Generations of Computer

Computer Generations

Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer

is/was being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying

hardware technologies. But nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software,

which together make up an entire computer system.

There are totally five computer generations known till date. Each generation has

been discussed in detail along with their time period and characteristics. Here approximate

dates against each generations have been mentioned which are normally accepted.
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Following are the main five generations of computers
S.N. Generation and Description
1 First Generation
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.
2 Second Generation
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.
3 Third Generation
The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.
4 Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor based.
5 Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards.ULSI microprocessor based
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First Generation
The period of first generation was 1946-1959. The computers of first generation
used vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU (Central
Processing Unit). These tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot of heat and were prone
to frequent fusing of the installations, therefore, were very expensive and could be
afforded only by very large organizations. In this generation mainly batch processing
operating system were used. Punched cards, paper tape, and magnetic tape were
used as input and output devices. The computers in this generation used machine code
as programming language.
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The main features of first generation are:
 Major Innovation-Vacuum Tubes
 Main Memory-Punched Cards
 Input Output Devices-punched cards and papers
 Languages-Low level machine language
 Operating System-No operating System, Human operators to set switches

Some computers of this generation were:

 ENIAC
 EDVAC
 UNIVAC
 IBM-701
 IBM-650
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ADVANTAGES
 Vacuum tubes were the only electronic components available during those days.
 Vacuum tube technology made possible the advent of electronic digital computer.
 These computer were the fastest calculating devices of their time.
 They could perform computations in milliseconds.

DISADVATAGES
 Too heavy in size.
 Unreliable.
 They produced large amount
 t of heat.
 Air Conditioning required.
 Possibility to frequent hardware failures.
 Constant maintenance required.
 Not portable.
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Second Generation
The period of second generation was 1959-1965. In this generation transistors were
used that were cheaper, consumed less power, more compact in size, more reliable
and faster than the first generation machines made of vacuum tubes. In this generation,
magnetic cores were used as primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic disks
as secondary storage devices. In this generation assembly language and high-level
programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL were used. The computers used batch
processing and multiprogramming operating system.
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The main features of second generation are:
 Major Innovation-Transistors as main component.
 Main Memory-RAM and ROM
 External storage-Magnetic tapes and magnetic Disk.
 Input Output Device- Magnetic tapes and Magnetic Disk.
 Languages- Assembly language, some high level languages fro example BASIC, COBOL,
FORTAN.
 Operating System- Human handles punched card.
 Size- Main frame for example IBM-1401, NCR-300,IBM-600 etc.
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ADVANTAGES
 Smaller in size as compared to first generation computers.
 More reliable.
 Less heat generated.
 These computers were able to reduce computational times from miliseconds to
microseconds.
 Less possibility to hardware failures.
 Better portability.
 Wider Commercial use.
DISADVANTAGES
 Air conditioning still required.
 Frequent maintenance required.
 Manual assembly of individual components into a functioning unit was required.
 Commercial production was difficult and costly.
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Third Generation
The period of third generation was 1965-1971. The computers of third
generation used integrated circuits (IC's) in place of transistors. A single IC has many
transistors, resistors and capacitors along with the associated circuitry. The IC was
invented by Jack Kilby. This development made computers smaller in size, reliable and
efficient. In this generation remote processing, time-sharing, multi-programming
operating system were used. High-level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL
PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this generation.
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The main features of third generation are:
 Major innovation-Integrated Circuit (IC) as basic electronic component.
 Main memory-PROM and DRAM.
 External storage-Improve disk (Floppy Disk).
 Input and output Devices- Keyboard for input, monitor for output.
 Languages- Main high level languages.
 Operating system- Complete operating systems were introduced.
 Size- mini, for example: IBM SYSTEM /360, ICH -360, HONEY WELL -316 etc.
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ADVANTAGES
 Smaller in size as compared to previous generation computers.
 Even more reliable than second –generation computers.
 Even lower heat generated than second generation computers.
 Able to reduce computational times from microseconds to nanoseconds.
 Maintenance cost is low because hardware failures are rare.
 Easily portable.
 Less power requirements than previous generation computers.
DISADVANTAGES
 Air conditioning required in many cases.
 Highly sophisticated technology required for the manufacture of IC chips.
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Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation was 1971-1980. The computers of fourth
generation used Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about
5000 transistors and other circuit elements and their associated circuits on a single chip
made it possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth generation
computers became more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave
rise to personal computer (PC) revolution. In this generation time sharing, real time,
networks, distributed operating system were used. All the high-level languages like C, C++,
DBASE etc. were used in this generation.
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The main features of Fourth generation are:
 Major Innovation-LSIC and VLSIC (Micro Processor)
 Main Memory-EPROM and SRAM.
 External storage-Floppy Disk and Hard Disk.
 Input and Output Devices- Monitor for output.
 Languages- Languages and application software’s.
 Operating system- MS-DOS.
 Size- micro computer e.g. IBM-PC, Apple Macintosh etc.
 Some computers of this generation were: DEC 10, STAR 1000, PDP 11, CRAY-1(Super
Computer), CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)
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ADVANTAGES
 Low Cost machine.
 High speed.
 Large memory.
 Small size
 Less power consumption.
 Floppy disk is used as storage device. Semi conductor internal memory.
 Improve in software ( spread sheet).
 Hardware failure is negligible.
 Heat generated is negligible.
 Cheapest among all generations.

DISADVANTAGES
 Highly sophisticated technology required for the manufacture of Integrated chip.
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Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth generation, the VLSI
technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the
production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components. This
generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence)
software. AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which interprets means and
method of making computers think like human beings. All the high-level languages like C
and C++, Java, .Net etc. are used in this generation.
AI includes:
 Robotics
 Neural networks
 Game Playing
 Development of expert systems to make decisions in real life
situations.
 Natural language understanding and generation.
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The main features of fifth generation are
 Major Innovation- ULSIC (Ultra Large Scale Integrated Circuit)
 Main Memory-EEPROM, SIMM and DIMM
 External storage-Modified magnetic , Optical disks and flesh drive.
 Input/ Output devices- keyboard, Pointing device, scanner as input and monitor as main
output.
 languages- AI (Artificial Intelligence) Expert system.
 Operating system- GUI based e.g. Windows XP, Window 7, Window NT.
 Size- Very small in size example: Laptop, Note Book, Digital Diary, Palm top and Pocket PC.
ADVANTAGES
 Very large storage capacity.
 Long bit processor builds.
 Artificial Intelligence Language developed.