Computer Evolution

mrs.Kl mrsKduh

Sandamal Vidanagamage
BIT (Univ.Col), PgD (SLIIT), MCP
0712 300500
Computer Evolution
The human beings have evolved from the apes, over the generations, they have retained their basic
structure while losing certain features and adding new features.
usksia j¾.hd mrusmrd .Kkdjla Tiafia jdkrhdf.ka mrsKduh jS we;' tysoS uQ,sl wdlD;sh tf<iu mej;=Kq
w;r iuyr ,laIK laIh jSu;a ;j;a iuyr ,laIK tl;= jSu;a isoqjSh'

Computers also have followed a similar pattern, they have developed over a number of generations.
mrs.Kl ;=< mej;=fkao fuu rgdju fjs' tajd mrusmrd .Kkdjla Tiafia ixjraOkh jsh'

The history of Information and Communication Technology can be divided

into four main eras.
mrs.Kl yd ikaksfjsok ;dlaIKh b;sydifha jraOk ld, jljdkq y;rlg
fnod oelajsh yel

Pre mechanical era (before 1450) mQraj hdka;%sl hq.h - 1450 g fmr 2.
Mechanical era (1450-1840) hdka;%sl hq.h - 1450-1840 3.
Electromechanical era (1840-1940) jsoHq;a hdka;%sl hq.h- 1840-1940
Electronic era (1940 to date) jsoHq;a hq.h - 1940 isg wo olajd

Pre mechanical era

It is evident that the first mathematical calculating device,the Abacus had been used in China around 3000 BC.
l%smq 3000 oS muK m%:u .Ks; WmlrKh jk pSkfha wenlih Ndjs;d l< nj lshefjs
It used only for addition and subtraction.
th tl;= lsrSu iy wvq lsrSu i|yd muKla Ndjs; jsh'

Mechanical era (1450-1840) hdka;%sl hq.h (1450-1840

John Napier a Scottish mathematician who discovered logarithms in 1614 to allow

multiplication and division to be converted to addition and subtraction.
,>q .Kl l%uh f,djg y|qkajd oqkafka iafldgs,ka; .Ks;{hl= jQ ^1614 ) John Napier
jsisks' tysoS jevslsrSu iy fnoSu" tl;= lsrSu iy wvq lsrSu u.ska isoql< yels jsh'

This technique he implemented through napier‟s bone, slide ruler and logarithm table. The logarithms
method was rapidly adopted by scientists, engineers, and others to perform computations more easily and
rapidly,
,>q .Kl ixl,amh Napier’s Born, Slide Ruler iy ,>q .Kl j.=j yryd l%shd;aul jsh' fuu ,>q .Kl l%uh
jsoHd{hska" bxcsfkarejka jeks wh jsiska ms<s.kakd ,oS'

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 2

The first mechanical calculator ,the Pascaline was invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642. It could perform only
addition and subtraction.
nsf,aia meial,a jsiska fidhd .kakd ,o meial,hska hka;%h ^m%:u hdka;sl
% .Kl hka;%h 1642& tl;= lsrSu yd wvq
lsrSu i|yd muKla Ndjs; lrk ,oS
[Blaise Pascal, at age 19, invented the Pascaline as an aid for his father who was a tax collector.]

[Up until the present age the car's speedometer used the very same mechanism as the Pascaline to increment the
next wheel after each full revolution of the prior wheel.]

The German scientist Gottfried Wilhelm Won Liebnitz prepared a mechanical device call Step Reckoner
(1674) which improved the Pascaline to a state that it could be used to
multiply and divide also

1674 crauka cd;sl jsoHd{ Gottfried Wilhelm Won Leibnitez jsiska fuu
meial,hska hka;%h jevs oshqKq lr .=K lsrSu yd fnoSu l< yels wdldrhg Step
Reckoner f,i oshqKq lf<ah'

Joseph Jacquard was the inventor of

punched card system, that simplifies the process
of manufacturing textiles with complex patterns.
The mechanical loom is controlled by punched
cards with punched holes.
Joseph Jacquard jsiska isoqrem;a l%uh y|qkajdfok
,oS'we|qus jsjSfusoS ixlSrK rgdjka ir,j ie<iqus
lsrSu isoqrem;a j, we;s isoqre rgdj u.ska isoqjsh'

Technology -vs- Jobs

Jacquard's technology was a real boon to mill owners, but put many
loom operators out of work. Angry mobs smashed Jacquard looms and
once attacked Jacquard himself. History is full of examples of labor
unrest following technological innovation yet most studies show that,
overall, technology has actually increased the number of jobs.

