3rd Generation Computers

Q:Explain the 3rd generation of computers also define which technology was used in third
Generation ?
During the period of 1964 to 1971 Third generation computers were developed. The third generation
computers emerged with the development of IC (Integrated Circuits). The invention of the IC was the
greatest achievement done in the period of third generation of computers. IC was invented by Robert
Noyce and Jack Kilby in 1958-59. IC is a single component containing a number of transistors.
Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which
drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers. Computers were miniaturized and placed on
silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers.
Keyboards and monitors developed during the period of third generation of computers. The third
generation computers interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many
different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory.
CHARACTERISTICS of 3rd generation
1) IC was used instead of transistors in the third generation computers.
2) Third generation computers were smaller in size and cheaper as compare to the second generation
computers.
3) They were fast and more reliable.
4) High level language was developed.
5) Magnetic core and solid states as main storage.
6) They were able to reduce computational time and had low maintenance cost.
7) Input/ Output devices became more sophisticated
Examples
PDP-8, PDP-11, ICL 2900, IBM 360 and IBM 370 are the examples of third generation computers
Third Generation of Computers 1965- 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.
Followings are some of the characteristics of third generation
1. Use of integrated Circuits instead of transistors
2. Use of semiconductor memory
3. Small size than previous generation computers
4. Use of magnetic storage devices
5. Improve faster operations and more dependable output6. Use of minicomputers
7. Use of monitors and line printers
8. Use of high level programming languages
9. Less expensive than the 2nd generation
10. Less expensive maintenance cost
Examples
IBM 360
IBM 370
PDP-11

FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS

INTRODUCTION
AFTER 1971 THE FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS WERE BUILT. THE FOURTH GENERATION
COMPUTERS WERE THE EXTENSION OF THIRD GENERATION TECHNOLOGY. THE FOURTH
GENERATION COMPUTERS EMERGED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF THE VLSI (VERY LARGE SCALE
INTEGRATION).WITH THE HELP OF VLSI TECHNOLOGY MICROPROCESSOR CAME INTO
EXISTENCE. THE COMPUTERS WERE DESIGNED BY USING MICROPROCESSOR, AS THOUSANDS OF
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WERE BUILT ONTO A SINGLE SILICON CHIP.
CONT.
WHAT IN THE FIRST GENERATION FILLED AN ENTIRE ROOM COULD NOW FIT IN THE PALM OF THE
HAND. THE FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS BECAME MORE POWERFUL, COMPACT, RELIABLE
AND AFFORDABLE . AS A RESULT, THEY GIVE RISE TO PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC) REVOLUTION.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1981 IBM INTRODUCED ITS COMPUTER FOR THE HOME USER AND IN
1984 APPLE INTRODUCED THE MACINTOSH MICROPROCESSOR.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) THE FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS HAVE MICROPROCESSOR-BASED SYSTEMS.
2) THEY ARE THE CHEAPEST AMONG ALL THE COMPUTER GENERATION.
3) THE SPEED, ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY OF THE COMPUTERS WERE IMPROVED IN FOURTH
GENERATION COMPUTERS.
4) MANY HIGH-LEVEL LANGUAGES WERE DEVELOPED IN THE FOURTH GENERATION SUCH AS
COBOL, FOR TRAN , BASIC, PASCAL AND C LANGUAGE.
5) A FURTHER REFINEMENT OF INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICES WAS DEVELOPED.
6) NETWORKING BETWEEN THE SYSTEMS WAS DEVELOPED
EXAMPLES
IBM 4341, DEC 10, STAR 1000, PUP 11 AND APPLE II ARE THE EXAMPLES OF FOURTH GENERATION
COMPUTERS.
FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
Introduction
Fifth generation computers are in developmental stage which is based on the artificial intelligence. The
goal of the fifth generation is to develop the device which could respond to natural language input and
are capable of learning and self-organization. Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology
will be used in this technology. So we can say that the fifth generation computers will have the power of
human intelligence
Artificial Intelligence Includes
Robotics
Neural Networks
Game Playing
Development of expert systems to make decisions in real-life situations
Natural language understanding and generation
CHARACTERISTICS
1) The fifth generation computers will use super large scale integrated chips.
2) They will have artificial intelligence.
3) They will be able to recognize image and graphs.
4) Fifth generation computer aims to be able to solve highly complex problem including decision
making, logical reasoning.
5) They will be able to use more than one CPU for faster processing speed.
6) Fifth generation computers are intended to work with natural language
The main features of fifth generation are
▪ ULSI technology
▪ Development of true artificial intelligence
▪ Development of Natural language processing
▪ Advancement in Parallel Processing
▪ Advancement in Superconductor technology
▪ More user-friendly interfaces with multimedia features
▪ Availability of very powerful and compact computers at cheaper rates
Some computer types of this generation are
Desktop
Laptop
Note Book
Ultra Book
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manages all computer components and operations A
computer cannot do anything without an operating system Operating system must be installed on every
computer user interact with the computer through the operating system
Important operating systems:
Microsoft windows
Linux
Unix
Mac OS
Functions of Operating system:
Booting: booting is the process of staring and restarting the computer operating system starts the
computer to work it checks the computer and makes it ready to work
Memory Management: It is also an important function of operating system the
memory cannot be managed without an operating system different programs and data execute in memory
at one time
Loading and execution: A program is loaded in memory before it can be executed. OS
provide the facility to load programs in memory easily a then execute it
Data Security: Data is an important part of computer system The operating system protects
the data stored on the computer from illegal use modification and deletion
Disk management: operating system manage the disk space it manages the stored files and
folders in a proper way Process management: CPU perform one task at one time if there are many tasks
operating system decides which task should get the CPU
Device controlling: operating system controls all devices attached to computer the hardware
devices are controlled with the help of small software called Device drivers
Printing controlling: operating system also controls printing function if a user issues two print
commands at a time, it does not mix the data of these files and prints them separately
Providing interface: User interface is used to interact with the computer user interface
controls how you enter data instructions and how information is displayed on the screen OS provides two
types of interfaces for the user
Graphical user interface: It consist of visual environment to communicate with
the computer it uses Windows icons menus and other graphical objects
Command-line Interface: it provides an interface to communicate with the computer by
typing commands
Types of Operating systems:
There are three categories of operating system
1.Stand-alone operating system:
2.Server Operating system:
3.Mobile Operating system:
1.Stand-alone operating system: An operating system that works on a desktop or notebook
computer is called stand-alone operating system
Some examples of stand-alone operating system are as follows
Disk Operating system
Windows
Unix
Linux
Mac OS
Chrome OS
I. Disk operating system (DOS)
Dos stands for disk operating system it was developed by Microsoft in early 1980’s for personal
computers it is a single user operating system
Some important commands of DOS are as follows
DIR: it is use to display all the files of current directory
MD: it is use to clear the screen
CD: it is use to change directory
COPY it is used to copy the file
DATE: it is used to display the date
TIME: it is used to display the current time
II. Windows Windows is the most widely used operating system developed by Microsoft it uses
graphical user interface(GUI) some important versions of windows operating system are windows 7
windows 8 windows 8.1 windows 10
III. Mac OS
Mac is the product of Apple it became the first commercially available operating system with the
graphical user interface
IV. UNIX
Unix is the multi-tasking Operating system it was developed at bell laboratories in 1970’s many versions
of UNIX are available some version of UNIX has a command line interface
V. LINUX
LINUX is multi-tasking operating system it is an open source software it means that its code is available
to the public the code can be used and modified
VI. Chrome operating system
Chrome OS is a LINUX based operating system it is designed by Google to work with the web
application the operating system is aimed at users who spend most of their computer time on the web
2.Server Operating system:
An operating system that is designed to support a network is called server operating system it is also
called network operating system A server operating system usually works with the Client server computer
Some examples of server operating system are
Windows server 2012
OS X Server
Netware3.Mobile Operating system:
An operating system that is used in most of the handheld computers and small devices is called mobile
operating system it provides graphical user interface and different features such as touch screens speech
recognition finger prints and many more
Some examples of mobile operating systems are:
Android
IOS
Windows phone
Blackberry
Firefox OS