Presenter: Samir

[Slide 1: Opening Speech]

Assalamu alaikum. Good afternoon,
everyone. We are here to present on the
fascinating journey of computer
architecture, tracing its evolution from
early concepts to the cutting-edge
machines we use today.
Let me introduce myself — This is Sk.
Samir Walid, and these are my
teammates, MD. Fahim Ahamed
Tonmoy & Omar Shifullah Khan Saad.
Together, we’ll take you through the
major milestones in the development of
computer systems, from mere
mechanical devices to fascinating
quantum computing.
[Slide 2: Introduction to Computer
History]
The history of computing dates back
thousands of years, starting with basic
calculating tools like the abacus. Fast
forward to the 19th century, where
Charles Babbage designed the
Analytical Engine, the first conceptual
mechanical computer. Ada Lovelace
worked with Babbage and developed
the first algorithm, becoming the first
computer programmer.

In the 1940s, electronic computers like

ENIAC began to emerge, marking a
significant leap in computational power.
With the invention of the transistor in the
1950s, computers became faster,
smaller, and more reliable. This was just
the beginning, as computers evolved
from massive machines to the personal
devices we rely on today.

[Slide 3: Generations of Computers]

Presenter 1:
Now, let’s dive into the five generations
of computers, where we’ll trace how
computer technology has evolved over
time, from the early, cumbersome
machines to the advanced systems we
rely on today.

Starting with the First Generation, from

the 1940s to the 1950s, computers were
powered by vacuum tubes. These
machines were large, slow, and
unreliable, often generating excessive
heat and consuming enormous amounts
of electricity. The main challenge was
that they were not only bulky but also
fragile, requiring constant maintenance.

Programming these early computers

was also a huge hurdle, as they used
machine language which was
extremely complex and time-consuming.
Despite these limitations, this generation
saw the birth of some legendary
machines, like the ENIAC, which could
perform thousands of calculations per
second, and the UNIVAC I, which was
the first commercially produced
computer.
Next came the Second Generation, from
the 1950s to the 1960s. This generation
was powered by transistors, which
replaced the bulky vacuum tubes. The
introduction of transistors made
computers smaller, faster, and more
reliable. They consumed less
electricity, generated less heat, and
were much more durable.

Programming these machines also

became a bit easier because they used
assembly language, a low-level
programming language that was simpler
and faster to work with than machine
language.

Key examples from this era include the

IBM 1401 and the IBM 7094, which
were popular for business and scientific
applications.
Moving into the Third Generation, from
the 1960s to the 1970s, we saw the
development of integrated circuits
(ICs). With ICs, multiple transistors were
embedded on a single chip, which
drastically reduced the size of
computers while also boosting their
speed.

This generation also saw the

introduction of the use of high-level
programming languages and
operating systems, which allowed
computers to manage resources like
memory and processing power more
efficiently.
Examples from this era include the IBM
360, which was the first family of
computers to be compatible with one
another, and the PDP-8, which was one
of the first successful minicomputers.

By the Fourth Generation, from the

1970s to the present, the invention of
the microprocessor transformed
computers again. Microprocessors
combined the entire central processing
unit (CPU) onto a single chip, allowing
computers to be even smaller,
cheaper, and more powerful.

This era also marked the rise of

personal computers. Thanks to the
development of microprocessors,
computers became accessible to
individuals and small businesses, not
just large corporations or government
agencies.

The Intel 4004, the world’s first

microprocessor, kicked off this
revolution, followed by the Apple II and
the IBM PC, which brought computing to
the masses.

Additionally, this generation saw the

advent of Graphical User Interfaces
(GUIs), which made computers more
intuitive to use, and the development of
the internet and the World Wide Web
followed along.
Finally, we come to the Fifth Generation,
which is still evolving today. This
generation is defined by the integration
of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the
exploration of quantum computing.

AI focuses on making machines more

intelligent, capable of tasks like
machine learning, natural language
processing, and even recognizing
speech and images. Think of how Siri,
Alexa, or even the Google Assistant
interact with us. These technologies are
pushing the boundaries of what
computers can do, allowing them to
learn and improve from experience.
Supercomputers and cutting-edge AI
systems are already helping solve
global challenges, from scientific
research to healthcare, while quantum
computing could potentially unlock
solutions to problems that are currently
unsolvable.

Each generation has brought about

significant technological breakthroughs,
from the large, slow machines of the first
generation to the intelligent systems and
quantum computers of the fifth
generation. What started as
experimental devices has evolved into
the powerful, versatile computers that
shape our daily lives.
[Slide 4: The First Electronic Computers
(1930s-1940s)]
Now, let’s zoom in on two
groundbreaking computers from the
1940s. First is the ENIAC, developed
between 1943 and 1945. This was the
first general-purpose electronic
computer, weighing about 30 tons and
consuming 150 kilowatts of power! It
could perform 5,000 additions per
second, but its massive size and
frequent malfunctions made it
impractical for daily use. Then, there’s
the Harvard Mark I, another milestone.
Built between 1939 and 1944, it used
electromechanical components and was
slower than ENIAC, but it laid the
foundation for future developments in
digital computers.
[Slide 5: Powering the Past: Vacuum
Tubes]
Vacuum tubes, invented in 1904 by
John Ambrose Fleming, were critical in
the early days of computing. They
served as electronic switches and
amplifiers, enabling the manipulation of
information and performing basic
calculations.
However, these tubes were bulky,
fragile, and consumed a lot of power,
which led to heat buildup and frequent
breakdowns. Despite their drawbacks,
they played a key role in powering early
computers like ENIAC and made rapid
computational progress possible.

[Slide 6: The Advent of Transistors and

Mainframes (1950s-1960s)]
Presenter 3:
In the 1950s, transistors replaced
vacuum tubes. Invented in 1947,
transistors were much smaller, more
reliable, and efficient. This breakthrough
led to the rise of mainframe computers,
which were large and powerful systems
used by businesses and governments.

Mainframes, like the IBM 704 and

UNIVAC I, had incredible processing
power and could handle complex tasks.
They made business data processing
and scientific research more efficient but
were still too expensive for the average
consumer.
[Slide 16: Conclusion]
In conclusion, computer architecture has
come a long way. Each innovation —
whether the advent of the vacuum tube,
the transistor, or the microprocessor —
has dramatically expanded what
computers can do.

The future of computer architecture,

especially with the rise of AI and
quantum computing, will continue to
shape how we interact with technology
and solve some of the world’s most
complex problems.

Thank you for your attention! We would

be happy to answer any questions.