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Five Generations of Computers | ByteNotes | Computer Science learning platform

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platform

Five Generations of Computers

By Jawad Khan
16 / Feb / 2013

category:
Introduction to Computing

Table of Contents

The development of electronic computers can

bedividedintofivegenerationsdependingupon
thetechnologiesused.Thefollowingarethefive

1. First Generation of
Computers (1942-1955)

generationsofcomputers.

1.1. Advantages

First

Generation

1.2. Disadvantages

Computers(19421955)

of

2. Second Generation
Computers (1955-1964)
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2.1. Advantages
2.2. Disadvantages
3. Third Generation
Computers (1964-1975)
3.1. Advantages
3.2. Disadvantages
4. Fourth Generation
Computers (1975-Present)
4.1. Advantages
4.2. Disadvantages
5. Fifth Generation
Computers (Present

Image Courtesy: www.computerhistory.org

The beginning of commercial computer age is

from

UNIVAC

(Universal

Automatic

Computer). It was developed by two scientists

MauchlyandEchertattheCensusDepartment
of United States in 1947. The first generation

computerswereusedduring19421955.Theywerebasedonvacuumtubes. Examples
offirstgenerationcomputersareENIVACandUNIVAC1.

Advantages
Vacuumtubesweretheonlyelectroniccomponentavailableduringthose
days.
Vacuumtubetechnologymadepossibletomakeelectronicdigital
computers.
Thesecomputerscouldcalculatedatainmillisecond.
Disadvantages
Thecomputerswereverylargeinsize.
Theyconsumedalargeamountofenergy.
Theyheatedverysoonduetothousandsofvacuumtubes.
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Theywerenotveryreliable.
Airconditioningwasrequired.
Constantmaintenancewasrequired.
Nonportable.
Costlycommercialproduction.
Limitedcommercialuse.
Veryslowspeed.
Limitedprogrammingcapabilities.
Usedmachinelanguageonly.
Usedmagneticdrumswhichprovideverylessdatastorage.
Usedpunchcardsforinput.
Notversatileandveryfaulty.
SimilarTopics:TypesofComputersbyPurpose|TypesofPrinters

SecondGenerationComputers(19551964)

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Image Courtesy: www.ibm.com

The second generation computers used transistors. The scientists at Bell laboratories
developed transistor in 1947. These scientists include John Barden, William Brattain and
William Shockley. The size of the computers was decreased by replacing vacuum tubes
withtransistors.TheexamplesofsecondgenerationcomputersareIBM7094series,IBM
1400seriesandCDC164etc.

Advantages
Smallerinsizeascomparedtothefirstgenerationcomputers.
The2ndgenerationComputersweremorereliable
Usedlessenergyandwerenotheated.
Widercommercialuse
Betterportabilityascomparedtothefirstgenerationcomputers.
Betterspeedandcouldcalculatedatainmicroseconds
Usedfasterperipheralsliketapedrives,magneticdisks,printeretc.
UsedAssemblylanguageinsteadofMachinelanguage.
Accuracyimproved.
Disadvantages
Coolingsystemwasrequired
Constantmaintenancewasrequired
Commercialproductionwasdifficult
Onlyusedforspecificpurposes
Costlyandnotversatile
Puchcardswereusedforinput.

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ThirdGenerationComputers(19641975)

Image Courtesy: www.computerhistory.org

The Third generation computers used the integrated circuits (IC). Jack Kilby developed
theconceptofintegratedcircuitin1958.Itwasanimportantinventioninthecomputerfield.
The first IC was invented and used in 1961. The size of an IC is about square inch. A
singleICchipmaycontainthousandsoftransistors.Thecomputerbecamesmallerinsize,
faster, more reliable and less expensive. The examples of third generation computers are
IBM370,IBMSystem/360,UNIVAC1108andUNIVACAC9000etc.

Advantages
Smallerinsizeascomparedtopreviousgenerations.
Morereliable.
Usedlessenergy
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Producedlessheatascomparedtotheprevioustwogenerationsof
computers.
Betterspeedandcouldcalculatedatainnanoseconds.
Usedfanforheatdischargetopreventdamage.
Maintenancecostwaslowbecausehardwarefailureisreare.
Totallygeneralpurpose
Couldbeusedforhighlevellanguages.
Goodstorage
Versatiletoanextent
Lessexpensive
Betteraccuracy
Commercialproductionincreased.
Usedmouseandkeyboardforinput.
Disadvantages
Airconditioningwasrequired.
HighlysophisticatedtechnologyrequiredforthemanufacturingofICchips.

FourthGenerationComputers(1975Present)

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The fourth generation computers started with the invention of Microprocessor. The
Microprocessor contains thousands of ICs. Ted Hoff produced the first microprocessor in
1971forIntel.It was known as Intel 4004. The technology of integrated circuits improved
rapidly. The LSI (Large Scale Integration) circuit and VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration)
circuit was designed. It greatly reduced the size of computer. The size of modern
Microprocessorsisusuallyonesquareinch.Itcancontainmillionsofelectroniccircuits.The
examplesoffourthgenerationcomputersareAppleMacintosh&IBMPC.

Advantages
Morepowerfulandreliablethanpreviousgenerations.
Smallinsize
Fastprocessingpowerwithlesspowerconsumption
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Fanforheatdischargingandthustokeepcold.
Noairconditioningrequired.
Totallygeneralpurpose
Commercialproduction
Lessneedofrepair.
Cheapestamongallgenerations
AlltypesofHighlevellanguagescanbeusedinthistypeofcomputers
Disadvantages
ThelatesttechnologyisrequiredformanufacturingofMicroprocessors.

FifthGenerationComputers(Present&Beyond)
Scientists are working hard on the 5th generation computers with quite a few
breakthroughs.ItisbasedonthetechniqueofArtificial Intelligence (AI). Computerscan
understand spoken words & imitate human reasoning. Can respond to its surroundings
using different types of sensors. Scientists are constantly working to increase the
processingpowerofcomputers.TheyaretryingtocreateacomputerwithrealIQwiththe
help of advanced programming and technologies. IBM Watson computeris one example
that outsmarts Harvard University Students. The advancement in modern technologies
willrevolutionizethecomputerinfuture.
You might also like:

TheFourTypesofComputers
Advantagesanddisadvantagesofcomputers

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NAKIWALAWINNIE ayearago

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