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Introduction:
A computer is an electronic device that
manipulates information or data. It has the
ability to store, retrieve, and process data.
Nowadays, a computer can be used to type
documents, send email, play games, and browse
the Web. It can also be used to edit or create
spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.
But the evolution of this complex system
started around 1946 with the first Generation
of Computer and evolving ever since.
There are five generations of computers.
FIRST GENERATION
During the period of 1940 to 1956 first generation of
computers were developed. The first generation computers
used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for
memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms.
The vacuum tube was developed by Lee DeForest. A
vacuum tube is a device generally used to amplify a signal by
controlling the movement of electrons in an evacuated space.
First generation computers were very expensive to operate
and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated
a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.
VACCUM TUBE
A vacuum tube worked similarly to
a light bulb and was invented
around the same time as a bulb. It
made signals stronger; as an
amplifier. They acted as switches as
well by instigating and stopping the
flow of electricity. They also served
as magnetic drums for memory.
However, these components took up
very much space, making the
computer very big.
THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE FIRST GENERATION ARE −
The main features of the first generation are −
Vacuum tube technology
Unreliable
Supported machine language only
Very costly
Generated a lot of heat
Slow input and output devices
Huge size
Need of AC
Nonportable
Consumed a lot of electricity
EXAMPLE:
SECOND GENERATION
During the period of 1956 to 1963 second generation of
computers were developed. The second generation
computers emerged with development of Transistors. The
transistor was invented in 1947 by three scientists J.
Bardeen, H.W. Brattain and W. Shockley.
Second generation computers used the low level language
i.e. machine level language and assembly language which
made the programmers easier to specify the instructions.
Later on High level language programming were
introduced such as COBOL and FORTRAN. Magnetic core
was used as primary storage. Second generation computer
has faster input /output devices which thus brought
improvement in the computer.
TRANSISTER
A transistor is a small device
made up of semiconductor
material like germanium and
silicon. Even though the
Transistor were developed in
1947 but was not widely used
until the end of 50s. The
transistor made the second
generation computers faster,
smaller, cheaper, more energy
efficient and more reliable than
their firstgeneration computers.
THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE
SECOND GENERATION ARE:
Use of transistors.
Magnetic memory and magnetic storage disks.
High speed I/O devices.
Invention and use of high level languages such as
Fortran and Cobol.
Reduced size.
Solution to heat generation.
Communication by using telephone line.
Improvement of speed and reliability.
EXAMPLE:
THIRD GENERATION
The period of third generation was from 19651971.
The computers of third generation used Integrated
Circuits (ICs) in place of transistors. A single IC has
many transistors, resistors, and capacitors along
with the associated circuitry.
The IC was invented by Jack Kilby. This development
made computers smaller in size, reliable, and
efficient. In this generation remote processing, time
sharing, multiprogramming operating system were
used. Highlevel languages (FORTRANII TO IV,
COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL68 etc.)
were used during this generation.
THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE THIRD
GENERATION:
IC used
More reliable in comparison to previous two
generations
Smaller size
Generated less heat
Faster
Lesser maintenance
Costly
AC required
Consumed lesser electricity
Supported highlevel language
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
An integrated circuit,
or IC, is small chip that can
function as an amplifier,
oscillator, timer,
microprocessor, or even
computer memory. An IC is
a small wafer, usually made
of silicon, that can hold
anywhere from hundreds to
millions of transistors,
resistors, and capacitors.
EXAMPLE:
FOURTH GENERATION
In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the
home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the
Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the
realm of desktop computers and into many areas
of life as more and more everyday products began
to use microprocessors.
As these small computers became more powerful,
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, the mouseand
handheld devices.
THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE
FOURTH GENERATION
VLSI technology used
Very cheap
Portable and reliable
Use of PCs
Very small size
Pipeline processing
No AC required
Concept of internet was introduced
Great developments in the fields of networks
Computers became easily available
MICROPROCESSOR
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. The Intel 4004 chip,
developed in 1971, located all
the components of the computer
—from the central processing
unitand memory to
input/output controls—on a
single chip.
FIFTH GENERATION
The period of fifth generation is 1980till date. In
the fifth generation, 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)
software. AI is an emerging branch in computer
science, which interprets the means and method
of making computers think like human beings.
All the highlevel languages like C and C++,
Java, .Net etc., are used in this generation.
AI includes −
Robotics
Neural Networks
Game Playing
Development of expert systems to make decisions
in reallife situations
Natural language understanding and generation
THE MAIN FEATURES OF FIFTH
GENERATION ARE:
ULSI technology
Development of true artificial intelligence
Development of Natural language processing
Advancement in Parallel Processing
Advancement in Superconductor technology
More userfriendly interfaces with multimedia
features
Availability of very powerful and compact
computers at cheaper rates
Made by: Riya and Ayushi