Classification of computers by Generation

1. CLASSIFICATION OF
COMPUTERS BY GENERATION
Monday, November 21, 2016

2. FIRST GENERATION
COMPUTERS (1945-1955)
TECHNOLOGY: vacuum tubes or valves
CHARACTERISTICS:
(1) The use vacuum tube technology
(2) They are huge in size
(3) The generate a lot of heat
(4) They were slow and often unreliable
(5) They had limited internal storage capacity
(6) Input and output modes are punched cards and printouts
(7) They are very expensive

3. EXAMPLES
(1) ENIAC – Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer
(2) EDVAC – Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
(3) EDSAC – Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Control

4. SECOND GENERATION
COMPUTERS (1956-1963)
Technology: Transistors
Characteristics:
1. They used transistor technology
2. They generate lesser amount of heat
3. They are smaller than first generation computer
4. Instructions are coded in assembly language
5. Instructions are written in high level language
6. They were less expensive to buy
7. The consume lesser power
8. They had limited external storage
9. They used magnetic tapes and disk as storage devices

5. EXAMPLES
ATLAS and IBM’s 1401, 1790,704, 709 and 7094; UNIVAC 1004 and
CDC 160

6. THIRD GENERATION
COMPUTERS (1964 - 1971)
Technology: Integrated circuit (IC)
Characteristics:
1. They use integrated circuit technology
2. They generate lesser amount of heat
3. The are smaller in size than earlier generations
4. The input and output modes are keyboard and monitor
5. They are faster and more reliable
6. The consume lesser power
7. They are cheaper to buy

7. EXAMPLES
ICL 1900, IBM 360/370, Honeywell 200 series, CDC 6000 and
UNIVAC 1100

8. FOURTH GENERATION
COMPUTER (1990 TO DATE)
Technology: Microprocessors
Characteristics:
1. They use microchip/microprocessor technology
2. The generate lesser amount of heat
3. They are smaller in size
4. Instructions are coded in high level languages
5. They have graphic user interface
6. They come in various sizes
7. They are faster
8. they are more reliable
9. They also cheaper to buy

9. EXAMPLES
1. Desktops
2. Laptops
3. PDAs
4. Intel’s 8080, 80286, 80386, 80486;
5. IBM5100
6. Commodore’s Amiga A10001
7. Pentiums
8. Celerons etc.

10. FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTER
(21ST CENTURY AND BEYOND)
Technology: Artificial intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence(AI) is the term used to link human behaviour and
characteristics in man-made machines.
Characteristics:
1. They will have artificial intelligence
2. They will have very high speed
3. They can perform multitasking
4. They can emulate human behaviours

11. EXAMPLES
Wallet PC, Wearable PC, PUMA, Cog, DANTE, WABOT-2 and
HELPMATE.