Generations
of Computers In Details
Generation
in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was being used.
Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware
technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which
together make up an entire computer system.
There
are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been
discussed in detail along with their time period and characteristics. In the
following table, approximate dates against each generation has been mentioned,
which are normally accepted.
Following are the main five generations of computers.
1.
First Generation
The
period of first generation: 1946-1959.
Vacuum tube based.
2.
Second Generation
The
period of second generation: 1959-1965.
Transistor based.
3.
Third Generation
The
period of third generation: 1965-1971.
Integrated Circuit based.
4.
Fourth Generation
The
period of fourth generation: 1971-1980.
VLSI microprocessor based.
5.
Fifth Generation
The
period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards.
ULSI
microprocessor based.
1.
First Generation Computers
The period of first generation was
from 1946-1959. The computers of first generation used vacuum tubes as the
basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU (Central Processing Unit). These
tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot of heat and the installations used
to fuse frequently. Therefore, they were very expensive and only large
organizations were able to afford it.
In this generation, mainly batch
processing operating system was used. Punch cards, paper tape, and magnetic
tape was used as input and output devices. The computers in this generation
used machine code as the programming language.
The main features
of the first generation are:
1.
Vacuum
tube technology
2.
Unreliable
3.
Supported
machine language only
4.
Very
costly
5.
Generates
lot of heat
6.
Slow
input and output devices
7.
Huge
size
8.
Need
of AC
9.
Non-portable
10.
Consumes
lot of electricity
Some computers of
this generation were:
1.
ENIAC
2.
EDVAC
3.
UNIVAC
4.
IBM-701
5.
IBM-750
2.
Second Generation Computers
The period of second generation was
from 1959-1965. In this generation, transistors were used that were cheaper,
consumed less power, more compact in size, more reliable and faster than the
first -generation machines made of vacuum tubes. In this generation, magnetic
cores were used as the primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic disks as
secondary storage devices.
In this generation, assembly
language and high-level programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL were used.
The computers used batch processing and multiprogramming operating system.
The main features
of second generation are:
1.
Use
of transistors
2.
Reliable
in comparison to first generation computers
3.
Smaller
size as compared to first generation computers
4.
Generates
less heat as compared to first generation computers
5.
Consumed
less electricity as compared to first-generation computers
6.
Faster
than first-generation computers
7.
Still
very costly
8.
AC
required
9.
Supported
machine and assembly languages
Some computers of
this generation were:
1.
IBM
1620
2.
IBM
7094
3.
CDC
1604
4.
CDC
3600
5. UNIVAC 1108
3.
Third Generation Computers
The period of third generation was
from 1965-1971. The computers of third generation used Integrated Circuits
(ICs) in place of transistors. A single IC has many transistors, resistors, and
capacitors along with the associated circuitry.
The IC was invented by Jack Kilby.
This development made computers smaller in size, reliable, and efficient. In
this generation remote processing, time-sharing, multi-programming operating
system were used. High- level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL PL/1,
BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this generation.
The main features
of third generation are:
1.
IC
used
2.
More
reliable in comparison to previous two generations
3.
Smaller
size
4.
Generated
less heat
5.
Faster
6.
Lesser
maintenance
7.
Costly
8.
AC
required
9.
Consumed
lesser electricity
10.
Supported
high-level language
Some computers of
this generation were:
1.
IBM-360
series
2.
Honeywell-6000
series
3.
PDP
(Personal Data Processor)
4.
IBM-370/168
5.
TDC-316
4.
Fourth Generation Computers
The period of fourth generation was
from 1971-1980. Computers of fourth generation used Very Large Scale Integrated
(VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit
elements with their associated circuits on a single chip made it possible to
have microcomputers of fourth generation.
Fourth generation computers became
more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to
Personal Computer (PC) revolution. In this generation, time sharing, real time
networks, distributed operating system were used. All the high-level languages
like C, C++, DBASE etc., were used in this generation.
The main features
of fourth generation are:
1.
VLSI
technology used
2.
Very
cheap
3.
Portable
and reliable
4.
Use
of PCs
5.
Very
small size
6.
Pipeline
processing
7.
No
AC required
8.
Concept
of internet was introduced
9.
Great
developments in the fields of networks
10.
Computers
became easily available
Some computers of
this generation were:
1.
DEC
10
2.
STAR
1000
3.
PDP
11
4.
CRAY-1(Super
Computer)
5.
CRAY-X-MP
(Super Computer)
5. Fifth Generation Computers
The period of fifth generation is
1980-till date. In the fifth generation, VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large-Scale
Integration) technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips having
ten million electronic components.
This generation is based on
parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software. AI is an
emerging branch in computer science, which interprets the means and method of
making computers think like human beings. All the high-level languages like C
and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used in this generation.
The main features
of fifth generation are:
1.
ULSI
technology
2.
Development
of true artificial intelligence
3.
Development
of Natural language processing
4.
Advancement
in Parallel Processing
5.
Advancement
in Superconductor technology
6.
More
user-friendly interfaces with multimedia features
7.
Availability
of very powerful and compact computers at cheaper rates
Some computer
types of this generation are:
1.
Desktop
2.
Laptop
3.
Notebook
4.
Ultrabook
5. Chromebook
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