LESSON 2: ● Non-portable ​

● Consumed lot of electricity​

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS
Generation in computer terminology is a change Some computers of this generation were:
in technology a computer is/was being used. ● ENIAC – Electronic Numerical
Initially, the generation term was used to Integration and Computer​
distinguish between varying hardware ● EDVAC – Electronic Discrete Variable
technologies. But nowadays, generation Automatic Computer​
includes both hardware and software, which ● UNIVAC- Universal Automatic Computer​
together make up an entire computer system. ● IBM-701 – International Business
Machine ​
Main five (5) Generation of computer ● IBM-650 - International Business
1. The period of first generation : 1946 -1959. Machine​
Vacuum tube based.​
2. The period of second generation: 1959 – Second generation
1965. Transistor based​ The period of second generation was
3. The period of third generation:: 1965 -1971. 1959-1965. In this generation transistors were
Integrated Circuit based​ used that were cheaper, consumed less power,
4. The period of fourth generation: 1971 – 1980 more compact in size, more reliable and faster
VLSI microprocessor based​ than the first generation machines made of
5. The period of fifth generation: 1980- vacuum tubes. In this generation, magnetic
onwards. ULSI microprocessor based.​ cores were used as primary memory and
magnetic tape and magnetic disks as secondary
First Generation​ storage devices. In this generation assembly
language and high-level programming
The period of the first generation was languages like FORTRAN, COBOL were used.
1946-1959. The computers of first generation The computers used batch processing and
used vacuum tubes as the basic components for multiprogramming operating system.​
memory and circuitry for CPU (Central
Processing Unit). These tubes, like electric The main features of second generation are: ​
bulbs, produced a lot of heat and were prone to ● Use of transistors ​
frequent fusing of the installations, therefore, ● Reliable in comparison to first
were very expensive and could be afforded only generation computers ​
by very large organizations. In this generation ● Smaller size as compared to first
mainly batch processing operating system were generation computers ​
used. Punched cards, paper tape, and magnetic ● Generated less heat as compared to
tape were used as input and output devices. The first generation computers ​
computers in this generation used machine code ● Consumed less electricity as compared
as programming language.​ to first generation computers ​
● Faster than first generation computers ​
The main features of first generation are: ● Still very costly ​
● Vacuum tube technology ​ ● A.C. needed ​
● Unreliable ​ ● Supported machine and assembly
● Supported machine language only ​ languages​
● Very costly ​
● Generated lot of heat ​
● Slow input and output devices ​
● Huge size ​
● Need of A.C. ​
Some computers of this generation were: ​ used. All the high-level languages like C, C++,
● IBM 1620 - International Business DBASE etc., were used in this generation.​
Machine 1620​
● IBM 7094 - International Business The main features of fourth generation are: ​
Machine 7094​ ➔ VLSI technology used ​
● CDC 1604 - Change Data Capture the ➔ Very cheap ​
1604 is known as one of the first ➔ Portable and reliable ​
commercially successful transistorized ➔ Use of PC's ​
computers. (The IBM 7090 was ➔ Very small size ​
delivered earlier, in November 1959.)​ ➔ Pipeline processing ​
● CDC 3600 - Change Data Capture ​ ➔ No A.C. needed ​
● UNIVAC 1108 - Universal Automatic ➔ Concept of internet was introduced ​
Computer 1108​ ➔ Great developments in the fields of
networks ​
Third generation​ ➔ Computers became easily available​
The period of third generation was 1965-1971.
The computers of third generation used
integrated circuits (IC's) in place of transistors. A Some computers of this generation were: ​
single IC has many transistors, resistors and ❖ DEC 10 ​
capacitors along with the associated circuitry. ❖ STAR 1000 ​
The IC was invented by Jack Kilby. This ❖ PDP 11 ​
development made computers smaller in size, ❖ CRAY-1(Super Computer) ​
reliable and efficient. In this generation remote ❖ CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer
processing, time-sharing,multiprogramming
operating system were used. High-level Fifth generation​
languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In
PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were the fifth generation, the VLSI technology
used during this generation. became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration)
technology, resulting in the production of
Some computers of this generation were: ​ microprocessor chips having ten million
● IBM-360 series ​ electronic components. This generation is based
● Honeywell-6000 series ​ on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial
● PDP(Personal Data Processor) ​ Intelligence) software. AI is an emerging branch
● IBM-370/168 ​ in computer science, which interprets means
● TDC-316​ and method of making computers think like
human beings. All the high-level languages like
Fourth generation​ C and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used in this
The period of fourth generation was 1971-1980. generation. ​
The computers of fourth generation used Very AI includes: Robotics Neural Networks Game
Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI Playing Development of expert systems to make
circuits having about 5000 transistors and other decisions in real life situations. Natural language
circuit elements and their associated circuits on understanding and generation.​
a single chip made it possible to have
microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth The main features of fifth generation are:​
generation computers became more powerful, ➔ ULSI technology ​
compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it ➔ Development of true artificial intelligence ​
gave rise to personal computer (PC) revolution. ➔ Development of Natural language
In this generation time sharing, real time, processing ​
networks, distributed operating system were ➔ Advancement in Parallel Processing ​
 ➔ Advancement in Superconductor The difference is portables can be used while
technology ​ travelling whereas desktops computers cannot
➔ More user friendly interfaces with be carried around.​
multimedia features ​
➔ Availability of very powerful and The different portable computers are: ​
compact computers at cheaper rates ​ 1. ​Laptop - this computer is similar to a
desktop computer but the size is
smaller. They are expensive than
COMPUTER TYPES ​ desktop. The weight of laptop is around
1) Digital Computers - Operate essentially by 3 to 5 kg.​
counting. All quantities are expressed as
discrete or numbers. Digital computers are 2. Notebooks - These computers are as
useful for evaluating arithmetic expressions and powerful as desktop but size of these
manipulations of data (such as preparation of computers are comparatively smaller
bills, ledgers, solution of simultaneous equations than laptop and desktop. They weigh 2
etc).​ to 3 kg. They are more costly than
2) Analog Computers - An analog computer is a laptop. ​
form of computer that uses the continuously
changeable aspects of physical phenomena 3. Palmtop (hand held) - They are also
such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic called as personal Digital Assistant
quantities to model the problem being solved. In (PDA). These computers are small in
contrast, digital computers represent varying size. They can be held in hands. It is
quantities symbolically, as their numerical values capable of doing word processing,
change.​ spreadsheets and hand writing
3) Hybrid Computers – are computers that recognition, game playing, faxing and
exhibit features of analog computer and digital paging. These computers are not as
computer. The digital component normally powerful as desktop computers. Ex: -
serves as the controller and provide logical 3com palmV.​
operations, while the analog component
normally serves as a solver of differential 4. Wearable computers - - The size of
equations. this computer is very small so that it can
be worn on the body. It has smaller
Classification digital Computer based on size processing power. It is used in the field
and Capability​ of medicine. For example pace maker to
correct the heart beats. Insulin meter to
A. Micro Computers(Personal Computer) find the levels of insulin in the blood​
➔ A microcomputer is the smallest
general purpose processing system. 5. Workstations:- It is used in large,
The older pc started with an 8 bit high-resolution graphics screen built in
processor with speed of 3.7MB and network support, Engineering
current pc 64 bit processor with speed applications(CAD/CAM), software
of 4.66 GB. Examples: - IBM PCs, development desktop publishing Ex.
APPLE computers.​ Unix and windows NT. ​

