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Generation of Computers

The document discusses the five generations of computers from the 1940s to present. The first generation used vacuum tubes, took up entire rooms, and could only solve one problem at a time. The second generation used transistors, making computers smaller and more efficient. The third generation used integrated circuits, allowing users to interact through keyboards/monitors. The fourth generation used microprocessors, putting all components on a single chip. The fifth generation involves artificial intelligence. Computers are now used in many areas including education, healthcare, transportation, and more.

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Mohammed Abu Shaibu
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155 views

Generation of Computers

The document discusses the five generations of computers from the 1940s to present. The first generation used vacuum tubes, took up entire rooms, and could only solve one problem at a time. The second generation used transistors, making computers smaller and more efficient. The third generation used integrated circuits, allowing users to interact through keyboards/monitors. The fourth generation used microprocessors, putting all components on a single chip. The fifth generation involves artificial intelligence. Computers are now used in many areas including education, healthcare, transportation, and more.

Uploaded by

Mohammed Abu Shaibu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

The Five Generations of Computers

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

computing devices. Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technological

development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in increasingly

smaller, cheaper, more powerful, more efficient and reliable devices.

First Generation (1940-1956) Vacuum Tubes

The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often

enormous, taking up entire rooms. They 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.

First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language

understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time.

Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.

The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices. The

UNIVAC was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau

in 1951.

Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The

transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 1950s.

The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster,

cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors. Though

the transistor still generated a great deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a

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vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched

cards for input and printouts for output.

Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or

assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level

programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL

and FORTRAN. 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.

Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits

The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers.

Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which

drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers.

Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through

keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run

many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory.

Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and

cheaper than their predecessors.

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. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of

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the computer—from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls—on a single

chip.

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 mouse and handheld devices.

Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial Intelligence

Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development,

though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today. The use

of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.

Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of

computers in years to come. The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that

respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.

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Places Where Computers Are Used

The role of the computer runs through the day to day activities of man. Hence, it is safe to say the

computers are virtually used in all spheres of life. For the purposes of mention, the following are

listed:

1. Educational institutions

2. Health care delivery

3. Transport

4. Manufacturing and construction

5. Administration and governance

6. Tourism and Hospitality

7. Communication

8. Entertainment

9. Research and development

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