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 3

^Difference Engine 1822& vs*rkaia tkacsu

^Analytical Engine 1830& jsYaf,aIl tkacsu

In 1822 Charlse Babage prepared the Difference Engine that could carry out mathematical operations and
also store data (Considered as the first mechanical general-purpose computer).
pd,aia nefnsca .Ks; lrau l< yels iy o;a; .nvd l< yels vsmrkaia tkacsu ksraudKh lrk ,oS ^th m<uq
fmdoq ldrahh hdka;%sl mrs.Klh f,i y|qkajhs&

It was Charles Babbage who presented the concept of Input, Process and Output that is used in modern
computers (first recognizable computers) for the first time, therefore considered him as “The father of the
computer”.

wo Ndjs; jk mrs.kl j, we;s jHqla;s wdlD;s ixl,amh ^wdodk" ieliSu iy m%;sodk& m<uqjrg bosrsm;a lrk
,oafoao fudyqh' tnejska Tyq ’mrs.klfha mshd’ f,i ie<fla

Lady Ada Augesta Lovelace who assisted him for programe the machine therefore considered her as “The
first computer programmer”.
Tyq tu ldrahhg iyh jQ wevd T.iagd ,jsf,ia wdrahdj m%:u mrs.kl l%uf,aLsld f,io ye|skafjs'

Charles Babbage designs the “Analytical Engine” but it could not be completed.

jsYaf,aIl hka;%h pd,aia nefnsca jsiska ksraudKh lrk ,oS' kuq;a th iusmQraK lsrSug Tyqg fkdyels jsh'

Electromechanical era (1840-1940) jsoHq;a hdka;%sl hq.h- 1840-1940

Tabulating machine an electromechanical calculating machine that

automatically processes numerical and alphabetic information stored on
punch cards and records the results of the computations on continuous
paper or special forms.

A tabulator is a basic component of a punch-card processing system. The

printer was the main output device for the tabulating machine.

fuu hq.fha jvd;a ckm%sh;u .Kl hka;%h jQfha genshqf,agska ueIska fjs' tysoS
b,lalus yd wl=re" ieliSu yd ;ekam;a lsrSu l< yelsjsh'

o;a; we;=<;a lsrSu ;ekam;a lsrSu iy f;dr;=re ,nd .ekSu i|yd isoqrem;a iy continuous papers Ndjs;d lrk
,oS'

uqo%lh fuu hka;%fha m%Ok m%;sodk Wmdx.h fjs'

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 4

The U.S. census of 1890 was counted on tabulating machines designed by Herman Hollerith.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Hollerith machines were the best data processing devices available.

Hollerith tabulating company which became IBM in 1924.

wdpdrah yrauka fyd,rs;a jsiska idok ,o genshqf,agska hka;%h 1890oS tlai;a ckmofhaoS mej;s ck ix.kkfha
m%;sM, ldraHlaIuj ,ndoSug WmldrS jsh' 1930-40 jljdkqfjsoS fuu hka;%h jvd;a idra:lu o;a; ieliSfus hka;%h
njg m;ajsh' 1924oS IBM f,i wdrusN jQfha fyd,rs;a f.a genshqf,agska lusmks kus wdh;kh fjs'

Electronic era (1940 to date) jsoHq;a hq.h - 1940 isg wo olajd

The evolution of the computer basically based on the development of its electronic component as follows

First Generation - Vacuum tube

Second Generation - Transistor
Third Generation - Integrated Circuit (IC)
Fourth Generation - Micro chip

fuu hq.fha Ndjs;d l< ;dlaIKh ^bf,lafg%dksl Wmdx.& wkqj mrs.kl mrusmrd y;rlg fnfoa
m<uq mrusmrdj - rsla;l k,
fojk mrusmrdj - g%dkaisiagr
f;jk mrusmrdj - ixhqla; mrsm:
y;rjk mrusmrdj - laIo% psmh$ilikh

The Evolution of the Computer

First Generation (1939-1954) - Vacuum Tube

The vacuum tube is an electronic device that controls the flow

of electrons through a vacuum.
jsoq,s Odrdjla rsla;lhla ;=<ska md,kh lsrSu i|yd rsla;l k<
Ndjs;d lrk ,oS'

The is used as a switch, amplifier or display screen.

