The Transition of Technology: First Generation till
Date
Do you know that the computers like laptop or desktop you are using today at home, office, in
business and other sectors, were not initially like this. They nearly filled a room and were highly
prone to failure, too costly, difficult to maintain. We call them the first generation of the
computers and then came a time, computers began to shrink in size with an increase in their
computation power. Let us discuss the transition period of computers from the first generation
till date:
First Generation of Computers:
It was the period from 1940s to 1950s. It was the era of Vacuum Tubes. The vacuum tubes were
the main processing component, large in size, inefficient and prone to failure.
Key Characteristics:
Size: Extremely large (took up entire rooms).
Speed: Slow processing, mainly used for basic calculations.
Programming: Used machine language (binary code).
Example: The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), one of the earliest
digital computers.
Impact: These machines were primarily used in scientific research, defense (like calculating
artillery firing tables), and basic data processing.
Second Generation of Computers:
It was the period from 1950s to 1960s where vacuum tubes were replaced by Transistors,
making computers smaller, faster and more reliable.
Key Characteristics:
Size: Significantly smaller than first-generation computers.
Speed: Faster processing and increased efficiency.
Programming: Shift to assembly language and some higher-level programming
languages (like FORTRAN and COBOL).
Example: IBM 7090, one of the first fully transistorized computers.
Impact: Used in more industries, including government and business, for applications like
payroll and inventory management.
Third Generation of Computers:
It was the period from 1960s to 1970s where integrated circuits (ICs) were introduced, which
allowed thousands of transistors to be placed on a single silicon chip.
Key Characteristics:
Size: Much smaller, leading to more compact designs.
Speed: Increased computational power and efficiency.
Programming: More advanced operating systems, higher-level languages like C emerged.
Example: The IBM System/360—a family of computers that introduced the concept of
compatible systems.
Impact: Computers became widely available to businesses, allowing for widespread use in
various fields such as banking, insurance, and scientific research.
Fourth Generation of Computers:
It was the period from 1970s to 1990s where microprocessor was introduced which integrated
all of a computer’s function onto a single chip.
Key Characteristics:
Size: Personal computers (PCs) began to appear, shrinking in size dramatically.
Speed: Exponential growth in processing power with chips like Intel's 8080 and later the
Intel 4004.
Programming: Rise of programming languages like C++, Python, and Java, and the
creation of user-friendly operating systems like MS-DOS and early versions of Windows.
Example: The Apple II and the first IBM PC, which revolutionized personal and office
computing.
Impact: The era of personal computing began. PCs became affordable, entering homes, schools,
and businesses. It laid the foundation for modern computing.
Fifth Generation of Computers:
It was the period from 1990s till date. It is the age of Artificial Intelligence and beyond AI such as
Parallel Processing, Quantum Computing Research. Processors are now multicores which allows
several tasks to run simultaneously.
Key Characteristics:
Size: Miniaturization continues with laptops, tablets, and smartphones becoming more
powerful than the early supercomputers.
Speed: Processing power has skyrocketed with chips like Intel Core i7, AMD Ryzen, and
Apple’s M1/M2 chips. Cloud computing and edge computing are becoming more
mainstream.
Programming: Rise of AI languages like Python, and advancements in machine learning
libraries and frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch.
Example: Smartphones, cloud computing, and AI-powered devices like Google Home
and Amazon Echo.
Impact: Computers now integrate into almost every aspect of life—smart cities, autonomous
vehicles, advanced simulations, and personalized AI systems. Quantum computing, though in its
early stage, promises to disrupt industries further by solving complex problems classical
computers can’t handle.
