Generations of Computers – Computer

Fundamentals
Generations of Computer: The modern computer took its shape with the arrival of your time. It
had been around the 16th century when the evolution of the computer started. The initial computer
faced many changes, obviously for the betterment. It continuously improved itself in terms of
speed, accuracy, size, and price to urge the form of the fashionable day computer.

Basic Terms Related to Computers

The basic terms related to generations of computers are listed below.
1. Vacuum Tube: Vacuum tubes have the functionality of controlling the flow of electronics in a
vacuum. Generally, it is used in switches, amplifiers, radios, televisions, etc.
2. Transistor: A transistor helps in controlling the flow of electricity in devices, it works as an
amplifier or a switch.
3. Integrated Circuit (IC): Integrated circuits are silicon chips that contain their circuit elements like
transistors, resistors, etc.
4. Microprocessors: Microprocessors are the components that contain the CPU and its circuits and
are present in the Integrated Circuit.
5. Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is called the brain of the computer. CPU performs
processing and operations work.
6. Magnetic Drum: Magnetic Drum is like a cylinder that stores data and cylinder.
7. Magnetic Core: Magnetic cores are used to store information. These are arrays of small rings.
8. Machine Language: Machine Language is the language that a computer accepts (in the form of
binary digits). It is also called low-level programming language.
9. Memory: Memory is used to store data, information, and program in a computer.
10.Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence deals with creating intelligent machines and
behaviors.

Phases of Computer Generations

This long period is often conveniently divided into the subsequent phases called computer
generations.
• First Generation Computers (1940-1956)
• Second Generation Computers (1956-1963)
• Third Generation Computers (1964-1971)
• Fourth Generation Computers (1971-Present)
• Fifth Generation Computers (Present and Beyond)
 Generations of Computer Time-Period Evolving Hardware

First Generation 1940s – 1950s Vacuum Tube Based

Second Generation 1950s – 1960s Transistor Based

Third Generation 1960s – 1970s Integrated Circuit Based

Fourth Generation 1970s – Present Microprocessor Based

Fifth Generation Present – Future Artificial Intelligence Based

Before the generation of computers, we used calculators, spreadsheets, and computer algebra
systems, mathematicians and inventors searched for solutions to ease the burden of calculation.

Below are the 8 Mechanical Calculators before modern computers were invented.
1. Abacus (ca. 2700 BC)
2.Pascal’s Calculator (1652)
3.Stepped Reckoner (1694)
4.Arithmometer (1820)
5.Comptometer (1887) and Comptograph (1889)
6.The Difference Engine (1822)
7.Analytical Engine (1834)
8.The Millionaire (1893)

First Generation Computers

The technology behind the primary generation computers was a fragile glass device, which was
called a vacuum tube. These computers were very heavy and really large. These weren’t very
reliable and programming on them was a tedious task as they used low-level programming language
and used no OS. First-generation computers were used for calculation, storage, and control purpose.
They were too bulky and large that they needed a full room and consume a lot of electricity. Punch
cards were used for improving the information for external storage. Magnetic card used . Machine
and assembly language is developed.
Examples of some main first-generation computers are mentioned below.
•ENIAC: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, built by J. Presper Eckert and John V.
Mauchly was a general-purpose computer. It had been cumbersome, and large, and contained
18,000 vacuum tubes.
•EDVAC: Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer was designed by von Neumann. It
could store data also as instruction and thus the speed was enhanced.
•UNIVAC: Universal Automatic Computer was developed in 1952 by Eckert and Mauchly.

Vacuum Tube

Characteristics of First-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Main electronic component Vacuum tube.

Programming language Machine language.

Main memory Magnetic tapes and magnetic drums.

Input/output devices Paper tape and punched cards.

Speed and size Very slow and very large (often taking up an entire room).

Examples of the first

IBM 650, IBM 701, ENIAC, UNIVAC1, etc.
generation

Second Generation Computers

Second-generation computers used the technology of transistors rather than bulky vacuum tubes.
Another feature was the core storage. A transistor may be a device composed of semiconductor
material that amplifies a sign or opens or closes a circuit.
Transistors were invented in Bell Labs. The use of transistors made it possible to perform
powerfully and with due speed. It reduced the dimensions and price and thankfully the warmth too,
which was generated by vacuum tubes. Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, programming
language, and input, and output units also came into the force within the second generation.
The programming language was shifted from high level to programming language and made
programming comparatively a simple task for programmers. Languages used for programming
during this era were FORTRAN (1956), ALGOL (1958), and COBOL (1959).
Transistor

Characteristics of Second-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Main electronic
Transistor.
component

Programming language Machine language and assembly language.

