analog computers don't generally compute by operating on symbols. For example see the classic video on fire control computers https://youtu.be/s1i-dnAH9Y4?t=496
OP's specific phrasing is that they "map symbols to symbols". Analog computers don't do that. Some can, but that's not their definition.
Turing machines et al. are a model of computation in mathematics. Humans do math by operating on symbols, so that's why that model operates on symbols. It's not an inherent part of the definition.
OP's specific phrasing is that they "map symbols to symbols". Analog computers don't do that. Some can, but that's not their definition.
Turing machines et al. are a model of computation in mathematics. Humans do math by operating on symbols, so that's why that model operates on symbols. It's not an inherent part of the definition.