Used as on/off switches, Early vacuum tubes were used to amplify signals
for radio and other audio devices in 1915.
th iajspsPhla" ;srhla iy weusma,s*hra tlla f,i .=jka jsoq,s hka;%j, iy
jsjsO ikaksfjsok Wmdx. j, Ndjs;d lrk ,oS'

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 5

Tubes were used as switches in calculating machines in 1939.
they allowed the first computers to perform digital computations.

1939oS rsla;l k< Nddjs;d lruska m,uq mrusmrdfjs mrs.Kl nsys jsh' th wxls; mrs.Kl i|yd wvs;d,u jsh'

1937- John V. Atanasoff designed the Atanasoff- Berry Computer. (ABC machine).
1937- John V. Atanasoff jsiska ABC hka;%h ie<iqus lrk ,oS

1944 - Howard Aiken developed the Harvard Mark I digital computer for the Navy.
1944oS ydjvs jsYaj jsoHd,fha uydpdhH_ Howard Aiken jsiska iajhxl%sh mrs.Kl hka;%h jk iajhxl%Sh wkql%u
md,l .Kl hka;%h ^Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator& ke;fyd;a Mark 1 ksmojk ,oS

1945 - John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert built ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer
) for the U.S Army which used nearly 18,000 tubes. It considered as the first electronic digital computer, It
was used to compute information for a variety of military tasks until 1955, renamed ((UNIVersal Automatic
Computer I) UNIVAC.

1945 - John W. Mauchly iy J. Presper Eckert uQ,sl;ajfhka ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Computer) ksraudKh jsh' th m<uq bf,lafg%dksl wxls; mrs.Klhf,i y|qkajhs' rsla;l k< 18000lska iukajs;
jQ bkswela hka;%h tlai;a ckmofha hqO yuqodj i|yd 1955 olajd Ndjs;d lrk ,oS'

Von Neumann Computer 1945 -von Neumann proposed a stored program computer called EDVAC
(Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) Invented in 1948, is considered the first digital computer
that could store programs.m<uqj jevigyka ;ekam;a l< yels hka;%h f,i fjdka kshqudka jsiska EDVAC
y|qkajdfok ,oS

1948 - Howard Aiken developed the Harvard Mark III electronic computer with 5000 vacuum tubes.
fydjdvs talka jsiska Mark III hka;%ho ksmojk ,oS

1951 - Remington Rand successfully tested UNIVAC ((UNIVersal Automatic Computer I) March
30, 1951, and announced to the public its sale to the Census Bureau June 14, 1951, the first
commercial computer to feature a magnetic tape storage system, the eight tape drives that stood
separate from the CPU and control console on the other side of a garage-size room.
UNIVAC m<uq jdKsc mrs.Klh jsh' th ldur m%uKfha jsYd, bvlvl pqusNl ;egs Odjl 8lska iy
uOH ieliqus tallh we;=,q fjk;a md,k WmlrK j,ska iukajs; jsh'(ensus burean wdh;khg m,uq
wf,js lsrsu m%isoAO lrk ,oS)

[Each tape drive was six feet high and three feet wide, used 1/2-inch metal tape of nickel-plated bronze 1200 feet
long, recorded data on eight channels at 100 inches per second with a transfer rate of 7,200 characters per second.
The complete UNIVAC system weighed 29,000 pounds, included 5200 vacuum tubes..
The speed with which UNIVAC's magnetic tape could input data was faster than IBM's punch card technology,]

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 6

1952 – The UNIVAC 1, was used in November to calculate the presidential election returns and
was successfully predicted the winner.
UNIVAC 1, 1952 oS tlai;a ckmofha ckdOsm;sjrK m%;sM, ,nd .ekSu i|yd Ndjs;d lrk ,oS'

