Generations of Computer (0th-5th)

The frst mechanical computer, created by Charles Babbage in 1822, doesn't

really resemble what most would consider a computer today. Therefore , this page
provides a listing of each of the computer frsts, starting with the Diference Engine
and leading up to the computers we use today.

First generation (1940 - 1956)

The frst generation of computers used vacuum tubes as a

major piece of technology. Vacuum tubes were widely used in
computers from 1940 through 1956. Vacuum tubes were larger
components and resulted in frst generation computers being
quite large in size, taking up a lot of space in a room. Some of
the frst generation computers took up an entire room.

The ENIAC is a great example of a frst generation computer. It

consisted of nearly 20,000 vacuum tubes, as well as 10,000
capacitors and 70,000 resistors. It weighed over 30 tons and took up a lot of space,
requiring a large room to house it. Other examples of frst generation computers
include the EDSAC, IBM 701, and Manchester Mark 1.

Second generation (1956 - 1963)

The second generation of computers saw the use of

transistors instead of vacuum tubes. Transistors were
widely used in computers from 1956 to 1963. Transistors
were smaller than vacuum tubes and allowed
computers to be smaller in size, faster in speed, and
cheaper to build.

The frst computer to use transistors was the TX-0 and was introduced in 1956. Other
computers that used transistors include the IBM 7070, Philco Transac S-1000, and
RCA 501.

Third generation (1964 - 1971)

The third generation of computers introduced the use of

IC (integrated circuits) in computers. Using IC's in
computers helped reduce the size of computers even more compared to second -
generation computers, as well as make them faster.

Nearly all computers since the mid to late 1960s have utilized IC's. While the third
generation is considered by many people to have spanned from 1964 to 1971, IC's
are still used in computers today. Over 45 years later, today's computers have deep
roots going back to the third generation.

Fourth generation (1972 - 2010)

The fourth generation of computers took advantage of

the invention of the microprocessor, more commonly
known as a CPU. Microprocessors, along with integrated
circuits, helped make it possible for computers to ft
easily on a desk and for the introduction of the laptop.

Some of the earliest computers to use a microprocessor include the Altair 8800, IBM
5100, and Micral. Today's computers still use a microprocessor, despite the fourth
generation being considered to have ended in 2010.

Fifth generation (2010 to present)

The ffth generation of computers is beginning to use

AI (artifcial intelligence), an exciting technology that
has many potential applications around the world.
Leaps have been made in AI technology and
computers, but there is still much room for
improvement.

One of the more well-known examples of AI in computers is IBM's Watson, which has
been featured on the TV show Jeopardy as a contestant. Other better-known
examples include Apple's Siri on the iPhone and Microsoft's Cortana on Windows 8
and Windows 10 computers. The Google search engine also utilizes AI to process
user searches.
Classifcations of Computer according to:
a. Purpose

b. Type of data

c. Size

Computers difer based on their data processing abilities. They are classifed
according to purpose, data handling and functionality.

According to purpose, computers are either general purpose or specifc purpose .

General purpose computers are designed to perform a range of tasks. They have the
ability to store numerous programs, but lack in speed and efciency. Specifc
purpose computers are designed to handle a specifc problem or to perform a
specifc task. A set of instructions is built into the machine.

According to data handling, computers are analog, digital or hybrid. Analog

computers work on the principle of measuring, in which the measurements obtained
are translated into data. Modern analog computers usually employ electrical
parameters, such as voltages, resistances or currents, to represent the quantities
being manipulated. Such computers do not deal directly with the numbers . They
measure continuous physical magnitudes. Digital computers are those that operate
with information, numerical or otherwise, represented in a digital form. Such
computers process data into a digital value (in 0s and 1s). They give the results with
more accuracy and at a faster rate. Hybrid computers incorporate the measuring
feature of an analog computer and counting feature of a digital computer. For
computational purposes, these computers use analog components and for storage ,
digital memories are used.

According to functionality, Type of computers are classifed as :

Analog Computer

An analog computer (spelt analogue in British English) is a form of computer that

uses continuous physical phenomena such as electrical , mechanical , or hydraulic
quantities to model the problem being solved.

Digital Computer
 A computer that performs calculations and logical operations with quantities
represented as digits, usually in the binary number system

Hybrid Computer (Analog + Digital)

A combination of computers those are capable of inputting and outputting in both

digital and analog signals. A hybrid computer system setup ofers a cost efective
method of performing complex simulations.

On the basis of Size: Type of Computer

Super Computer

The fastest and most powerful type of computer Supercomputers are very
expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense
amounts of mathematical calculations. For example, weather forecasting requires a
supercomputer. Other uses of supercomputers include animated graphics , fuid
dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, and petroleum exploration .

