1st Generation (1940-1956) 2nd Generation (1956-1963) 3rd Generation (1964-1975) 4th Generation (1975-Present)

Generations • Vacuum tubes: These were • Transistors: Replaced vacuum • Integrated circuits (ICs): Multiple • Microprocessors: Single-chip computers that could
the primary components, tubes, making computers smaller, transistors and other components on a perform complex tasks.
making computers large, faster, and more reliable. single chip. • Personal computers (PCs): Became widely available
bulky, and expensive. • Assembly language: A higher- • Time-sharing systems: Allowed and affordable.
• Machine language: The only level language that used multiple users to interact with a single • Graphical user interfaces (GUIs): Made computers
programming language mnemonics instead of binary computer simultaneously. easier to use for non-technical users.
computers understood. code. • High-level programming • Internet: Connected computers worldwide,
• Punch cards: Used for input • Batch operating languages: FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, revolutionizing communication and
and output. systems: Allowed multiple and Pascal became popular. information sharing.
• Examples: ENIAC, UNIVAC I, programs to be processed in a • Examples: IBM System/360, PDP-8, • Examples: Apple II, IBM PC, Macintosh, Windows-
EDVAC batch. DEC VAX based PCs, smartphones, tablets
• Examples: IBM 1401, CDC 6600

Uses • Scientific calculations • Scientific calculations • Business applications • Business applications

• Military applications • Business applications • Education • Education
• Cryptography • Engineering • Research • Research
• Data processing • Government administration • Engineering • Engineering
• Entertainment • Entertainment

Advantages: • Laid the foundation for • Smaller, faster, and more reliable • Smaller, faster, and more affordable • Extremely powerful and versatile.
modern computing. than 1st generation. than previous generations. • Small, portable, and affordable.
• Capable of complex • Introduced assembly language for • Introduced time-sharing systems for • Easy to use with graphical user interfaces.
calculations. easier programming. multiple users. • Connected to the internet for global access to
• Used for scientific and military • Used for business and scientific • Used for a wider range of applications, information.
purposes. applications. including business, education, and
entertainment.

Importance: • Laid the foundation for • Made computers smaller, faster, • Introduced time-sharing systems, • Revolutionized the way we live, work, and
modern computing. and more reliable. making computers more accessible to communicate.
• Advanced scientific research • Expanded the range of multiple users. • Enabled the development of the internet and the
and military capabilities. applications for computers. • Increased the efficiency and World Wide Web.
• Paved the way for future • Contributed to the development productivity of businesses and • Created new industries and economic
technological advancements. of programming languages. organizations. opportunities.
• • • Facilitated the growth of the software • Improved access to information and education.
industry. • Enhanced healthcare and scientific research.
 • 1st Generation (1940-1956) • 2nd Generation (1956-1963 • 3rd Generation (1964-1975) • 4th Generation (1975-Present)
•
Disadvantages: • Large, bulky, and expensive. • Still relatively expensive. • Still required some technical expertise • Can be susceptible to security threats.
• Slow and unreliable. • Required specialized knowledge to operate. • Dependency on electricity and internet
• Required specialized training to program. • Limited portability. connectivity.
to operate. • Limited storage capacity. • Less powerful than later generations. • Can lead to negative social and environmental
impacts.

Downside: • Large, bulky, and expensive • Still relatively expensive • Still required some technical expertise • Can be susceptible to security threats
• Slow and unreliable • Required specialized knowledge to operate • Dependency on electricity and internet connectivity
• Required specialized training to program • Limited portability • Can lead to negative social and environmental
to operate • Limited storage capacity • Less powerful than later generations impacts
• Limited storage capacity • Susceptible to overheating and • Vulnerable to security threats • Potential for misuse and addiction
malfunctions • May contribute to job displacement and economic
inequality
•
Inventors • ENIAC: John Mauchly and J. • Transistor: William Shockley, John • Integrated circuit: Jack Kilby and • Microprocessor: Intel Corporation
Presper Eckert Bardeen, and Walter Brattain Robert Noyce • Personal computer: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
• UNIVAC I: John Mauchly and J. • IBM 1401: IBM Corporation • IBM System/360: IBM Corporation (Apple), Bill Gates and Paul Allen (Microsoft)
Presper Eckert • CDC 6600: Seymour Cray • PDP-8: Digital Equipment Corporation • Graphical user interface: Xerox PARC research
• EDVAC: John von Neumann • DEC VAX: Digital Equipment center
Corporation • Internet: Tim Berners-Lee
• World Wide Web: Tim Berners-Lee

Key People • John Mauchly and J. Presper • William Shockley, John Bardeen, • Jack Kilby and Robert • Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak: Founders of Apple
Eckert: Inventors of ENIAC and and Walter Brattain: Inventors of Noyce: Inventors of the integrated Computer
UNIVAC I the transistor circuit • Bill Gates and Paul Allen: Founders of Microsoft
• John von • Seymour Cray: Designer of the • Thomas Watson Jr.: CEO of IBM during • Tim Berners-Lee: Inventor of the World Wide Web
Neumann: Developed the CDC 6600, one of the fastest the company's rise to dominance • Linus Torvalds: Creator of the Linux operating
stored-program concept computers of its time • Ken Thompson and Dennis system
• • Ritchie: Developers of the UNIX • Mark Zuckerberg: Founder of Facebook
operating system • Larry Page and Sergey Brin: Founders of Google
• • Elon Musk: Founder of SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink
•
 MECHANICAL CALCULATORS
Abacus Napier's Bones Pascaline Stepped Reckoner
Used for millennia, it's considered one of Invented by John Napier in 1617, they Created by Blaise Pascal in 1642, it was a Developed by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in 1673,
the earliest computing devices. were used for multiplication and division. mechanical adding machine. it could perform addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division.
Primarily used for basic arithmetic These were used for multiplication and Primarily used for addition and subtraction, it This calculator could perform all four basic
operations, such as addition, subtraction, division, providing a more efficient was a significant improvement over manual arithmetic operations, making it a more versatile
multiplication, and division. It was a method than traditional pen-and-paper calculations, especially for accounting and tool for various calculations.
common tool in commerce and education. calculations. financial tasks.
• Slide the beads on the rods to • Lay out the bones corresponding • Enter numbers into the wheels • Set the dials to the desired numbers.
represent numbers. to the numbers being multiplied. corresponding to each digit. • Turn the crank to perform the desired
• Perform calculations by moving the • Find the product by adding the • Turn the wheels to perform addition or operation.
beads according to specific rules. values in the diagonal rows. subtraction. • The results are displayed in the output
• The abacus requires mental • The results are displayed in the output windows.
arithmetic to carry out calculations. windows.

EARLY ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer): Manchester Baby
Developed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert in A commercial version of ENIAC, released in 1951, it was Developed at the University of Manchester in 1948, it was the first
1946, it was one of the first electronic general-purpose used for business and government applications. electronic computer to run a stored-program.
computers.
Originally designed for military purposes, ENIAC was This computer was used for a wide range of While primarily a research tool, the Manchester Baby demonstrated the
used for ballistic calculations and other scientific applications, including census data processing, feasibility of stored-program computers and paved the way for the
computations. Its capabilities were later expanded to business operations, and scientific research. It was one development of more advanced machines.
include weather prediction and nuclear physics of the first commercial computers to be widely
adopted.
• Programmed using plugboards and switches. • Used a magnetic drum for storage. • Operated using a drum memory.
• Data was entered using punched cards. • Programs were written in machine language. • Programs were entered using switches and buttons.
• Results were displayed on a panel of lights. • Data was entered using punched cards. • Results were displayed on a screen.