1954 - The SAGE aircraft-warning system was the largest vacuum tube computer system ever
built. It began in 1954 at MIT's Lab with funding from the Air Force. The first of 23 Direction
Centers went online in Nov. 1956, and the last in 1962. The computer was built by IBM, MIT, AND
Bell Labs. The 275-ton computers had magnetic core memory, magnetic drum and magnetic tape
storage. The Centers were connected by an early network, and pioneered development of the
modem.
m<uq mrusmrdfjs jsYd,;u mrs.Klh SAGE fjs' tys pqusNl fldaj" pqusNl fnr iy pqusNl mgs m%Odk
u;l Wmdx. jsh' merKs;u mrs.Kl ;dlaIKh fuu moaO;sh ;=< olakg ,ensKs' fuh .=jka wdrlaIl
moaO;shla f,i mej;=Ks'

First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language
understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time.
Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.
m<uq mrusmrdfjs mrs.Kl i|yd hdka;%sl NdIdfjka o;a; iy jevigyka we;=<;a lrk ,oS' fuu
hka;%j, jsi|sh yelafla jrlg tla m%Yakh ne.ska muKs' lvodis mgs iy isoqrem;a o;a; wdodkh
i|ydo uqo%K msgm;a o;a; m%;sodkh i|ydo Ndjs; lrk ,oS'

They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated
a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.
l%shd;aul lsrSu i|yd wOsl jshou iy jevs jsoq,shla jehjSu fukau wOsl ;dmhla ksl=;a jSu;a ks;r
jeros m%;sM, ,ndosu fuu mrs.Klj, oqraj,;djkah'

magnetic drum

Atanasoff- memory of the

Berry Computer Atanasoff-

1939, from IEEE Berry Computer 1939

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 7

Second Generation Computers (1954 -1959) - Transistors

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes. The transistor was invented in 1947 by Bell Telephone Laboratories,
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.

1947 fn,a jsoHd.drfha ksmojQ g%dkaisiagr" rsla;l k< fjkqjg Ndjs; lrk ,oS' g%dkaisiagr ksid mrs.Kl l=vdjSu"
fjs.j;anj" wvq jshoulska fukau jevs jsoq,s ldraHlaIu;djlska iy jevs jsYajdihlska mrs.Kl Ndjs; lsrSug u.
mEosK'

Second-generation computers still relied on magnetic core memory, magnetic tapes punched cards for
input and printouts for output.

kuq;a fojk mrusmrdfjs mrs.Kl j,o Ndjs; lrk ,oafoa pqusNl fldaj fukau pqusNl mgs iy o;a; wdodkh
i|yd isoqrem;a o o;a; m%;o
s dkh i|yd uqo%K msgm;ao fhdod .eKsk'

By 1948, the invention of the transistor greatly changed the computer's development. The transistor
replaced the vacuum tube in televisions, radios and computers. The first large-scale machines to take
advantage of this transistor technology were early supercomputers, Stretch by IBM and LARC by Sperry-
Rand. These computers, both developed for atomic energy laboratories, could handle an enormous
amount of data, a capability much in demand by atomic scientists.

g%dkaisiagr iu. mrs.Kl j, jsYd, oshqKqjla we;sjsh' wfkl=;a bf,lafg%dksl Wmdx. i|ydo iS>%fhka g%dkaisiagr
Ndjs;h jraOkh jsh' m<uq iqmsrs mrs.Kl ksraudKho wdrusN jQfha fuu ld,fhaoSh'

1950 - National Bureau of Standards (NBS) introduced its Standards Eastern

Automatic Computer (SEAC) the first magnetic disk drive designed by Jacob Rabinow
m<uq pqusNl ;egs Odjl (SEAC) mrs.Klh i|yd y|qkajdfok ,oS'

Second-generation computers moved from binary machine language to assembly language, Second
generation computers also started showing the characteristics of modern day computers with utilities such
as printers, disk storage and operating systems. Many financial information was processed using these
computers.
wefiusns,s mrs.Kl NdIdj y|qkajdfok ,oafoa fuu ld,fhah' vsiala Odjl iy fufyhqus moaO;s meusKs w;r
mrs.Kl uQ,H lafIa;%hg iusnkaO jsh

