IT-1101: IT Fundamentals

for
1st Year 1st Semester of B.Sc (Honors) in IT (10th Batch)

Lecture: 03
Generation of Computers
Prepared by:
K M Akkas Ali
[email protected], [email protected]

Assistant Professor
Institute of Information Technology (IIT)
Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342
Lecture-03: Generation of Computers

Topics to be Discussed

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

2.1 Generation of Computers
2.1.1 Definition & Types of Computer Generation
2.1.2 Outstanding Characteristics of each Generation
2.2 Electrical Vs. Electronic Device
2.2.1 Electrical Vs. Electronic Device

Prepared by: K M Akkas Ali,

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 2.1 Generation of Computers

2.1.1 Definition & Types of Computer Generation

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

A generation refers to the state of improvement in the
product development process.
 The advancement of computer technology is generally grouped into
5 chronological categories called the generation of computers.

There are five generation of computers-

1. First generation (1942-1955)

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2. Second generation (1956-1964)
3. Third generation (1965-1971)
4. Fourth generation (1972-2000)
5. Fifth generation (2001-Present)

 Each generation is characterized by major technological

development that fundamentally changed the way computers
operate.
 Most major development resulted in increasingly smaller, cheaper,
Slide-3 and more powerful, efficient and reliable computing devices.
 2.1 Generation of Computers
2.1.2 Outstanding Characteristics of Each Generation..
Characteristics of 1st Generation Computers:

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

Design : Designed by the use of vacuum tubes
Size : Large
Space required : Lot of space was required for their storage
Portability : Non-portable
Power requirement : Lot of power was required to operate them
Heat generation : Produced more heat
I/O operation : For input: punched cards, for output: paper tapes
Maintenance : Constant maintenance with air conditioning was required
Cost : Very expensive

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Processing speed : Slow, since the switching time of vacuum tube is very high
Time of execution : Measured in milliseconds
Storage capacity : Very limited
Programs written : Using machine language
Reliability : Had little reliability
User capacity : Single user computers
Communication facility : No
Multimedia facility : No

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 2.1 Generation of Computers
2.1.2 Outstanding Characteristics of Each Generation..
Characteristics of 2nd Generation Computers:

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

Design : Designed by the use of transistors
Size : Smaller in comparison with the previous generation
Space required : Less as compared to the previous generation
Portability : Had little portability
Power requirement : Less power was required to operate them
Heat generation : Produced less heat
I/O operation : For input: punched cards, for output: paper tapes
Maintenance : Constant maintenance was not required
Cost : Less expensive as compared to the previous generation

Prepared by: K M Akkas Ali,

Processing speed : Faster, since the switching time of transistor is very low
Time of execution : Measured in microseconds
Storage capacity : Increased as compared to the previous generation
Programs written : Using high-level language such as COBOL, FORTRAN etc.
Reliability : More reliability as compared to the previous generation
User capacity : Single user computers
Communication facility : No
Multimedia facility : No

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 2.1 Generation of Computers
2.1.2 Outstanding Characteristics of Each Generation..
Characteristics of 3rd Generation Computers:

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

Design : Designed by the use of integrated circuit (IC)
Size : Much smaller as compared to the previous generations
Space required : Less as compared to the previous generations
Portability : Had more portability
Power requirement : Less power was required to operate them
Heat generation : Produced almost no heat
I/O operation : For input: punched cards, for output: CRT display
Maintenance : Little maintenance was required
Cost : Less expensive as compared to the previous generations

Prepared by: K M Akkas Ali,

Processing speed : Faster than that of previous generations
Time of execution : Measured in nanoseconds
Storage capacity : Increased as compared to the previous generations
Programs written : Using high-level language such as C, Pascal, BASIC etc.
Reliability : Highly reliable
User capacity : Multiuser computers
Communication facility : Limited communications facilities became available
Multimedia facility : No

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 2.1 Generation of Computers
2.1.2 Outstanding Characteristics of Each Generation..
Characteristics of 4th Generation Computers:

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

Design : Designed by the use of microprocessor (an IC with VLSI chip)
Size : Microprocessor-based computers are smaller in size
Space required : Less as compared to the previous generations
Portability : Highly portable
Power requirement : Less power is required to operate them
Heat generation : Produced almost no heat
I/O operation : For input: keyboard, mouse etc. ,
For output: monitor, printer, speaker etc.
Maintenance : Easily maintainable

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Cost : They are lower in cost
Processing speed : Faster than that of previous generations
Time of execution : Measured in picoseconds
Storage capacity : Huge
Programs written : Using high-level language such as C, C++, Java, Visual Basic etc.
Reliability : Highly reliable
User capacity : Multiuser computers and can be remotely controlled
Communication facility : More communications facilities became available
Multimedia facility : Yes

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 2.1 Generation of Computers
2.1.2 Outstanding Characteristics of Each Generation..
Characteristics of 5th Generation Computers:

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

Computers of this generation have the following important characteristics:
 They are designed by the use of IC with ULSI chip
 Mega-chip memories
 Capable of parallel processing
 AI (artificial intelligence) based computers

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 More devices have hot-pluggable features (a failed component is
to be replaced with a new one, without the need to shut down
the system) and hence the uptime of the system is very high
 Distributed, rather than centralized
 Wireless enabled high performance multimedia computers

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 2.2 Electrical Vs. Electronic Devices
2.2.1 Electrical Vs. Electronic Devices

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

If a device uses electricity to transmit and manipulate
power (e.g., light, heat or motion), it is electrical, while if
it uses electricity to transmit and manipulate
information, it is almost surely electronic.

Explanation:
1) Let us consider the example of a toaster. A toaster converts

Prepared by: K M Akkas Ali,

electrical energy into heat to warm up a piece of bread. This is the
electrical part of the device. However, the same toaster can have
heat settings and sensors to check when the toast has been heated
to optimal level. This is the electronic part of the device.
2) An electric battery stores power that can be used to light an electric
light bulb. An electronic light sensor produces a voltage that
depends on the amount of light falling upon it, which might be used
as part of a system that automatically switches a light bulb off in
the daytime.
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 2.2 Characteristics of Computers
2.2.1 Electrical Vs. Electronic Devices …

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

Differentiate between Electrical and Electronic Devices
Criteria Electrical devices Electronic Devices
Operating power AC DC
Can make decision? No (e.g, a bulb) Yes (e.g., a mobile phone)
Power Requirement High Low
Heat generation Excessive Low
Cost High Low
Size Big Small

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Space required More Less
Weight High Low
Need Transistor? Not necessary Must
Longevity/ Lifetime Short Long
Reliability Less More
Example Fan, Lamp, Motor etc. TV, Computer, Mobile
Phone, Watch, etc.

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 Discussion Points

Associate Professor, IIT, JU

1. Generations of Computers
2. Features of each Generation
3. Electrical Vs. Electronic Devices

Prepared by: K M Akkas Ali,

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Slide-12
Thank you…
Have a question?

Prepared by: K M Akkas Ali, Associate Professor, IIT, JU