View Five: An Applications/ Functional View of Computer Classes
- PMS Level Configuration: A Configuration is Chosen to Match the Function to Be Performed. The User (Designer) Chooses the Amount of Primary Memory, the Number and Types of Secondary Memory, the Types of Switches, and the Number and Types of Transducers to Suit His Particular Application.
- Physical Packaging: Special Environmental Packaging is Used to Specialize a Computer System for Certain Environments, Such as Factory Floor, Submarine, or Aerospace Applications.
- Data-type Emphasis: Computers are Designed with Data-types (and Operations to Match) that are Appropriate to Their Tasks. Some Emphasize Floating-point Arithmetic, Others String Handling. Special-Purpose Processors, Such as Fast Fourier Transform Processors,Belong in This Category Also.
- Operating System: The Generality of the Computer is Used to Program Operating Systems That Emphasize Batch, Time Sharing,Real-Time, or Transacting Processing Needs.
Source: Bill Lattin, Synopsys