Generations of Computers – Computer

Fundamentals

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Generations of Computer: The modern computer took its shape with the
arrival of your time. It had been around the 16th century when the evolution
of the computer started. The initial computer faced many changes, obviously
for the betterment. It continuously improved itself in terms of speed,
accuracy, size, and price to urge the form of the fashionable day computer.
Basic Terms Related to Computers
The basic terms related to generations of computers are listed below.
1. Vacuum Tube: Vacuum tubes have the functionality of controlling the
flow of electronics in a vacuum. Generally, it is used in switches,
amplifiers, radios, televisions, etc.
2. Transistor: A transistor helps in controlling the flow of electricity in
devices, it works as an amplifier or a switch.
3. Integrated Circuit (IC): Integrated circuits are silicon chips that contain
their circuit elements like transistors, resistors, etc.
4. Microprocessors: Microprocessors are the components that contain the
CPU and its circuits and are present in the Integrated Circuit.
5. Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is called the brain of the
computer. CPU performs processing and operations work.
6. Magnetic Drum: Magnetic Drum is like a cylinder that stores data and
cylinder.
7. Magnetic Core: Magnetic cores are used to store information. These are
arrays of small rings.
8. Machine Language: Machine Language is the language that a computer
accepts (in the form of binary digits). It is also called low-level
programming language.
9. Memory: Memory is used to store data, information, and program in a
computer.
10. Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence deals with creating
intelligent machines and behaviors.
Phases of Computer Generations
This long period is often conveniently divided into the subsequent phases
called computer generations.
 First Generation Computers (1940-1956)
 Second Generation Computers (1956-1963)
 Third Generation Computers (1964-1971)
 Fourth Generation Computers (1971-Present)
 Fifth Generation Computers (Present and Beyond)

Generations of Evolving Hardware

Computer Time-Period

First Generation 1940s – 1950s Vacuum Tube Based

Second Generation 1950s – 1960s Transistor Based

Third Generation 1960s – 1970s Integrated Circuit Based

Fourth Generation 1970s – Present Microprocessor Based

Artificial Intelligence
Fifth Generation Present – Future
Based

Before the generation of computers, we used calculators, spreadsheets, and

computer algebra systems, mathematicians and inventors searched for
solutions to ease the burden of calculation.
Below are the 8 Mechanical Calculators before modern computers were
invented.
1. Abacus (ca. 2700 BC)
2. Pascal’s Calculator (1652)
3. Stepped Reckoner (1694)
4. Arithmometer (1820)
5. Comptometer (1887) and Comptograph (1889)
6. The Difference Engine (1822)
7. Analytical Engine (1834)
8. The Millionaire (1893)
First Generation Computers
The technology behind the primary generation computers was a fragile glass
device, which was called a vacuum tube. These computers were very heavy
and really large. These weren’t very reliable and programming on them was
a tedious task as they used low-level programming language and used no
OS. First-generation computers were used for calculation, storage, and
control purpose. They were too bulky and large that they needed a full room
and consume a lot of electricity. Punch cards were used for improving the
information for external storage. Magnetic card used . Machine and
assembly language is developed.
Examples of some main first-generation computers are mentioned below.
 ENIAC: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, built by J. Presper
Eckert and John V. Mauchly was a general-purpose computer. It had
been cumbersome, and large, and contained 18,000 vacuum tubes.
 EDVAC: Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer was designed
by von Neumann. It could store data also as instruction and thus the
speed was enhanced.
 UNIVAC: Universal Automatic Computer was developed in 1952 by
Eckert and Mauchly.

Characteristics of First-Generation Computers

 Characteristics Components

Main electronic component Vacuum tube.

Programming language Machine language.

Main memory Magnetic tapes and magnetic drums.

Input/output devices Paper tape and punched cards.

Very slow and very large (often taking

Speed and size
up an entire room).

IBM 650, IBM 701, ENIAC, UNIVAC1,

Examples of the first generation
etc.

Second Generation Computers

Second-generation computers used the technology of transistors rather than
bulky vacuum tubes. Another feature was the core storage. A transistor may
be a device composed of semiconductor material that amplifies a sign or
opens or closes a circuit.
Transistors were invented in Bell Labs. The use of transistors made it
possible to perform powerfully and with due speed. It reduced the
dimensions and price and thankfully the warmth too, which was generated by
vacuum tubes. Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, programming
language, and input, and output units also came into the force within the
second generation.
The programming language was shifted from high level to programming
language and made programming comparatively a simple task for
programmers. Languages used for programming during this era were
FORTRAN (1956), ALGOL (1958), and COBOL (1959).
Characteristics of Second-Generation Computers
Characteristics Components

Main electronic component Transistor.

