Analog computers perform multiple calculations at once and handle continuous variables, making them better than digital computers at certain tasks. They can work mechanically or electronically, but are subject to noise interference.
An analog computer is one that can perform multiple calculations at once and can cope with infinite fractions of numbers. The term analog does not refer to how the computer is powered, and it is possible that these computers are electronic. The characteristics of an analog device can also mean that it may be better than a digital computer at particular tasks.
A computer is simply a machine that processes data in a predetermined way or, to put it another way, calculates. Today, most computers are digital and work by reducing all data to binary numbers before processing. Analog computers date back thousands of years, but they differ from digital computers in only two basic ways.
The first is that this type of computer works in parallel, which means it can perform multiple tasks at the same time. A digital computer, while it may run much faster, can only perform one calculation at a time. The only way around this problem in a digital computer is parallel computing, where a single machine has multiple processors and, even then, programs often have to be rewritten to take advantage of this.
The second difference is that an analog computer handles continuous variables, while a digital computer works with discrete numbers. The difference between these is that continuous variables can include any conceivable number, even irrational numbers, such as Π (pi).
Discrete numbers are those that are whole numbers; those where decimal fractions are limited, for example an eighth is 0.125; or those that have repeating sequences, such as a sixth that is 0.1666 recurring. The infinite nature of irrational numbers means that they cannot be reduced to the binary digit needed for a digital computer. This means that only analog computers can act like so-called “real computers” and solve some of the more complicated problems in mathematics.
This type of computer can work both mechanically and electronically. Mechanical computers have been around for thousands of years, with the oldest known example being Antikythera. It is a Greek machine, thought to have been made around 100 BC, designed to calculate astronomical positions. A more recent and common version is the slide rule.
The electronic analog computer works on the same principles, but uses electrical components to replace the physical parts. The big advantage is that the properties of these components can often be varied, while the physical parts would have to be replaced to change their properties. The downside is that electronics are subject to noise, a type of interference caused by external physical factors.
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