The chief diference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is that a

supercomputer channels all its power into executing a few programs as fast as
possible, whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute many programs
concurrently.

Mainframe Computer

A very large and expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds, or even

thousands, of users simultaneously. In the hierarchy that starts with a simple
microprocessor (in watches, for example) at the bottom and moves to
supercomputers at the top, mainframes are just below supercomputers. In some
ways, mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because they support
more simultaneous programs. But supercomputers can execute a single program
faster than a mainframe.

Mini Computer

A midsized computer. In size and power, minicomputers lie between workstations

and mainframes. In the past decade, the distinction between large minicomputers
and small mainframes has blurred, however, as has the distinction between small
minicomputers and workstations. But in general, a minicomputer is a
multiprocessing system capable of supporting from 4 to about 200 users
simultaneously.

Micro Computer or Personal Computer

• Desktop Computer: a personal or micro-mini computer sufcient to ft on a desk.

• Laptop Computer: a portable computer complete with an integrated screen and

keyboard. It is generally smaller in size than a desktop computer and larger than a
notebook computer.

• Palmtop Computer/Digital Diary /Notebook /PDAs: a hand-sized computer.

Palmtops have no keyboard but the screen serves both as an input and output
device.

Workstations

A terminal or desktop computer in a network. In this context, workstation is just a

generic term for a user's machine (client machine) in contrast to a "server" or
"mainframe."

6 Elements of Computer
Elements of a Computer and Communication System

A system is a group of related components and operations that interact to perform a

task.

a. People

Two types of Users:

-Professionals - An Information Technology (IT) professional who had formal

education in the technical aspect of using a computer and communication system.
Ex. Computer Programmer.

- End-users - is someone without much technical knowledge of IT who uses

computers for entertainment, education or work related task.

b. Procedure

Descriptions of how things are done, steps for accomplishing a result

c. Data/Information

Data – consists of the raw facts and fgures that are processed into information.

Information – summarized data or otherwise manipulated data.

Units of Measurement for Capacity

A computer system’s data/information storage capacity is represented by:

Kilobyte (KB) equivalent to approximately 1000 bytes.

Megabyte (MB) about 1 million bytes

Gigabyte (GB) about 1 billion bytes

d. Hardware

The Basic Operations of Computing

a. Input operation – data is entered or otherwise captured electronically and is

converted to a form that can be processed by the computer.

b. Processing operation – the data is manipulated to process or transform it into

information.

c. Output operation – the information which has been processed from the data, is
produced in a form usable by people.

d. Secondary Storage operation – data, information, and programs are stored in

computer - processable form

Hardware – consists of all the machinery and equipment in a computer system

Hardware devices are categorized according to which of the four computer

operations it performs.

Input Hardware - allow people to put data into the computer in a form that the
computer can use.

Example:

Keyboard

Mouse

Scanner

Microphone

Processing and Memory Hardware

CPU (the processor) – computing part of the computer. It controls and manipulates
data to produce information.
Memory (also known as main memory, RAM or primary storage) – is a working
storage. Memory is the computer’s “work space” where data and programs for
immediate processing are held.

Output Hardware – consists of devices that translates information processed by the

computer into a form that humans can understand.

Example:

Monitor

Printer

Speaker

Headphone

Secondary Storage Hardware – (external storage) – consists of devices that store

data and
programs
permanently.

Example:

Diskette

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Parts of
Motherboard
e. Software

Software or programs – consist of the step by step instructions that tell the
computer how to perform a task.

Two Major Types

Application software

System Software

Application Software – defned as software that can perform useful work on general
purpose task.

Examples:

Web browser, word processing software, spreadsheet software, database software ,

presentation graphics software. 1) Opera (Web Browser) 2) Microsoft Word (Word
Processing) 3) Microsoft Excel (Spreadsheet software) 5) MySQL (Database Software)
6) Microsoft Powerpoint (Presentation Software) 7) iTunes (Music / Sound Software) 8)
VLC Media Player (Audio / Video Software) 9) World of Warcraft (Game Software) 10)
Adobe Photoshop (Graphics Software)

Application software run under System Software, and are made to do a specifc task.

System Software - have direct control and access to your computer hardware, and
memory locations. They perform I/O operations on various memory locations, and
control the hardware, to make the application software do a task.
Operating systems, are the main examples for system software. Examples: 1)
Microsoft Windows 2) Linux 3) Unix 4) Mac OSX 5) DOS 6) BIOS Software 7) HD Sector
Boot Software 8) Device Driver Software i.e Graphics Driver etc 9) Linker Software 10)
Assembler and Compiler Software

f. Communication

Communication – defned as the electronic transfer of data from one plac to another.

1) sender

2) receiver

3) computer

4) transmission medium

5) signal converter – modem