Machine language and assembly

Programming language
language.

Memory Magnetic core and magnetic tape/disk.

Input/output devices Magnetic tape and punched cards.

Smaller in size, had low power

consumption, and generated less heat
Power and size
(in comparison with the first-
generation computers).

PDP-8, IBM1400 series, IBM 7090

Examples of the second generation and 7094, UNIVAC 1107, CDC 3600,
etc.

Third Generation Computers

During the third generation, technology envisaged a shift from huge
transistors to integrated circuits, also referred to as IC. Here a variety of
transistors were placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors. The most
feature of this era’s computer was speed and reliability. IC was made from
silicon and also called silicon chips.
The computer programs was designed to make the machine work. Operating
system was a program designed to handle a machine completely. Because
of the operating system machine could execute multiple jobs simultaneously.
Integrated circuits were used to replace many transistors used in the second
generation.
A single IC has many transistors, registers, and capacitors built on one thin
slice of silicon. The value size was reduced and memory space and dealing
efficiency were increased during this generation. Programming was now
wiped out Higher level languages like BASIC (Beginners All-purpose
Symbolic Instruction Code). Minicomputers find their shape during this era.

Characteristics of Third-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Main electronic component Integrated circuits (ICs).

Programming language High-level language.

Large magnetic core, magnetic

Memory
tape/disk.

Magnetic tape, monitor, keyboard,

Input/output devices
printer, etc.

IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, NCR 395,

Examples of the third generation
B6500, UNIVAC 1108, etc.
Fourth Generation Computers
In 1971 First microprocessors were used, the large-scale of integration LSI
circuits built on one chip called microprocessors. The advantage of this
technology is that one microprocessor can contain all the circuits required to
perform arithmetic, logic, and control functions on one chip. LSI placed
thousands of transistors onto a single chip.
The computers using microchips were called microcomputers. This
generation provided even smaller size of computers, with larger capacities.
That’s not enough, then Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits replaced
LSI circuits. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the
components of the pc from the central processing unit and memory to input/
output controls on one chip and allowed the dimensions to reduce drastically.
VLSI placed several hundred thousand transistors on a single silicon chip.
This silicon chip is known as the micro processor.
Technologies like multiprocessing, multiprogramming, time-sharing,
operating speed, and virtual memory made it a more user-friendly and
customary device. The concept of private computers and computer networks
came into being within the fourth generation.
Characteristics of Fourth-Generation Computers
Characteristics Components

Very-large-scale integration (VLSI)

and the microprocessor (VLSI has
Main electronic component
thousands of transistors on a single
microchip).

semiconductor memory (such

Memory
as RAM, ROM, etc.).

pointing devices, optical scanning,

Input/output devices
keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.

IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple

Examples of the fourth generation
Macintosh, Alter 8800, etc.

Fifth Generation Computers

The technology behind the fifth generation of computers is AI. It allows
computers to behave like humans. It is often seen in programs like voice
recognition, area of medicine, and entertainment. Within the field of game
playing also it’s shown remarkable performance where computers are
capable of beating human competitors.
The speed is the highest, size is the smallest and area of use has
remarkably increased within the fifth generation computers. Though not a
hundred percent AI has been achieved to date but keeping in sight the
present developments, it is often said that this dream also will become a
reality very soon.
To summarize the features of varied generations of computers, it is often
said that a big improvement has been seen so far because of the speed and
accuracy of functioning care, but if we mention the dimensions, it’s been
small over the years. The value is additionally diminishing and reliability is
increasing.

AI-Based Computers

Characteristics of Fifth-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Based on artificial intelligence, uses

the Ultra Large-Scale Integration
(ULSI) technology and parallel
processing method (ULSI has millions
Main electronic component
of transistors on a single microchip
and the Parallel processing method
use two or more microprocessors to
run tasks simultaneously).

Understand natural language (human

Language
language).

Size Portable and small in size.

Trackpad (or touchpad), touchscreen,

pen, speech input (recognize
Input/output device
voice/speech), light scanner, printer,
keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc.
 Characteristics Components

Desktops, laptops, tablets,

Example of the fifth generation
smartphones, etc.