Generations of

computers &
Types of Computers

Lecture 01
What is computer?
• Computer comes from the word “compute”,
which means “to calculate”.
• It is an electronic device that can take some
data, performs some operation(processing) and
give output/information at higher speed.
• It can perform Arithmetic operations as well as
logical operations
Characteristics of computer
• The computers are different types, sizes,
capabilities but they have similar features. They
possess the ability to perform complex, tedious
and monotonous tasks continuously without
rest. various characteristics of the computer can
be described below.
Accuracy
Speed
Storage
 Versatility
Automation
Diligence
Reliability
Resource sharing
Acceptability
Retrieval
Generations of Computers
• 1st Generation- Vacuum tubes
• 2nd Generation- Transistors
• 3rd Generation- Integrated Circuits(ICs )
• 4th Generation- Microprocessor
• 5th Generation- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
1st Generation Computers
(1940s-1956)
• Generally the computers built during world war
II era are known as the first generation
• These are considered the first computers and
were extremely different what we see today.
• They were designed for the specific task.
• The ENIAC is a great example of a first
generation computer. It consisted of nearly
20,000 vacuum tubes, as well as 10,000
capacitors and 70,000 resistors.
characteristics.
• Use of vacuum tubes to make circuits
• Use of magnetic drums
• Use of machine language and symbols in instructions
• Very small amount of storage space
• Use of punch cards as I/O devices
• Huge in size and poor in mobility
• Very slow and less reliable output
• Use of high electricity
• Generates too much heats
• Complex and expensive to maintain
2nd Generation of computers
(1956-1963)
• The computers built in the 1950s to 1960s are
considered as second generation.
• These computers makes use of the transistors
invented by Bell telephone laboratories.
• Example:
• Honeywell 200, IBM 1620, IBM 1400 etc.
Characteristics
• Use of transistors
• Magnetic memory and magnetic storage disks
• High speed I/O devices
• Invention and use of high level languages such as
Fortran and Cobol.
• Reduced size
• Solution to heat generation
• Communication by using telephone line
• Improvement of speed and reliability
3rd Generation of computers
(1964-1971)
• Use of integrated circuits (IC) started the third
generation of computer. IC reduced the size,
price, use of electricity etc. IC also facilitates
speed and reliability of computers. Development
of IC enabled organizing the whole central
processing unit in single chip. Use of monitor
also started in this generation. Operating system
was improved to a new level and high speed line
printers were in use.
• Examples:
• IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11 etc.
characteristics
• Use of Integrated Circuits (IC) instead of transistors
• Use of Semi-conductor memory
• Small size than previous generation computers
• Use of magnetic storage device
• Improved faster operations and more dependable
output
• Use of mini computers
• Use of monitors and line printers
• Use of high level programming language
• Less expensive than 2nd generation computers
• Less expensive maintenance cost.
4th Generation of computers
(1971-present)
• The computers that we use now-a-days are the
computers from fourth generation. From this
generation more use of semi-conductors in
memory started. Microprocessors has been
created. The size and price of computers has
both been reduced to significant levels.
• Example:
• IBM 3033, Sharp PC – 1211 etc.
characteristics
• Microprocessor based system that uses Very Large Scale
Integrated (VLSI) circuits.
• Microcomputers became the cheapest at this generation.
• Hand-held computer devices became more popular and
affordable
• Networking between the systems was developed and
became of every day use in this generation.
• Storage of memory and other storage devices has
increased in big amount.
• Outputs are now more reliable and accurate.
• Processing power or speed has increased enormously.
• With increment in the capacity of the storage
systems large programs were started to be in use
• Great improvement in the hardware helped
great improvement in the output in screen,
paper etc.
• Size of the computer devices became such small
that even desktop computers were easily
movable along with portable computers such as
laptops etc.
5th Generation of computers
(present & Beyond)
• Fifth generation computers are from the future.
Actually the computers from fifth generation are
already in use under limited exposure and not
available for everyone to try as the development
process is still ongoing. A few of the
characteristics of those fifth generation
computers are already in practice or available in
the fourth generation computers but those are
either not complete nor available for everyone.
characteristics
• Multi-processor based system
• Use of Artificial Intelligence:
• Use of optical fiber in circuits
• Development of the elements of programs
• Automated audio in any language to control the
workflow of the computer
• Magnetic enabled chips
• Huge development of storage
• More powerful micro and macro computers
• Development of enormous powers with AI
Types of computers
Computers are classified on the basis of Power,
size, consumption and speed.
• Super Computer
• Mainframe
• Mini-Computers
• Personal
• Workstation
(TASK: Search and Read the types of Computers)