Characteristics of Computer: Limitations

Characteristics of Computer

The following are the characteristics of computer Speed, Accuracy, Storage Capacity, Diligence, Automation, and Consistency. Let’s discuss the characteristics of computers:

1. Speed
2. Accuracy
3. Storage Capacity
4. Diligence
5. Consistency

Speed

The speed of a computer is closely related to the amount of data it must process. The industry has developed the criteria of Million Instructions Per Second (MIPS) to classify the speed of different computer systems.

Even the operations of personal computers are measured in thousands of a second or milliseconds (10-3), operations for larger processors are measured in microseconds (10-6), nanoseconds (10-9), and picoseconds (10-12), etc.

Accuracy

Accuracy refers to the degree of correctness and exactness of operations performed by a computer. The computer can process data accurately and quickly. Accuracy is a prime consideration in inventing computers.

Computers never make errors. The errors attributed to computers are really human errors. The errors may be due to wrongly coded programs (code – instructions to computers) or mistakes in input data entry.

Storage Capacity

Computer systems have total and instant recall of data and almost unlimited capacity to store these data. We can store billions of instructions and perhaps more than thousands of graphic images which are available for instant recall. When properly used, a computer can improve the efficiency of an organization.

Diligence

Computer systems are non-respondent to human factors like fatigue, tiredness, or boredom. Computers can work without getting tired for many hours. Even though it has no intelligence, it executes the fed instructions correctly and accurately.

Automation

The set of instructions is fed into the computer system along with the necessary data. Based on these, the computers automatically perform the instructions continuously without manual intervention or supervision.

It is essential to introduce automation, especially in industries and big offices due to advancements in rapid industrialization and the need for quick interactions in business operations. Computers can do all sorts of automation if they are programmed suitably and correctly.

Consistency

The capability of adopting all kinds of tasks is termed consistency. It can perform a variety of jobs, ranging from simple arithmetic calculations to complex graphics modeling, and animation, depending on the application packages loaded into it.

Hence, computers can act exactly like obedient assistants which can perform tasks repeatedly at high speed with accuracy.

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Limitations of Computer

The computer can outperform human beings in speed, memory, and accuracy but still, the computer has limitations. These are some important limitations of computers:

1. Lack of Commonsense
2. Inability to Correct
3. Dependency on Human Instructions

Lack of Commonsense

A computer is only a tool. It cannot think. It does not have common sense and intelligence as we all have. For example, suppose we give the respective ages of two girls as -12 and 10 and ask a boy to find out who is younger. The boy will immediately ask how age can be negative.

But if we give the same data -12 and 10 to a computer it will compare the two numbers and give the answer. The younger girl’s age is -12.” Why? Because the computer does not have the commonsense to understand that, the age cannot be less than 0.

Inability to Correct

When we give instructions to a computer we must give the correct instructions. A computer cannot correct wrong instructions. This follows from the fact that we cannot replace the human brain by using computers.

Dependency on Human Instructions

A computer cannot generate any information on its own. It can only do what it is told to do. Even though the above-mentioned limitations are there, research is going on in the field of soft computing, to impart knowledge so that it can think and act independently.

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