Microcomputer can be classified into 2 A. . Minicomputer: - A minicomputer is a

types: ​ medium-sized computer. That is more
1. Desktops ​ powerful than a microcomputer. These
2. Portables​ computers are usually designed to serve
multiple users simultaneously (Parallel
 Processing). They are more expensive programs dramatically. Parallel
than microcomputers. Examples: Digital computers match the speed of
Alpha, Sun Ultra.​ supercomputers at a fraction of the cost.​

B. C. Mainframe (Enterprise) computers: Classification based on word-length​

- Computers with large storage ● A binary digit is called “BIT”. A word is
capacities and very high speed of a group of bits which is fixed for a
processing (compared to mini- or computer. The number of bits in a word
microcomputers) are known as (or word length) determines the
mainframe computers. They support a representation of all characters in these
large number of terminals for many bits. Word length leis in the range
simultaneous use by a number of users from 16-bit to 64-bitsf or most computers
like ATM transactions. They are also of today​
used as central host computers in
distributed data processing system. COMPUTER TYPES​
Examples: - IBM 370, S/390.​ 1. Personal computers: - This is the most
common type found in homes, schools,
C. D. Supercomputer: - Supercomputers Business offices etc., It is the most
have extremely large storage capacity common type of desk top computers
and computing speeds which are many with processing and storage units along
times faster than other computers. A with various input and output devices. ​
supercomputer is measured in terms of
tens of millions Instructions per second
(mips), an operation is made up of 2. Note book computers: - These are
numerous instructions. The compact and portable versions of PC ​
supercomputer is mainly used for large
scale numerical problems in scientific 3. Work stations: - These have high
and engineering disciplines such as resolution input/output (I/O) graphics
Weather analysis. Examples: - IBM capability, but with same dimensions as
Deep Blue​ that of desktop computer. These are
used in engineering applications of
interactive design work. ​

Classification based on number of 4. Enterprise systems: - These are used

microprocessors​ for business data processing in medium
● a Sequential computers: - Any task to large corporations that require much
complete in sequential computers is with more computing power and storage
one microcomputer only. Most of the capacity than work stations. Internet
computers (today) we see are associated with servers have become a
sequential computers where in any task dominant worldwide source of all types
is completed sequentially instruction of information. ​
after instruction from the beginning to
the end. b) Parallel computers: - The 5. Super computers: - These are used for
parallel computer is relatively fast. New large scale numerical calculations
types of computers that use a large required in the applications like weather
number of processors. The processors forecasting etc.,​
perform different tasks independently
and simultaneously thus improving the
speed of execution of complex