DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMPUTERS

GENERATIONS FUNCTIONALITY SIZE

First Generation (1940 - 1956)

The first generation of computers used vacuum tubes as a major piece of technology.
Vacuum tubes were larger components and resulted in first generation computers being quite
large in size, taking up a lot of space in a room.
Some of the first generation computers took up an entire room.

The ENIAC is a great example of a first generation computer.

It consisted of nearly 20,000 vacuum tubes.
It weighed over 30 tons and took up a lot of space, requiring a
large room to house it.
Other examples of first generation computers include
the EDSAC, IBM 701, and Manchester Mark 1.
In this generation, mainly batch processing operating system was used.
Punch cards, paper tape, and magnetic tape was used as input and output devices.
The computers in this generation used machine code as the programming language.

The main features of the first generation are −

•Unreliable
•Very costly
•Generated a lot of heat
•Slow input and output devices
•Huge size
•Non-portable
•Consumed a lot of electricity
Second Generation (1956 - 1963)

The second generation of computers saw the use of transistors instead of vacuum tubes.
Transistors were smaller than vacuum tubes and allowed computers to be smaller in size, faster in
speed, and cheaper to build.

The first computer to use transistors was the TX-0 and was
introduced in 1956.
Other computers that used transistors include the IBM 7070,
Philco Transac S-1000, and RCA 501.

In this generation, assembly language and high-level

programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL were used.
The computers used batch processing and multiprogramming
operating system.
Third Generation (1964 - 1971)

The third generation of computers introduced the use of IC (integrated circuits) in computers.
Using IC's in computers helped reduce the size of computers even more compared to second-
generation computers, and make them faster.

Few examples of third generation computers are:

• Honeywell-6000 series
• IBM-360 series

High-level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL,

PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this
generation.
Fourth Generation (1972 - 1980)

Computers of fourth generation used Microprocessor (Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI)
circuits).
Fourth generation computers became more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable.
As a result, it gave rise to Personal Computer (PC) revolution.

Some computers of this generation were −

•DEC 10
•STAR 1000
•PDP 11
•CRAY-1
The main features of fourth generation are −
•Very cheap
•Portable and reliable
•Very small size
•Pipeline processing
•Concept of internet was introduced
•Great developments in the fields of networks
Fifth Generation (1980 to present)

This generation is based on artificial intelligence.

The aim of the fifth generation is to make a device which could respond to natural language
input and are capable of learning and self-organization.
This generation is based on ULSI(Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology resulting in the
production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic component.

One of the more well-known examples of AI in computers is IBM's Watson

AI includes −
•Robotics
•Neural Networks
•Game Playing
•Development of expert systems to make decisions in real-life situations
•Natural language understanding and generation
 COMPUTER TYPE NAME YEAR
First mechanical computer Analytical Engine 1837
(Charles Babbage)
First programmable computer Z1 1936 - 1938
(electromechanical binary
programmable computer)
The first electric programmable Colossus 1943
computer (help the British code breakers read
encrypted German messages.)
The first digital computer ABC 1937
Atanasoff-Berry Computer
(used more than 300 vacuum tubes for
digital computation, including binary
math and Boolean logic, and had
no CPU (was not programmable))
 COMPUTER TYPE NAME YEAR
The first stored program SSEM (Small-Scale 1948
computer Experimental Machine),
also known as the "Baby" or
"Manchester Baby,"
First computer with a UNIVAC 1101 1950
program stored in memory or
ERA 1101
IBM's first computer 701, its first commercial 1953
scientific computer.
The first computer with Whirlwind machine 1955
RAM magnetic core RAM and real- (MIT)
time graphics.
Analog Computer:
Analog computer is that computer, which is use to process continuously varying data.
Analog computers store data in a continuous form of physical quantities and perform calculations with the
help of measures.
Analog computer can be used in scientific and industrial applications such as measure the electrical
current, frequency and resistance of capacitor, etc.
Digital Computer:
These are high speed electronic devices.
A digital computer is machine that stores data in a numerical format and performs operations on that
data using mathematical manipulation.
This type of computer typically includes some sort of device to store information, some method for input
and output of data, and components that allow mathematical operations to be performed on stored data.
Hybrid Computer
A hybrid computer is a combined complex of several electronic computer units built using the different
characterization of quantities and united by a single control system.
Hybrid computers are extremely fast when driving equations, even when those calculations are
incredibly complex.
A thermometer (hybrid device) is used to measure the patient’s blood pressure, heartbeat, temperature,
etc. which later converts the value into digits form to display on the screen.
The speedometer used in cars is also an example of a hybrid computer.
 Analog Computers Digital Computers Hybrid Computers

The work shown by digital

The analog computer displays the Here, the output is displayed in the
computers is in the way of exact
results in the signal or graphical form of values or numbers after
values or numbers on the device
form. processing both the required data.
screen.

Analog Computer works on a Digital Computer works on a It is a combination of both

continuous signal. discrete signal. computers.

It depends upon the situation and

Analog machines are Slow in Digital computers are very fast at
task of the computer, however, it is
Speed. Speed.
generally fast in speed.

Digital computers
It works(processes) with the duo
Analog Computer measures Analog perform mathematical functions,
combination of analog and digital
Quantities like the voltage, complex calculations, media
computers at the same time to
temperature, etc. streaming, etc.
complete the task.
 Analog Computers Digital Computers Hybrid Computers

These computers are

Digital computers can be Hybrid computers are
mainly used in the field of
used in all aspects of life. used in specific areas.
science.

hybrid computer
Energy meters, weight
Digital cameras, modern examples are
measuring machine, 3
computers, digital thermometer and Auto
hands wrist watch and old
watches, scanners, etc. Gasoline pump installed
washing machine, etc
in petrol pumps.
 Computer on the basis of Size can be classified into 4 major types:

1. Super Computer
• Super computers are the fastest, most-powerful and most expensive computers.
• It has the ability to recover automatically from failures.
• It has the ability to support several Giga Bytes of RAM.
• Unlike conventional computers, which have a single processor to process one instruction at a
time, supercomputers have multiple processors (or CPUs) that process multiple instructions at a
time.
• Supercomputers are widely used in scientific applications.
• One of the most powerful supercomputers today is “The Cray-2” and some others are CRAY 1,
CRAY-MP, SX-2, HITAC S-300, etc.
2. Mainframe Computer
• A mainframe computer is usually slower, less power and less expensive than supercomputers.
• Very large in size with approximately 1000 square ft. area.
• Mainframe process several million instructions per second (MIPS). More than 1000 remote workstations
can be accommodated by a typical mainframe computer.
• Mainframes are used by banks and many more business to update inventory, etc.
• Many modern mainframe have multiprocessing capabilities.
• E.g. IBM 4300 series, IBM 308X series, HP 9000 etc.

3. Mini Computer
• These are also a general purpose computer, smaller than mainframe computer. Medium sized computer,
occupying approximately 10 sq ft of area.
• They have slower operating speed, smaller backup storage, limited hardware and less memory than
mainframes.
• Minicomputers are well adapted for functions such as accounting, word processing, database
management, statistical packages for social sciences.
• E.g. Prime 9755
4. Micro Computer
• A microcomputer is the smallest, least expensive of all the computers.
• Microcomputers have smallest memory and less power.
• Microcomputers are also called personal computers.
• The most common type of microcomputer is a desktop computer, which is a non-portable personal
computer.
• E.g. Desktop, laptop, notebook computers etc.