Generation of Computer

Generation of Computer

Introduction

Just sixty five years have passed since the first electronic computer was successfully completed .During the last seven decades ,computer industry has witnessed very rapid technological  progress .Phenomenal technological progress is often termed as the origin of information revolution  being witnessed today .
The technological development often referred to by the term “generations “ The transition from generation to  other is marked by substantial improvement in the technology .The technological improvement  that marks the generation if also deferred to as “land –mark” improvement  over existing technology .
Following are the different types of computer generations  ;

1. First generations of computer 
2. Second generations of computer 
3. Third generations computer 
4. Forth generations of computer 
5. Fifth generations of computer 

1.FIRST GENERATIONS OF COMPUTER (1942-1955)
MAN COMPONENTS:

• vacuum Tube for circuity.
• Magnetic drum for memory

EXAMPLE :
ENIAC ( Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator )
UNIVAC ( Universal Automatic Computer )
EDVAC ( Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer )
EDVAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer )

Fig. of Vacuum Tube

FEATURES  OF THE FIRST GENERATIONS COMPUTERS.

•  A big and clumsy computer ,taking up the entire room .
• Very expensive to operate 
• Consuming a lot of electricity .
• Generating a lot of heat .
• Using vacuum tubers as the main part .
• Programming in machine language 
• Using panched cards and paper tapes as input devices .

2.SECOND GENERATIONS OF COMPUTER (1956-1963)
MAIN COMPONENTS : 
Transistor of circuitry .
Magnetic core technology for memory
EXAMPLES ;-   IBM 1401,IBM  N1620 etc .

Fig. of Transister of Circuity

FEATURES OF THE SECOND GENERATIONS COMPUTERS .

• Using transistor for circuitry .
• Allowing computers to become smaller,faster,cheaper, more ,energy efficient and more  reliable  than the first generations computer .
• Programming in machine language as well as assembly language 
• Using punched cards as inputs device .

3.THIRD GENERATIONS OF COMPUTER (1964-1971)
MAN COMPONENTS :
Integrated circuit (IC).
Example ;- IBM 360 Series ,ICI 1900 Series etc .

Fig. of IC

 FEATURE OF THIRD GENERATIONS COMPUTER .

• Using  integrated circuit ,may transistors were placed on silicon chips called semiconductor .
• Made  computer smaller ,faster and more  reliable than the second generations .
• Programming’s in high level languages  were used 
• Using keyboard  as input device  and monitor  as output device .
• Computer of the third generations made the computers cheaper and smaller because the computers were used by mass audiences .

4.FORTH GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS(1972-PRESENT )
MAN COMPONENTS 
Microprocessor
Examples:IBM-PC, APPLE-II

Fig. of processor

FEATURES OF THE FOURTH GENERATIONS OF COMPUTER :

• Using microprocessor thousands of integrated  circuits were built onto a single silicon chip .
• Portable computers developed .
• Development  of mouse and handheld input deveces .
• Different types of secondary memory devices with high storage capacity were developed .

5.FIFTH GENERATIONS OF COMPUTER ( present and beyond )
Main components :
Bo –chip
Examples :- CRAY –XMP 14, PARAM 10000, IBM SP /2

Fig. Bio-Chip

FEATURES OF THE FIFTH GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS :

• These  computers included concept of  Artificial intelligence ( AI) .
• The goal of the fifth generations computer is to  develop devices that respond to human language.
•  Fifth generations computers are capable of taking decisions .