First Generation Computers

The period of first generation was from 1946-1959. The computers of first generation used vacuum tubes as the
basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU (Central Processing Unit). These tubes, like electric bulbs,
produced a lot of heat and the installations used to fuse frequently. Therefore, they were very expensive and only
large organizations were able to afford it. 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:
 Main electronic component – vacuum tube
 Main memory – magnetic drums and magnetic tapes
 Programming language – machine language
 Power – consume a lot of electricity and generate a lot of heat.
 Speed and size – very slow and very large in size (often taking up entire room).
 Input/output devices – punched cards and paper tape.
 Examples – ENIAC, UNIVAC1, IBM 650, IBM 701, etc.
 Quantity – there were about 100 different vacuum tube computers produced between 1942 and1963.
Second Generation of Computers
The period of second generation was from 1959-1965. In this generation, transistors were used that were cheaper,
consumed less power, more compact in size, more reliable and faster than the first-generation machines made of
vacuum tubes. In this generation, magnetic cores were used as the primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic
disks as secondary storage devices. In this generation, assembly language and high-level programming languages like
FORTRAN, COBOL were used. The computers used batch processing and multiprogramming operating system.
The main features of second generation are:
 Main electronic component – transistor
 Memory – magnetic core and magnetic tape / disk
 Programming language – assembly language
 Power and size – low power consumption, generated less heat, and smaller in size (in comparison with the
first generation computers).
 Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the first generation computers).
 Input/output devices – punched cards and magnetic tape.
 Examples – IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107, etc.
Third Generation Computers
The period of third generation was from 1965-1971. The computers of third generation used Integrated Circuits (ICs)
in place of transistors. A single IC has many transistors, resistors, and capacitors along with the associated circuitry.
The IC was invented by Jack Kilby. This development made computers smaller in size, reliable, and efficient. In this
generation remote processing, time-sharing, multi-programming operating system were used. High-level languages
(FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this generation.
The main features of third generation are:
 Main electronic component – transistor
 Memory – magnetic core and magnetic tape / disk
 Programming language – assembly language
 Power and size – low power consumption, generated less heat, and smaller in size (in comparison with the first
generation computers).
 Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the first generation computers).
 Input/output devices – punched cards and magnetic tape.
 Examples – IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107, etc.
Fourth Generation Computers
The period of fourth generation was from 1971-1980. Computers of fourth generation used Very Large Scale
Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements with their associated
circuits on a single chip made it possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth generation computers
became more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to Personal Computer (PC)
revolution. In this generation, time sharing, real time networks, distributed operating system were used. All the high-
level languages like C, C++, DBASE etc., were used in this generation.
The main characteristics of fourth generation of computers (1970s-present)
 Main electronic component – very large-scale integration (VLSI) and microprocessor.
 VLSI– thousands of transistors on a single microchip.
 Memory – semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.)
o RAM (random-access memory) – a type of data storage (memory element) used in computers that temporary stores
of programs and data (volatile: its contents are lost when the computer is turned off).
o ROM (read-only memory) – a type of data storage used in computers that permanently stores data and programs
(non-volatile: its contents are retained even when the computer is turned off).
 Programming language – high level language (Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust, Kotlin, etc.).
o A mix of both third- and fourth-generation languages
 Size – smaller, cheaper and more efficient than third generation computers.
 Speed – improvement of speed, accuracy, and reliability (in comparison with the third generation computers).
 Input / output devices – keyboard, pointing devices, optical scanning, monitor, printer, etc.
 Network – a group of two or more computer systems linked together.
 Examples – IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh, etc.
Fifth Generation of Computers
The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth generation, VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale
Integration) technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic
components. This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software. AI is
an emerging branch in computer science, which interprets the means and method of making computers think like
human beings. All the high-level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used in this generation.
The main characteristics of fifth generation of computers (the present and the future)
 Main electronic component: based on artificial intelligence, uses the Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI) technology
and parallel processing method.
o ULSI – millions of transistors on a single microchip
o Parallel processing method – use two or more microprocessors to run tasks simultaneously.
 Language – understand natural language (human language).
 Power – consume less power and generate less heat.
 Speed – remarkable improvement of speed, accuracy and reliability (in comparison with the fourth generation
computers).
 Size – portable and small in size, and have a huge storage capacity.
 Input / output device – keyboard, monitor, mouse, trackpad (or touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input
(recognise voice / speech), light scanner, printer, etc.
 Example – desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.