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Generation of Computers

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23 views

Generation of Computers

Uploaded by

nrssgy edpmandit
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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First Generation Computers: Vacuum Tubes (1940-1956)

The technology behind the primary generation computers was a fragile glass
device, which was called vacuum tubes. These computers were very heavy and
really large in size. These weren’t very reliable and programming on them was
a really tedious task as they used high-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 rot of electricity.
Main first generation computers are:
 ENIAC: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, built by J. Presper
Eckert and John V. Mauchly was a general-purpose computer. It had been
very heavy, 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.
Main characteristics of first generation computers are:
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 in size (often taking up entire


Speed and size room).

Examples of the first


generation IBM 650, IBM 701, ENIAC, UNIVAC1, etc.

Second Generation Computers: Transistors (1956-1963)

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.
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).
Main characteristics of second generation computers are:-

Main electronic
component Transistor.

Programming
language Machine language and assembly language.

Memory Magnetic core and magnetic tape/disk.

Input/output devices Magnetic tape and punched cards.

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

Examples of second PDP-8, IBM1400 series, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107,
generation CDC 3600 etc.

Third Generation Computers: Integrated Circuits. (1964-1971)

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 the speed and reliability. IC was made from silicon and also
called silicon chips.
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.
Main characteristics of third generation computers are:
Main electronic component Integrated circuits (ICs)

Programming language High-level language

Memory Large magnetic core, magnetic tape/disk

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

Examples of third IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, NCR 395, B6500, UNIVAC
generation 1108, etc.

Fourth Generation Computers: Micro-processors (1971-Present)

In 1971 First microprocessors were used, the large scale of integration LSI
circuits built on one chip called microprocessors. The most advantage of this
technology is that one microprocessor can contain all the circuits required to
perform arithmetic, logic, and control functions on one chip.
The computers using microchips were called microcomputers. This generation
provided the even smaller size of computers, with larger capacities. That’s not
enough, then Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits replaced LSI circuits.
The Intel 4004chip, 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.
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.
Main characteristics of fourth generation computers are:
Main electronic Very large-scale integration (VLSI) and the microprocessor (VLSI
component has thousands of transistors on a single microchip).
Memory semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.)

Input/output devices pointing devices, optical scanning, keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.

Examples of fourth
generation IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple 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 medicines, and entertainment. Within the field of games
playing also it’s shown remarkable performance where computers are capable
of beating human competitors.
The speed is highest, size is that 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.
In order to summarize the features of varied generations of computers, it is
often said that a big improvement has been seen as far because the speed and
accuracy of functioning care, but if we mention the dimensions, it’s being small
over the years. The value is additionally diminishing and reliability is in fact
increasing.
Main characteristics of fifth generation computers are:
Based on artificial intelligence, uses the Ultra Large-Scale Integration
Main (ULSI) technology and parallel processing method (ULSI has millions of
electronic transistors on a single microchip and Parallel processing method use two or
component more microprocessors to run tasks simultaneously).

Language Understand natural language (human language).

Size Portable and small in size.

Input / output Trackpad (or touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognize
device voice/speech), light scanner, printer, keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc.
Example of
fifth
generation Desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.

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