===================================

Generation of Computer
===================================
Conten t
• Introduction
• First genera tion of compu ter
• Second generation of computer
• Th ird gen eration of compu ter
• Fourth generation of computer
• Five generation of computer
 In
troduction
•Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a
computer is being used. Initially, the generation term was used
to distinguish between varying hardware technologies. But
nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software,
which together make up an entire computer system.

•There are totally five computer

generations known till date. Each generation has been
discussed in detail along with their time period and
characteristics. Here approximate dates against each
generations have been mentioned which are normally accepted.
 First generation of computer

The period of first generation was 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 were prone to frequent fusing of
the installations, therefore, were very expensive and could be afforded only by very large
organizations. In this generation mainly batch processing operating system were used.
Punched cards, paper tape, and magnetic tape were used as input and output devices. The
computers in this generation used machine code as programming language.
 Main features of first generation of computer

• Vacuum Tube Technology

• Unreliable
• Support Machine Language
Only
• Very Costly
• Generates Lot of Heat
• Slow input and output
devices
• Huge Size
• Not Portable Fig. First generation of computer
• Consumed lot of Electricity
 Second generation of computer

The period of second generation was 1959- 1965. I n this generation transistors were used
that were cheaper, consumed Jess 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 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.
 Main features of Second generation of computer

• Use of transistors
• Reliable in comparison to first generation computer
• Smaller size as compared to first generation computers
•
as compared to first generation computers
• Consumes Less Electricity As Compare to First Generation
• Faster than first Generation
• Still Very Costly
• A.C Needed
• Support Machine and assembly language

Fig. Second generation

of
Computer
 Third generation of computer

The period of third generation was 1965-1971. The computers of third generation used
integrated circuits (!C's) in place of transistors. A single IC has many transistors, resistors
and capacitors along v,,ith the associated circuitry. The IC was invented by jack kilby. This
development made computers smaller in size. reliable and eff icient. In this generation remote
processing, time- sharing, multi-programming operating system were used . High- level
languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL PUl, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) Were
used
during this generation.
 Main features of third generation of computer

• IC used
• More reliable in comparison to previous two generations
• Smaller size
• Generated less heat
• Faster
• Lesser maintenance
• Still costly
• A.C needed
• Consumed les ser electricity
• Supported high-level language
Fig. Third generation of
computer
 Fourth genera tion of computer

The period of fourth generation was 1971- 1980. The computers of fourth generation
used very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000
transistors and other circuit elements and their associated circuits on a single chip made it
possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth generation computers
became more powerf ul, 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.
 Main feature of fourth generation of computer

• VLSI Technology used

• Very Cheap
• Portable And Reliable
• Use OF PC’s
• Very Small
• Pipeline processing
• No A.C Needed
•
•
Concept of Internet is Introduce
Great development in the fields of network
-
Fig. Fourth generation
of computer
• Computer becomes easily available
 Fifth generation of computer

The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth generation, the 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) sof tware. AI is an emerging
branch in computer science, which interprets 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.
 Main feature of fifth generation of computer

• ULSI technology
• Development of true artificial intelligence
• Development of natural language proces sing
• Advancement in parallel processing
• Advancement in superconductor technology
• More user friendly interfaces with multimedia features
• Availability of very powerf ul and compact computers Fig. Fifth generation of
compu ter
at cheaper rates
Thank You