VKB unit
Required Projection surface Non-reflective, opaque flat surface
Visibility Good contrast up to 600 lux ambient illumination

Keyboard Sensor
Ambient illumination Works under all standard indoor illuminations up to 600 lux
Detection Rate Up to 400 characters per minute
Detection algorithm Multiple keystroke support
Effective keystroke Approximately 2mm
Operating surface Non-reflective, opaque flat surface
Visibility Any firm flat surface with no protrusions greater than 1mm

Bluetooth
Bluetooth Spec Bluetooth v1.1 class 2
Bluetooth Profile Supported HID and SPP
Range of Frequency 2.4 GHz Spectrum
Transmission range 9m
Number of supported passkeys 5

Electrical
Power Source Integrade, 3.6V rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Battery Capacity >120 minutes continuous typing
Charge Method Included 100-240V AC Wall Adapter

Dimensions
Approximately 35 x 92 x 25mm (1.38" x 3.6" x 1")