The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices.

Each of the five generation of computers is characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper, more powerful, more efficient and more reliable devices.

First Generation (1946-1957)

Vacuum Tubes The first computers were enormous, often taking up entire rooms. Not portable They were powered by thousands of vacuum tubes (glass tunes that look similar to large cylindrical light bulbs) The vacuum tubes needed replacing constantly, required a great deal of electricity and generated a lot of heat. The computers could solve only one problem at a time, since they needed to be physically rewired with cables to be reprogrammed (which typically took several days to weeks) to complete and several more days to check before the computer could be used. They were therefore extremely slow Used punch paper cards and paper tape for input and output was printed on paper. Relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language understood by computers, to perform operations Used magnetic drums to store instructions Two of the most significant examples of first generation computers were the ENIAC (Electrical Numerical Integrator And Computer) and the UNIVAC (UNIVersal Automated Computer) ENIAC, completed in 1946, was the worlds first large scale general purpose computer. It was developed in World War II to complete artillery firing tables for the US Army (40 hrs for 1 person to compute settings for 1 weapon, ENIAC could compute the same settings in < 2 minutes) UNIVAC, released in 1951, was initially built for the US Census Bureau and was used to analyze votes in the 1952 US presidential elections UNIVAC became the first computer to be produced for commercial use.

Second Generation (1958-1963)

Transistors Began when the transistor(a small device made of semiconductor material, that acts like a switch to open and close electronic circuits) started to replace the vacuum tube Transistors allowed Second generation computers to be physically smaller, less expensive, more powerful, more energy efficient and more reliable than the first generation. Though smaller than the first generation, they were still relatively large and still not portable Programs and data were input on punch cards and magnetic tape, output was on paper printouts and magnetic tape for storage. Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology. The first computers of this generation were developed for the atomic energy industry. IBM 7094 and IBM 1400 are examples of 2nd generation computers

Third Generation (1964-1971)

Integrated Circuits Transistors were replaced with integrated circuits Integrated Circuits incorporate many transistors and electronic circuits on a single tiny silicon chip. Smaller and more reliable than computers in earlier generations. Keyboard and monitors were introduced for input and output Computers for the first time became accessible to a larger population because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors. They used High level language like COBOL and FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation) IBM 360 and IBM 370 are examples of 3rd generation computers

Fourth Generation (1971-Present)

Microprocessors The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. Capable to running multiple programs at once In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. As these small computers became more powerful and reliable, they could be linked together to form networks, which eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs (Graphical User Interface), the mouse and handheld devices. Input was mainly keyboard and mouse and output, Printers and monitors. Computers became affordable to everyone

Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)

Artificial Intelligence Fifth generation computing devices, based on AI (Artificial Intelligence), are still in development, It will allow computers to think, reason and learn. Some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today. The use of parallel processing, nano-technology and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. Voice and touch will be the primary means of input Expert systems and robotics are 2 developments of this generation The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.