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Generation of Computers

The document discusses the five generations of computers from the first generation using vacuum tubes to the current fifth generation using artificial intelligence. Each generation saw improvements in size, speed, cost and capabilities due to new technologies like transistors, integrated circuits and microprocessors.

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Brajendra tripura
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67 views3 pages

Generation of Computers

The document discusses the five generations of computers from the first generation using vacuum tubes to the current fifth generation using artificial intelligence. Each generation saw improvements in size, speed, cost and capabilities due to new technologies like transistors, integrated circuits and microprocessors.

Uploaded by

Brajendra tripura
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

The computer has evolved from a large—sized simple calculating machine to a smaller but much
more powerful machine. The evolution of computer to the current state is defined in terms of the
generations of computer. Each generation of computer is designed based on a new technological
development, resulting in better, cheaper and smaller computers that are more powerful, faster and
efficient than their predecessors. Currently, there are five generations of computer.

First Generation (1940 to 1956): Using Vacuum Tubes


• Hardware Technology The first generation of computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and
magnetic drums for memory. The input to the computer was through punched cards and
paper tapes. The output was displayed as printouts.
• Software Technology The instructions were written in machine language. Machine language
uses 0s and 1s for coding of the instructions. The first generation computers could solve one
problem at a time.
• Computing Characteristics The computation time was in milliseconds.
• Physical Appearance These computers were enormous in size and required a large room for
installation.
• Application They were used for scientific applications as they were the fastest computing
device of their time.
• Examples UNIVersal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC), Electronic Numerical Integrator And
Calculator (ENIAC), and Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC).

The first generation computers used a large number of vacuum tubes and thus generated a lot of
heat. They consumed a great deal of electricity and were expensive to operate. The machines
were prone to frequent malfunctioning and required constant maintenance. Since first
generation computers used machine language, they were difficult to program.

Second Generation (1956 to 1963): Using Transistors


• Hardware Technology Transistors replaced the vacuum tubes of the first generation of
computers. Transistors allowed computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, energy
efficient and reliable. The second generation computers used magnetic core technology for
primary memory. They used magnetic tapes and magnetic disksfor secondary storage. The
input was still through punched cards and the output using printouts. They used the concept
of a stored program, where instructions were stored in the memory of computer.
• Software Technology The instructions were written using the assembly language. Assembly
language uses mnemonics like ADD for addition and SUB for subtraction for coding of the
instructions. It is easier to write instructions in assembly language, as compared to writing
instructions in machine language. High-level programming languages, such as early versions
of COBOL and FORTRAN were also developed during this period.
• Computing Characteristics The computation time was in microseconds.
• Physical Appearance Transistors are smaller in size compared to vacuum tubes, thus, the size
of the computer was also reduced.
• Application The cost of commercial production of these computers was very high, though
less than the first generation computers. The transistors had to be assembled manually in
second generation computers.
• Examples PDP-8, IBM 1401 and CDC 1604.

Second generation computers generated a lot of heat but much less than the first generation
computers. They required less maintenance than the first generation computers.
Third Generation (1964 to 1971): Using Integrated Circuits
• Hardware Technology The third generation computers used the Integrated Circuit (IC) chips.
In an IC chip, multiple transistors are placed on a silicon chip. Silicon is a type of
semiconductor. The use of IC chip increased the speed and the efficiency of computer,
manifold. The keyboard and monitor were used to interact with the third generation
computer, instead of the punched card and printouts.
• Software Technology The keyboard and the monitor were interfaced through the operating
system. Operating system allowed different applications to run at the same time. High-level
languages were used extensively for programming, instead ofmachine language and
assembly language.
• Computing Characteristics The computation time was in nanoseconds.
• Physical Appearance The size of these computers was quite small compared to the second
generation computers.
• Application Computers became accessible to mass audience. Computers were produced
commercially, and were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.
• Examples IBM 370, PDP 11.

The third generation computers used less power and generated less heat than the second generation
computers. The cost of the computer reduced significantly, as individual components of the
computer were not required to be assembled manually. The maintenance cost of the computers was
also less compared to their predecessors.

Fourth Generation (1971 to present): Using Microprocessors


• Hardware Technology They use the Large Scale Integration (LSI) and the Very Large Scale
Integration (VLSI) technology. Thousands of transistors are integrated on a small silicon chip
using LSI technology. VLSI allows hundreds of thousands of components to be integrated in a
small chip. This era is marked by the development of microprocessor. Microprocessor is a
chip containing millions of transistors and components, and, designed using LSI and VLSI
technology. This generation of computers gave rise to Personal Computer (PC).
Semiconductor memory replaced the earlier magnetic core memory, resulting in fast random
access to memory. Secondary storage device like magnetic disks became smaller in physical
size and larger in capacity. The linking of computers is another key development of this era.
The computers were linked to form networks that led to the emergence of the Internet. This
generation also saw the development of pointing devices like mouse, and handheld devices.
• Software Technology Several new operating systems like the MS-DOS and MSWindows
developed during this time. This generation of computers supported Graphical User Interface
(GUI). GUI is a user-friendly interface that allows user to interact with the computer via
menus and icons. High-level programming languages are used for the writing of programs.
• Computing Characteristics The computation time is in picoseconds.
• Physical Appearance They are smaller than the computers of the previous generation. Some
can even fit into the palm of the hand.
• Application They became widely available for commercial purposes. Personal computers
became available to the home user.
• Examples The Intel 4004 chip was the first microprocessor. The components of the computer
like Central Processing Unit (CPU) and memory were located on a single chip. In 1981, IBM
introduced the first computer for home use. In 1984, Apple introduced the Macintosh.

The microprocessor has resulted in the fourth generation computers being smaller and cheaper than
their predecessors. The fourth generation computers are also portable and more reliable. They
generate much lesser heat and require less maintenance compared to their predecessors. GUI and
pointing devices facilitate easy use and learning on the computer. Networking has resulted in
resource sharing and communication among different computers.

Fifth Generation (Present and Next): Using Artificial Intelligence


The goal of fifth generation computing is to develop computers that are capable of learning and self-
organization. The fifth generation computers use Super Large Scale Integrated (SLSI) chips that are
able to store millions of components on a single chip. These computers have large memory
requirements.

This generation of computers uses parallel processing that allows several instructions to be executed
in parallel, instead of serial execution. Parallel processing results in faster processing speed. The Intel
dualcore microprocessor uses parallel processing.

The fifth generation computers are based on Artificial Intelligence (AI). They try to simulate the
human way of thinking and reasoning. Artificial Intelligence includes areas like Expert System (ES),
Natural Language Processing (NLP), speech recognition, voice recognition, robotics, etc.

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