A generation of computer refers to the state of improvement in the development of computer science and its technology. In terms of technology and used system computer has been divided into five generation. It is classified on the basis of size, its power, its reliability, processing speed, used memory, acceptable application and many more.
First generation of computer (1945-1956) :( Vacuum tubes)
The main features of first generation computer are listed below:
• It used vacuum tube as electronic circuit.
• The magnetic drums were used as primary storage and punch cards were used as secondary device.
• 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 malfunctioning.
• First generation of computers fully depends upon machine language to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time.
• Operating speed was used in terms of millisecond. Every CPU has its own unique machine language. Programs must be rewritten or recompiled, therefore to run in different types of computer.
• Input was based on punched cards and paper tapes, and output was displayed in printouts.
• Examples: - Mark I , UNIVAC, ENIAC, EDSAC, etc
Second generation computer (1956-1963) :( Transistor)
The main features of second generation computer are listed below:
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and emerged in the second generation computer.
• Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instruction in words.
• High-level programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early version of COBOL and FORTRAN. These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their memory, which moved from magnetic drums to magnetic core technology.
• Magnet core memory was used as internal storage and magnetic tapes used as secondary storage.
• They have little bit faster I/O devices (input/output).
• Processing speed measured in micro-seconds.
• Example: IBM 1401, 7070, 7030, ICL 2950/10, Honeywell 800, 400 series. Etc.
Third generation computer (1964-1971): (Integrated Circuits IC)
The main features of third generation computer are listed below:
• Semi conductor memory was used as primary storage and magnetic discs were used as secondary storage.
• Massive use of high level language.
• Processing speed increased to nanosecond and even faster.
• Intend of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers though 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.
• Examples- IBM 360 series, UNIVAC 9000, GE 235, Honeywell 200, Burroughs 6700 .Etc.
Fourth generation computers (1971-present): (VLSI or microprocessor)
The main features of fourth generation computer are listed below:
• Massive use of magnetic and optical storage devices with capacity more than 100 GB
• Advancement in software and high level language.
• Use of 4th generation language (4GL).
• Operation speed increased beyond picoseconds and MIPS( Millions of Instructions Per Second)
• As this computer became more powerful, they could be linked together to form network, which eventually led to the development of internet. Fourth generation computer also saw the development of GUI’s the mouse and hand held devices.
• Example: - IBM PC, Pentium PC, Apple/Macintosh etc.
Fifth generation computer (Present and beyond): (Biochips)
The main features of fifth generation computer are listed below:
• Fifth generation computing devices based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some application such as voice recognition, that are widely used today. It is also known as Artificial Intelligence.
• Currently no computers exhibit full artificial intelligence (that is, are able to simulate human behavior or behave like human beings or think as human beings). The greatest advances have occurred in the field of gaming like 3D games. The best example is a chess program that is able to beat humans.
• The fifth generation computers will have this following features like interactive game playing, expert system, understanding natural language, neural networks, robotics, acting like an human, can have own thinking capacity.
This is all about the generation of computer.
First generation of computer (1945-1956) :( Vacuum tubes)
The main features of first generation computer are listed below:
• It used vacuum tube as electronic circuit.
• The magnetic drums were used as primary storage and punch cards were used as secondary device.
• 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 malfunctioning.
• First generation of computers fully depends upon machine language to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time.
• Operating speed was used in terms of millisecond. Every CPU has its own unique machine language. Programs must be rewritten or recompiled, therefore to run in different types of computer.
• Input was based on punched cards and paper tapes, and output was displayed in printouts.
• Examples: - Mark I , UNIVAC, ENIAC, EDSAC, etc
Second generation computer (1956-1963) :( Transistor)
The main features of second generation computer are listed below:
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and emerged in the second generation computer.
• Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instruction in words.
• High-level programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early version of COBOL and FORTRAN. These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their memory, which moved from magnetic drums to magnetic core technology.
• Magnet core memory was used as internal storage and magnetic tapes used as secondary storage.
• They have little bit faster I/O devices (input/output).
• Processing speed measured in micro-seconds.
• Example: IBM 1401, 7070, 7030, ICL 2950/10, Honeywell 800, 400 series. Etc.
Third generation computer (1964-1971): (Integrated Circuits IC)
The main features of third generation computer are listed below:
• Semi conductor memory was used as primary storage and magnetic discs were used as secondary storage.
• Massive use of high level language.
• Processing speed increased to nanosecond and even faster.
• Intend of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers though 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.
• Examples- IBM 360 series, UNIVAC 9000, GE 235, Honeywell 200, Burroughs 6700 .Etc.
Fourth generation computers (1971-present): (VLSI or microprocessor)
The main features of fourth generation computer are listed below:
• Massive use of magnetic and optical storage devices with capacity more than 100 GB
• Advancement in software and high level language.
• Use of 4th generation language (4GL).
• Operation speed increased beyond picoseconds and MIPS( Millions of Instructions Per Second)
• As this computer became more powerful, they could be linked together to form network, which eventually led to the development of internet. Fourth generation computer also saw the development of GUI’s the mouse and hand held devices.
• Example: - IBM PC, Pentium PC, Apple/Macintosh etc.
Fifth generation computer (Present and beyond): (Biochips)
The main features of fifth generation computer are listed below:
• Fifth generation computing devices based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some application such as voice recognition, that are widely used today. It is also known as Artificial Intelligence.
• Currently no computers exhibit full artificial intelligence (that is, are able to simulate human behavior or behave like human beings or think as human beings). The greatest advances have occurred in the field of gaming like 3D games. The best example is a chess program that is able to beat humans.
• The fifth generation computers will have this following features like interactive game playing, expert system, understanding natural language, neural networks, robotics, acting like an human, can have own thinking capacity.
This is all about the generation of computer.
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