1953 - Tom Watson, Jr., led IBM to introduce the model 604 computer.
IBM 604 mrs.Klh yoqkd.kAkd ,oS

• 1955 - IBM introduced the 702 business computer;

IBM 702 jHdmdrsl mrs.Klh yoqkd.kAkd ,oS

• Bendix G-15 of 1956, inexpensive at $60,000, for science and industry but could also be used by a single
user; several hundred were built - used magnetic tape drive and key punch terminal.

tlA mrsYs,hl=g muKlA Ndjs;d l, yels Bendix G 15 kus 60000$ muK jk us, wju jq mrs.Klh 1956oS
pqusNl Odjl iy isoqrem;A lshjkhlA iys; mrs.Kl yoqkAjdfok ,oS

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 8

•

1959 - General Electric Corporation delivered its Electronic Recording Machine Accounting (ERMA)
computing system to the Bank of America in California

le,sfmdkshdfjs “ Bank of America” kus nexl=j ERMA mrs.Kl moAO;sh Ndjs;d lrk ,oS

High-level languages such as COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) and FORTRAN (Formula
Translator) were used, and they are still used for some applications now a day.
Bank of America jsiska mrs.Kl nexl= moaO;shg y|qkajd fokq ,enqfjs fuu ld,fhaoSh' COBOL iy FORTRAN
NdId j,ska mrs.Kl jevigyka ksraudKh jsh'

The Second Generation. Vacuum tubes replaced by transistors as

main logic element. AT&T's Bell Laboratories, in the 1940s

3. Third Generation Computers (1959 -1971) - IC (wkql,s; mrsm:)

The Third Generation (1964-1979).
1959 – the first integrated circuit in Feb.

1959 - the first commercial product using IC was the hearing

aid in Dec. 1963, first introduced as SSI and MSI chips.
General Instrument made MSI chip (100+ components).
The integration of large numbers of tiny transistors into a small
chip.
g%dkaisiagr ish .Kkla tl;= jSfuka wkql<s; mrsm:hla nsysjsh'
wkql,s; mrsm: Ndjs; lsrSu;a iu. ;=kajk mrusmrdfjs mrs.Kl
wdrusN jsh' wkql,s; mrsm: SSI iy MSI wdldrfhka nsysjsh

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 9

After the invention of Integrated circuits which were made out
of a collection of transistors, computers became small in size, low in price and also it had a high speed.
wkql,s; mrsm: Ndjs;d lsrsfukA 3jk mrusmrdfjs mrs>Kl nsysjsh

These computers which were made out of ICs are called 3rd generation computers (1964-1971). Integrated
Circuits drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers.
wkql,s; mrsm: iu. mrs.Kl j, m%udkh l=vd jSu" us, wvqjSu fjs.j;a jSu iy ldraHlaIu;djh jraOkh jSu
isoqjsh'

Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through
keyboards and monitors.
h;=re mqjrej iy ikaoraYlh$;srh ^Monitor& u.ska mrsYS,lhd (User) mrs.Klh iu. lghq;= lsrSu werUsK'

1963 – ASCII code introduced./ ASCII y|qkajdfok ,oS

1964 - IBM produced SABRE, the first airline reservation tracking system for American Airlines; IBM
announced the System/360 all-purpose computer, using 8-bit character word length (a "byte").

IBM jsiskA m,uq .=jkA .ukA wdik fjkA lsrsfus moAO;sh yoqkAjd fok ,oS
System /360 fmdoqldrAh mrs.Kl yoqkAjd fok ,oS

1968 - DEC introduced the first "mini-computer".

