Generations
of Computers
A computer is a
device that can be instructed to carry out an arbitrary set of arithmetic or
logical operations automatically.
Charles
Babbage is considered as the “father of the computer”. He invented
the first mechanical computer in the early 19th century.
The principle
of the modern computer was proposed by Alan Turing.
First
Generation (1940-1956)
They used: vacuum tubes for circuitry and
magnetic drums for memory
Memory and Storage: Magnetic tapes, magnetic drums as
secondary memory
Extra Information:
- Very expensive to operate.
- Relied on binary machine language, the
lowest-level programming language to perform operations.
- Binary Machine Language (0s and 1s) was difficult
for users to understand
- Could solve only one problem at a time
Examples: UNIVAC and ENIAC
computers
Second
Generation (1956-1963)
They used: Transistors
Memory and Storage: Main memory-
Ferite cores. Secondary Memory- Magnetic disks and tapes
Extra Information:
- Computers became smaller, faster, and cheaper.
- Also binary Machine Language was replaced by
Assembly Languages.
- Use of assembly Language allowed programmers to
specify instructions in words.
Examples: IBM 1401 and Honeywell
400 computers
Third
Generation (1964-1971)
They used: Integrated Circuits
Memory and Storage: Main memory-
RAM, ROM. Secondary Memory- Magnetic disks, tapes
Extra Information:
- Computers became more smaller and cheaper.
- Speed and efficiency of Computers was further
increased by the use of semiconductors.
- Keyboards and Monitors were introduced for input
and screen
- Different application could run at one time
Examples: IBM System/360, IBM 1130, UNIVAC 1107
computers
Fourth
Generation (1971-Present)
They use: Microprocessors. VLSI (Very
Large Scale Integration) technology
Memory and Storage: Main Memory-
RAM/ROM. Secondary Memory- Hard Disk
Extra Information:
- Thousands of integrated circuits were built onto
a single silicon chip.
- Computers became more powerful.
- Computers could be linked together to form
networks now, which eventually led to the development of the Internet.
- Graphic user Interface (GUIs), mouse and handheld
devices were developed.
- Programming languages closest to human language
Examples: Apple Macintosh, IBM PCs computers
Fifth
Generation (Present and Beyond)
They use: Artificial Intelligence. ULSI
(Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology
Memory and Storage: Main Memory-
RAM/ROM. Secondary Memory- Hard Disk
Extra Information:
- Still in development.
- Some applications like voice recognition are used
today also
- The goal of fifth-generation computing is to
develop devices that respond to natural language (human language) input
and are capable of learning and self-organization.
