An Analogue computer is a computer that operates on continuous data.
They carry out their data processing by measuring the amount of change that occurs in physical attributes/quantities, such as changes in electrical voltage, speed, currents, pressure, length, temperature, humidity, etc.
An Analogue computer is usually a special-purpose device that is dedicated to a single task. For example, they are used in specialized areas such as in:
The output from analogue computers is in form of smooth graphs produced by a plotting pen or a trace on a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) from which the information can be read.
Note: Analogue computers usually use one characteristic, e.g. a length, to give information about another physical characteristic, such as weight.
Analogue computers are very accurate & efficient since they are dedicated to a single task.
They are very fast since most of them use multiple processors.
Examples of analogue devices:
The computer responds to the Cockpit simulator control movements made by the pilot to physically change the environment so that the pilot feels as if he were controlling an actual aeroplane.
It uses the weight of a person to move a pointer smoothly/continuously over calibrated scale, which shows the person’s weight.
It uses a volume of Mercury to show temperature. The Thermometer is calibrated to give an exact temperature reading.
In Speedometer, the rotation of the wheel is converted to a voltage, which causes a pointer to rotate over a dial calibrated in Km/h or Miles/h.