2. Generations of Computer
The history of computer development is often
referred to in reference to the
different generations of computing devices.
Each of the five generations of computers is
characterized by a major technological
development that fundamentally changed the
way computers operate, resulting in
increasingly smaller, cheaper, more powerful
and more efficient and reliable computing
devices.
3. Asearly as the seventeenth century,
mathematicians were trying to create a machine
that could perform basic mathematical functions
such as, addition, subtraction, division and
multiplication.
4. 1804 British inventor, Charles
Babbage, designed an all-purpose
problem-solving machine, the
difference engine, which had a
mechanical memory to store the
results of calculations.
5. Generations of Computer
โข First Generation
โข Second Generation
โข Third Generation
โข Fourth Generation
โข Fifth Generation
6. First Generation
โข The period of first generation was 1946-1959.
โข First generation of computers started with using 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.
โข In this generation, mainly batch processing operating
systems were used. In this generation, Punched cards,
Paper tape, Magnetic tape Input & Output device were
used.
โข There were machine codes and electric wired board
languages used
7. The main features of First Generation are:
โข Vacuum tube technology
โข Unreliable
โข Supported Machine
language only
โข Very costly
โข Generate lot of heat
โข Slow Input/output device
โข Huge size
โข Need of A.C.
โข Non-portable
8. Second Generation
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered
in the second generation of computers. The
transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see
widespread use in computers until the late 1950s.
The transistor was far superior to the vacuum
tube, allowing computers to become smaller,
faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more
reliable than their first-generation predecessors.
Though the transistor still generated a great deal
of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it
was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube.
Second-generation computers still relied on
punched cards for input and printouts for output.
9. The main features of Second Generation are:
โข Use of transistors
โข Reliable as compared to First
generation computers
โข Smaller size as compared to First
generation computers
โข Generate less heat as compared to
First generation computers
โข Consumed less electricity as
compared to First generation
computers
โข Faster than first generation
computers
โข Still very costly
โข A.C. needed
โข Support machine and assembly
languages
10. Third Generation
โข The period of third generation was 1965-1971.
โข The third generation of computer is marked by the use of
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.
โข In this generation, Remote processing, Time-sharing, Real-
time, Multi-programming Operating System were used.
โข High-level language (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL
PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68, etc.) were used during this
generation.
11. The main features of Third Generation are:
โข IC used
โข More reliable and Faster
โข Smaller size
โข Generate less heat
โข Lesser maintenance
โข Still costly
โข A.C. needed
โข Consumed lesser electricity
โข Support high-level language
12. Fourth Generation
โข The period of Fourth Generation was 1971-1980.
โข The fourth generation of computers is marked by the use
of 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.
โข In this generation, Time sharing, Real time, Networks,
Distributed Operating System were used.
โข All the higher level languages like C and C++, DBASE,
etc., were used in this generation.
13. The main features of Fourth Generation are:
โข VLSI technology used
โข Very cheap
โข Portable and reliable
โข Use of PC's
โข Very small size
โข Pipeline processing
โข No A.C. needed
โข Concept of internet was
introduced
โข Great developments in
the fields of networks
โข Computers became
easily available
14. Fifth Generation
โข The period of Fifth Generation is 1980-till date.
โข 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.
โข This generation is based on parallel processing
hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence)
software.
โข AI is an emerging branch in computer science
which interprets means and methods of making
computers think like human beings.
15. โข All the higher level languages like C and C++,
Java, .NET, etc., are used in this generation.
โข AI includes:
โข Robotics
โข Neural networks
โข Game Playing
โข Development of expert systems to make
decisions in real life situations.
โข Natural language understanding and
generation.
16. The main features of Fifth Generation are:
โข ULSI technology
โข Development of true artificial
intelligence
โข Development of Natural language
processing
โข Advancement in Parallel Processing
โข Advancement in Superconductor
technology
โข More user friendly interfaces with
multimedia features
โข Availability of very powerful and
compact computers at cheaper rates