Scribd
Upload
22 views

Generations of Computer

The evolution of computers is often categorized into distinct generations, each marked by significant technological advancements

Uploaded by

farooqabubakar2000
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
22 views

Generations of Computer

The evolution of computers is often categorized into distinct generations, each marked by significant technological advancements

Uploaded by

farooqabubakar2000
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

Topic : Computer generations

Basic Terms

Vacuum tube – an electronic device that controls the flow of electrons in a vacuum. It used as a
switch, amplifier, or display screen in many older model radios, televisions, computers, etc.

Transistor – an electronic component that can be used as an amplifier or as a switch. It is used to


control the flow of electricity in radios, televisions, computers, etc.

Integrated circuit (IC) – a small electronic circuit printed on a chip (usually made of silicon) that
contains many its own circuit elements (e.g. transistors, diodes, resistors, etc.).

Microprocessor – an electronic component held on an integrated circuit that contains a


computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and other associated circuits.
CPU (central processing unit) – It is often referred to as the brain or engine of a computer where
most of the processing and operations take place (CPU is part of a microprocessor).

Magnetic drum – a cylinder coated with magnetic material, on which data and programs can be
stored.

Magnetic core – uses arrays of small rings of magnetized material called cores to store
information.

Machine language – a low-level programming language comprised of a collection of binary


digits (ones and zeros) that the computer can read and understand.

Assembly language is like the machine language that a computer can understand, except that
assembly language uses abbreviated words (e.g. ADD, SUB, DIV…) in place of numbers (0s and
1s).

Memory – a physical device that is used to store data, information and


program in a computer.
Artificial intelligence (AI) – an area of computer science that deals with the simulation and
creation of intelligent machines or intelligent behave in computers (they think, learn, work, and
react like humans).

First Generation of Computers

Classification of generations of computers

The evolution of computer technology is often divided into five generations.

Five Generations of Computers

Generations of computers Generations timeline Evolving hardware

First generation 1946s-1959s Vacuum tube based

Second generation 1959s-1965s Transistor based

Third generation 1965s-1971s Integrated circuit based

Fourth generation 1971s-1980s Microprocessor based

Fifth generation The present and the future Artificial intelligence based

The main characteristics of first generation of computers (1946s-1959s)

 Main electronic component – vacuum tube


 Main memory – magnetic drums and magnetic tapes
 Programming language – machine language
 Power – consume a lot of electricity and generate a lot of heat.
 Speed and size – very slow and very large in size (often taking up entire room).
 Input/output devices – punched cards and paper tape.
 Examples – ENIAC, UNIVAC1, IBM 650, IBM 701, etc.
 Quantity – there were about 100 different vacuum tube computers produced between 1942
and1963.

Second Generation of Computers

The main characteristics of second generation of computers (1956s-1965s)

Main electronic component – transistor


 Memory – magnetic core and magnetic tape / disk

 Programming language – assembly language


 Power and size – low power consumption, generated less heat, and smaller in size (in
comparison with the first generation computers).
 Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the first generation
computers).
 Input/output devices – punched cards and magnetic tape.
 Examples – IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107, etc.

Third Generation of Computers

The main characteristics of third generation of computers (1965s-1971s)

 Main electronic component – integrated circuits (ICs)


 Memory – large magnetic core, magnetic tape / disk
 Programming language – high level language (FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, C, etc.)

 Size – smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than second generation computers (they were called
minicomputers).
 Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the second generation
computers).

 Input / output devices – magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.


 Examples – IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC 1108, etc.

Fourth Generation of Computers

The main characteristics of fourth generation of computers (1971s-1980s)


 Main electronic component – very large-scale integration (VLSI) and microprocessor.
 VLSI– thousands of transistors on a single microchip.
 Memory – semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.)
o RAM (random-access memory) – a type of data storage (memory element) used in computers
that temporary stores of programs and data (volatile: its contents are lost when the computer is
turned off).

o ROM (read-only memory) – a type of data storage used in


computers that permanently stores data and programs (non-volatile: its contents are retained even
when the computer is turned off).
 Programming language – high level language (Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust, Kotlin, etc.).
o A mix of both third- and fourth-generation languages
 Size – smaller, cheaper and more efficient than third generation computers.
 Speed – improvement of speed, accuracy, and reliability (in comparison with the third generation
computers).

 Input / output devices – keyboard, pointing devices, optical


scanning, monitor, printer, etc.

 Network – a group of two or more computer systems linked together.


 Examples – IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh, etc.
Fifth Generation of Computers

The main characteristics of fifth generation of computers (the present and the
future)

 Main electronic component: based on artificial intelligence, uses


the Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI) technology and parallel processing method.
o ULSI – millions of transistors on a single microchip
o Parallel processing method – use two or more microprocessors to run tasks simultaneously.
 Language – understand natural language (human language).
 Power – consume less power and generate less heat.
 Speed – remarkable improvement of speed, accuracy and reliability (in comparison with the
fourth generation computers).
 Size – portable and small in size, and have a huge storage capacity.
 Input / output device – keyboard, monitor, mouse, trackpad (or
touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognise voice / speech), light scanner, printer, etc.
 Example – desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.

The computer – this amazing technology went from a government/business-only technology to


being everywhere from people’s homes, work places, to people’s pockets in less than 100 years.

You might also like