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Generation of Computers

The document discusses the five generations of computers from the 1940s to present. The first generation used vacuum tubes, punched cards, and were large, expensive, and prone to overheating. The second generation used transistors, making computers smaller, cheaper, and more reliable. The third generation used integrated circuits on silicon chips, making computers faster, smaller, and able to run multiple applications at once. The fourth generation saw the development of microprocessors, personal computers, and the internet. The fifth generation, still in development, focuses on artificial intelligence, parallel processing, and technologies like quantum computing.

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Masfah Riaz
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100 views2 pages

Generation of Computers

The document discusses the five generations of computers from the 1940s to present. The first generation used vacuum tubes, punched cards, and were large, expensive, and prone to overheating. The second generation used transistors, making computers smaller, cheaper, and more reliable. The third generation used integrated circuits on silicon chips, making computers faster, smaller, and able to run multiple applications at once. The fourth generation saw the development of microprocessors, personal computers, and the internet. The fifth generation, still in development, focuses on artificial intelligence, parallel processing, and technologies like quantum computing.

Uploaded by

Masfah Riaz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Generation of Computers

Introduction:
Computer development and its history is often linked with the different generations of computing
devices that have been invented over time. Major technological developments are the key
features of each generation of computers that have revolutionized the way computers operate,
thus resulting in smaller, faster, efficient, powerful and reliable devices.

There are five generations of computers. Each of them is described below.

First Generation (1940-56):


The first generation of computers were huge and took up a lot of space, using vacuum tubes for
circuitry and magnetic drums for memory. They also used a lot of electricity which made them
expensive to operate. Additionally, they generated a lot of heat, as a result of which they
malfunctioned.

Machine language, the lowest level of programming language understood by computers, was
what enabled these computers to perform operations and also limited them to only solving one
problem at a time.

The input to these computers was based on paper tape and punched cards and the output was
displayed on printouts.

Examples of first-generation computers include the UNIVAC and ENIAC.

Second Generation (1956-63):


Due to the use of transistors in computers in the late 1950s, computers became more cheaper,
energy efficient, faster and smaller, making them more reliable in comparison to their first-
generation predecessors. Despite the great amount of heat generated by transistors which caused
a lot of damage to the computers, it was a great improvement as compared to vacuum tubes.

Having moved from cryptic binary language to symbolic languages, programmers could now
specify instructions in words in second generation computers. Early versions of CABOL and
FORTRAN, high level programming languages were also being developed at that time. The shift
from magnetic drum to magnetic core technology also enabled these computers to store
instructions in their memories.

However, second generation computers still relied on the use of punched cards for inputs and
printouts for output.
Third Generation (1964-71):
Integrated circuits were a major development for the third generation of computers since they
were placed on silicon chips called semiconductors, which contributed to increasing their speed
and efficiency.

For the first time, computers were accessible to a mass audience as they became smaller and
cheaper and users interacted with them using keyboard and monitors. These third generations
computers were interfaced with operating systems which allowed them to run different
applications at the same time with their memory being monitored via a central program.

Fourth Generation (1971-Present):


Thousands of integrated circuits were built into a single silicon chip to form what we call a
microprocessor. In 1971, the Intel 4004 chip was developed, which had all the components of a
computer – from the memory and central processing unit (CPU) to input/output controls all on a
single chip. IBM introduced its first computer for home users in 1981 and Apple introduced the
Macintosh in 1984.

Due to the increase in technology, these small computers became more powerful and could be
linked to form a network, which led to the development of the internet. The development of
handheld devices, the mouse and GUIs also accompanied the fourth-generation computers.

Fifth Generation Computers (Present and Beyond):


Computing devices based on artificial intelligence which will be termed as the fifth generation of
computers are still in development today. Parallel processing and super conductors are helping to
make artificial intelligence a reality. As per current knowledge, nanotechnology and quantum
computation will completely change the face of computers in the future. Fifth generation
computing mainly aims at developing devices that will respond to natural language input and
will be capable of self-organization and learning.

However, certain applications based on artificial intelligence such as voice recognition are being
used currently.

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