1968 uOH m%udKfha mrs.Kl y|qkajdosKs'

1969 - Development began on ARPAnet, ^wdmfkgs wdrusN jsh&

1971 - The first digital audio device. ^uq,ajrg Y%jK Wmdx. mrs.Klhg we;=<;ajSu&

early transistor calculators - Casio

calculators –

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 10

4. Fourth Generation (1971-Present) - microprocessor laIqo% ilikh

During this period, with the development of technology, where thousands of integrated circuits were
attached into a single silicon chip then Micro Processor was born. While the computers built using them
increased in speed and efficiency, there was a drop in size and cost.
laIqo% ilikh iEoS we;af;a wkql,s; mrsm: ish .Kkl tl;=jlsks' laIqo% ilikh;a iu.u mrs.Klj, fjs.h
iy ldraHlaIu;djh jevs jQ w;r m%udKh iy us, wvq jsh'

Very Large Scale (VLSI is an integrated circuit design that contains 5,000 to 50,000 transisters on a single
chip) and Ultra Large scale(ULSI) ensured that millions of components could be fit into a small chip. It
reduced the size and price of the computers at the same time increasing power, efficiency and reliability.
VLSI jra.fha laaIqo% ilik iEoS we;af;a g%dkaisiagr 5000-50000 olajd m%udKhlsks' ULSI jra.fha laIqo% ilik
iEoS we;af;a g%dkaisiagr us,shk .Kklsks'

"The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971 by intel, The Intel 4004 is generally considered the first
microprocessor and cost in the thousands of dollars. The first known advertisement for the 4004 is dated to
November 1971;

1971 oS m<uq laIqo% ilikh jQ Intel 4004 ksIamdokh jsh'

A microprocessor incorporates most or all of the functions of early computer's central processing unit (CPU)
on a single integrated circuit (IC, or microchip).

CIqo% ilikh ;=, l,skA CPU u.skA isoqlek ,o fndfyduhlA ldrAhhkA l%shd;Aul fjs

The first microprocessors emerged in the early 1970s and were used for electronic calculators, using
binary-coded decimal (BCD) arithmetic on 4-bit words.
l,ska mej;s mrs.Klj, CPU tallh u.ska isoql< ldrahhka fuysoS laIqo% ilikh u.ska isoqjsh' uq,au laIqo%
ilikh jsiska BCD wdldrhg o;a; ksrEmKh lrk ,oS'

Japanese company Busicom created a single chip for a calculator; IBM introduced the first 8-inch "memory
disk", as it was called then, or the "floppy disk" later; Hoffmann-La Roche patented the LCD display for
calculators and watches;
IBM iud.u 8’ m%udKfha iqkuH ;egsh y|qkajd fok ,oS'

• 1972 - Intel made the 8-bit 8008 and 8080 microprocessors; Gary wrote his Control
Program/Microprocessor (CP/M) disk operating system to provide instructions for floppy disk drives to work
with the 8080 processor.
Intel jsiskA 1972oS 8008 kus 8bits ilikhlA yoqkAjdfok ,oS

• 1973 - IBM developed the first true sealed hard disk drive, called the "Winchester" using two 30 MB
platters; Robert Metcalfe at Xerox PARC created Ethernet as the basis for a local area network,

"Winchester" jra.fha m<uq oDv ;egsh 30MB Odrs;djlska hq;a ;egs folla f,i y|qkajd fok ,oS'

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 11

• 1974 - a monitor, a graphical user interface ps;%l mrsYS,l w;=re uqyqK; , a mouse uqislh, and an ethernet
card for networking.
• 1976 - Jobs and Wozniak developed the Apple personal computer; Alan introduced the 5.25-inch floppy
disk .
wem,a j._fha mqoa., mrs.Klh ksIamdokh jsh'

• 1977 - It introduced its most popular game "Donkey Kong" in 1981, Super Mario Bros in 1985.
Donkey Kong, Super Mario mrs.Kl l%Svd y|qkajdfok ,oS'

• 1978 - Visicalc spreadsheet software (me;=reusm;a uDoqldx.h& was written by Daniel Bricklin and Bob
Frankston.

• 1979 - Micropro released Wordstar that set the standard for word processing software.
joka ieliSu i|yd Micropro ,Wordstar uDoqldx. uqod yrsk ,oS

• 1980 - IBM signed a contract with the Microsoft Co. of Bill Gates and Paul Allen and Steve Ballmer to supply
an operating system for IBM's new PC model.

• 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user.

• 1984 - Apple Computer introduced the Macintosh personal computer January 24.

