DIGITAL COMPUTERS
There are two fundamentally different types of computers: analog and digital. The former type solves problems by using continuously changing data such as voltage. In current usage, the term computer usually refers to high-speed digital computers. These computers are playing an increasing role in all branches of the economy.
Digital computers are based on manipulating discrete binary digits (1s and 0s0). They are generally more effective than analog computers for four principal reasons: they are faster; they are not so susceptible to signal interference; they can transfer huge data based more accurately; and their coded binary data are easier to store and retrieve than the analog signals.
For all their apparent complexity, digital computers are