Memory Magnetic core and magnetic tape/disk.

Input/output devices Magnetic tape and punched cards.

Smaller in size, had low power consumption, and generated less

Power and size
heat (in comparison with the first-generation computers).

Examples of the second PDP-8, IBM1400 series, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107, CDC
generation 3600, etc.

Third Generation Computers

During the third generation, technology envisaged a shift from huge transistors to integrated
circuits, also referred to as IC. Here a variety of transistors were placed on silicon chips, called
semiconductors. The most feature of this era’s computer was speed and reliability. IC was made
from silicon and also called silicon chips.
The computer programs was designed to make the machine work. Operating system was a program
designed to handle a machine completely. Because of the operating system machine could execute
multiple jobs simultaneously. Integrated circuits were used to replace many transistors used in the
second generation.
A single IC has many transistors, registers, and capacitors built on one thin slice of silicon. The
value size was reduced and memory space and dealing efficiency were increased during this
generation. Programming was now wiped out Higher level languages like BASIC (Beginners All-
purpose Symbolic Instruction Code). Minicomputers find their shape during this era.
Integrated Circuit

Characteristics of Third-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Main electronic component Integrated circuits (ICs).

Programming language High-level language.

Memory Large magnetic core, magnetic tape/disk.

Input/output devices Magnetic tape, monitor, keyboard, printer, etc.

Examples of the third IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, NCR 395, B6500, UNIVAC
generation 1108, etc.

Fourth Generation Computers

In 1971 First microprocessors were used, the large-scale of integration LSI circuits built on one chip
called microprocessors. The advantage of this technology is that one microprocessor can contain all
the circuits required to perform arithmetic, logic, and control functions on one chip. LSI placed
thousands of transistors onto a single chip.
The computers using microchips were called microcomputers. This generation provided even
smaller size of computers, with larger capacities. That’s not enough, then Very Large Scale
Integrated (VLSI) circuits replaced LSI circuits. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all
the components of the pc from the central processing unit and memory to input/ output controls on
one chip and allowed the dimensions to reduce drastically. VLSI placed several hundred thousand
transistors on a single silicon chip. This silicon chip is known as the micro processor.
Technologies like multiprocessing, multiprogramming, time-sharing, operating speed, and virtual
memory made it a more user-friendly and customary device. The concept of private computers and
computer networks came into being within the fourth generation.
Microprocessor

Characteristics of Fourth-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Main electronic Very-large-scale integration (VLSI) and the microprocessor (VLSI

component has thousands of transistors on a single microchip).

Memory semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.).

Input/output devices pointing devices, optical scanning, keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.

Examples of the fourth

IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh, Alter 8800, etc.
generation

Fifth Generation Computers

The technology behind the fifth generation of computers is AI. It allows computers to behave like
humans. It is often seen in programs like voice recognition, area of medicine, and entertainment.
Within the field of game playing also it’s shown remarkable performance where computers are
capable of beating human competitors.
The speed is the highest, size is the smallest and area of use has remarkably increased within the
fifth generation computers. Though not a hundred percent AI has been achieved to date but keeping
in sight the present developments, it is often said that this dream also will become a reality very
soon.
To summarize the features of varied generations of computers, it is often said that a big
improvement has been seen so far because of the speed and accuracy of functioning care, but if we
mention the dimensions, it’s been small over the years. The value is additionally diminishing and
reliability is increasing.
AI-Based Computers

Characteristics of Fifth-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Based on artificial intelligence, uses the Ultra Large-Scale Integration

Main electronic (ULSI) technology and parallel processing method (ULSI has millions of
component transistors on a single microchip and the Parallel processing method use
two or more microprocessors to run tasks simultaneously).

Language Understand natural language (human language).

Size Portable and small in size.

Trackpad (or touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognize

Input/output device
voice/speech), light scanner, printer, keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc.

Example of the
Desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.
fifth generation