• 1987 - Bill Atkinson of Apple Computers created a software program called HyperCard that was bundled
free with all Macintosh computers. This program for the first time made hypertext.
wOsmdG iys; HyperCard uDoqldx.h wem,a uelskafgdIa fufyhqus moaO;sh iu. y|qkajdfok ,oS'

Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.
What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand.
m<uq mrusmrdfjs jsYd, ldurhl m%udKh jQ mrs.Kl y;rjk mrusmdrdfjsoS ps;%l mrsYS,l w;=reuqyqK;a iy
uqislh iys;j w;af,a f.k hd yels ugsgug l=vd jsh'

A microprocessor or processor is the brain of the computer and it performs all the computational tasks,
calculations and data processing etc. the most popular type of the processor is the Intel Pentium chip.

●The Apple and IBM companies became quite popular in the development of personal computers. The
processor provider of the IBM Company was the Intel Company. The other organizations that produce
processors are Intel, Cyrix, IDT, AMD and Motorola.

laIqo% ilikh mrs.Klfha fud<h f,i .Kkh lsrSu yd o;a; ieliSfus ldraHhka isoq lrhs' wo jvd;a ckm%sh;u
laIqo% ilikhka jkafka Intel, Pentium fjs' fjk;a j._ f,i Cyrix, IDT, AMD iy Motorola oelajsh yel'

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 12

5. Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond -jra;udkh iy wkd.;h)

The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are
capable of learning and self-organization.

miajk mrusmrdfjs mrs.Kl j, b,lalh jkqfha l:dlrk NdIdj iu. m%;spdr olajk ;ud jsiska bf.kSfus iy
;u lghq;= ixjsOdkh lr .ekSfus yelshdjlska hq;a hka;%hls'

Development of ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE to make the computer function and take decisions almost like
human beings, implementation of expert systems, robots, intelligent programs, speech recognitions are
included in the fifth generation of computer innovation. Features of 5th generation computers are

lD;%Su nqoaOsh hkq usksil= f,ig ;SrK .ekSfus yelshdjhs' jsfYaI{ moaO;Ska" frdfndajreka" nqoaOsu;a jevigyka
iy jpk f;areus .ekSu miajk mrusmrdfjs mrs.Kl ;=, oelsh yelsh'

miajk mrusmrdfjs mrs.Klj, ,laIK my; mrsosh'

Artificial intelligence lD;%Su nqoaOsh

Voice recognition jpk y|qkd.ekSu
Quantum computing fldkagus ;dlaIKh
Bio computing cSjS mrs.Kl
Nano technology kefkda ;dlaIh
Self learning iajhx bf.kSu
Deal with natural languages usksia NdIdjka iu. lghq;= lsrSu

Fifth generations computers are only in the minds of advance research scientists and being tested out in
the laboratories. These computers will be under Artificial Intelligence(AI).

The processors based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications,
such as voice recognition, that are being used today.

miajk mrusmrdfjs mrs.Kl ;ju;a mrafhaIK ugsgfus mj;S' kuq;a jpk y|qkd.ekSus jeks jevigyka wo
mrs.Kl;=< oelsh yel'

The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.
Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of computers in
years to comeScientists are now at work with the fifth generation of computers.

iudka;r ieliSu iy iqmsrs ikakdhl lD;%Su nqoaOsh h;dra:hla lsrSug lghq;= lrhs' bosrs jirj, mrs.Kl j,
jsYd, fjkila lsrSug fldkagus ;dlaIKh" wkq iy kefkda ;dlaIKh lghq;= lrhs'

The world is moving towards the development of what one can call „Super Large Scale Integration‟ – which
in turn will compliment and improve speed, miniaturization and cost reduction.

SLSI mrsm: u.ska mrs.Klj, fjs.h jevsjk w;r m%udKh iy us, wvqfjs'

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 13

Conclusion- iudma;sh

The size, power consumption, price and heat generation are few computer aspects that have decreased
over the generations. The speed of processing, memory capacity and the performance are the features
that have increased over the years.
mrs.Kl mrsKdufhaoS m%udKh" jsoq,sh jehjSu" us, iy ;dm jsfudapkh l%ufhka wvqjQ ,laIK fjs' fjs.h u;l
Odrs;dj iy yelshdj l%ufhka jevsjQ ,laIK fjs'
[Each generation of computer 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 devices.]

--=-=--

© Sandamal Vidanagamage ICTA/L O/L Revision 0712 300500 Page 14