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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.

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.

Transistor: A transistor helps in controlling the flow of electricity

in devices, it works as an amplifier or a switch.

Integrated Circuit (IC): Integrated circuits are silicon chips that

contain their circuit elements like transistors, resistors, etc.

Microprocessors: Microprocessors are the components that

contain the CPU and its circuits and are present in the Integrated
Circuit.
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Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is called the brain of

the computer. CPU performs processing and operations work.

Magnetic Drum: Magnetic Drum is like a cylinder that stores

data and cylinder.

Magnetic Core: Magnetic cores are used to store information.

These are arrays of small rings.

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.

Memory: Memory is used to store data, information, and program

in a computer.

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 Time-Period Evolving Hardware

Computer
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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.

Abacus (ca. 2700 BC)

Pascal’s Calculator (1652)

Stepped Reckoner (1694)

Arithmometer (1820)

Comptometer (1887) and Comptograph (1889)

The Difference Engine (1822)

Analytical Engine (1834)

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
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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.
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Vacuum Tube

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
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during this era were FORTRAN (1956), ALGOL (1958), and COBOL
(1959).

Transistor

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.
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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

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,
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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

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.
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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

Types of Computers

A computer is a device that transforms data into meaningful

information. It processes the input according to the set of
instructions provided to it by the user and gives the desired output.
Computers are of various types and they can be categorized in two
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ways on the basis of size and on the basis of data handling

capabilities.

Computer

Types of Computer
There are two bases on which we can define the types of computers.
We will discuss the type of computers on the basis of size and data
handling capabilities. We will discuss each type of computer in detail.
Let’s see first what are the types of computers.

Super Computer

Mainframe computer

Mini Computer

Workstation Computer

Personal Computer (PC)

Server Computer

Analog Computer
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Digital Computer

Hybrid Computer

Tablets and Smartphone

Now, we are going to discuss each of them in detail.

Supercomputer
When we talk about speed, then the first name that comes to mind
when thinking of computers is supercomputers. They are the biggest
and fastest computers (in terms of speed of processing data).
Supercomputers are designed such that they can process a huge
amount of data, like processing trillions of instructions or data just in
a second. This is because of the thousands of interconnected
processors in supercomputers. It is basically used in scientific and
engineering applications such as weather forecasting, scientific
simulations, and nuclear energy research. It was first developed by
Roger Cray in 1976.

Characteristics of Supercomputers
1. Supercomputers are the computers that are the fastest and
they are also very expensive.
2. It can calculate up to ten trillion individual calculations per
second, this is also the reason which makes it even faster.
3. It is used in the stock market or big organizations for managing
the online currency world such as Bitcoin etc.
4. It is used in scientific research areas for analyzing data obtained
from exploring the solar system, satellites, etc.

Mainframe computer
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Mainframe computers are designed in such a way that they can

support hundreds or thousands of users at the same time. It also
supports multiple programs simultaneously. So, they can execute
different processes simultaneously. All these features make the
mainframe computer ideal for big organizations like banking,
telecom sectors, etc., which process a high volume of data in general.

Characteristics of Mainframe Computers

1. It is also an expensive or costly computer.
2. It has high storage capacity and great performance.
3. It can process a huge amount of data (like data involved in the
banking sector) very quickly.
4. It runs smoothly for a long time and has a long life.

Minicomputer
Minicomputer is a medium size multiprocessing computer. In this
type of computer, there are two or more processors, and it supports
4 to 200 users at one time. Minicomputer is similar to
Microcontroller. Minicomputers are used in places like institutes or
departments for different work like billing, accounting, inventory
management, etc. It is smaller than a mainframe computer but larger
in comparison to the microcomputer.

Characteristics of Minicomputer
1. Its weight is low.
2. Because of its low weight, it is easy to carry anywhere.
3. less expensive than a mainframe computer.
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4. It is fast.

Workstation Computer
A workstation computer is designed for technical or scientific
applications. It consists of a fast microprocessor, with a large amount
of RAM and a high-speed graphic adapter. It is a single-user
computer. It is generally used to perform a specific task with great
accuracy.

Characteristics of Workstation Computer

1. It is expensive or high in cost.
2. They are exclusively made for complex work purposes.
3. It provides large storage capacity, better graphics, and a more
powerful CPU when compared to a PC.
4. It is also used to handle animation, data analysis, CAD, audio
and video creation, and editing.

Personal Computer (PC)

Personal Computers is also known as a microcomputer. It is basically
a general-purpose computer designed for individual use. It consists
of a microprocessor as a central processing unit(CPU), memory, input
unit, and output unit. This kind of computer is suitable for personal
work such as making an assignment, watching a movie, or at the
office for office work, etc. For example, Laptops and desktop
computers.
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Personal Computer

Characteristics of Personal Computer (PC)

1. In this limited number of software can be used.
2. It is the smallest in size.
3. It is designed for personal use.
4. It is easy to use.

Server Computer
Server Computers are computers that are combined data and
programs. Electronic data and applications are stored and shared in
the server computer. The working of a server computer is that it
does not solve a bigger problem like a supercomputer but it solves
many smaller similar ones. Examples of server computer are like
Wikipedia, as when users put a request for any page, it finds what
the user is looking for and sends it to the user.

Analog Computer
Analog Computers are particularly designed to process analog data.
Continuous data that changes continuously and cannot have discrete
values are called analog data. So, an analog computer is used where
we don’t need exact values or need approximate values such as
speed, temperature, pressure, etc. It can directly accept the data
from the measuring device without first converting it into numbers
and codes. It measures the continuous changes in physical quantity.
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It gives output as a reading on a dial or scale. For example

speedometer, mercury thermometer, etc.

Digital Computer
Digital computers are designed in such a way that they can easily
perform calculations and logical operations at high speed. It takes
raw data as input and processes it with programs stored in its
memory to produce the final output. It only understands the binary
input 0 and 1, so the raw input data is converted to 0 and 1 by the
computer and then it is processed by the computer to produce the
result or final output. All modern computers, like laptops, desktops
including smartphones are digital computers.

Hybrid Computer
As the name suggests hybrid, which means made by combining two
different things. Similarly, the hybrid computer is a combination of
both analog and digital computers. Hybrid computers are fast like
analog computers and have memory and accuracy like digital
computers. So, it has the ability to process both continuous and
discrete data. For working when it accepts analog signals as input
then it converts them into digital form before processing the input
data. So, it is widely used in specialized applications where both
analog and digital data are required to be processed. A processor
which is used in petrol pumps that converts the measurements of
fuel flow into quantity and price is an example of a hybrid computer.

Tablet and Smartphones

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Tablets and Smartphones are the types of computers that are pocket
friendly and easy to carry is these are handy. This is one of the best
use of modern technology. These devices have better hardware
capabilities, extensive operating systems, and better multimedia
functionality. smartphones and tablets contain a number of sensors
and are also able to provide wireless communication protocols.

Tablet and Smartphones