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Generations Of

Computers

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Introduction

Generations Of Computer

Generation means all the people who were born at about the same time. You , your brothers, your sisters,your friends and people in your age belong to your generation. This may be referred to as current generation. Your father, your mother, your uncles, your aunts and people in their age belong to previous generation. They may be referred to as the last generation. Your grandfathers, grandmothers and people in their age belong to a similar generation. They may be referred to as last to last generation. Thus, if we put these generations in an order we can say our grandfathers were in first generation, our parents were in second generation and you are in third generation. Each generation has got some specific characteristics. Our grandfathers used bullock carts as transportations. They had no television and telephone. They had different taste even. Your parents used black and white television. They had no computer in their childhood. They had not even thought of the current form of Internet. We have coloured and plasma television. We have fast speed computer and Internet connections. Likewise computers have different generations. In technical context, generation means a stage in the development of a computer. They have specific different features in different generations. Generations are actually related with evolution. In this chapter you will learn about differentgenerations.

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 and more efficient and reliable devices. Read about each generation and the developments that led to the current devices that we use today.

Generations of Computer

First Generation 1940 - 1956

Second Generation 1956 - 1963

Third Generation 1964 - 1971

Fourth Generation 1971 - Present

Fifth Generation Present - Future

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First Generation

The first computers used vacuum tubes. They were often enormous and took up entire rooms. They were very expensive to operate. They used a great deal of electricity and 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. 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.

-vacuum tube based-punched tape input or output-about 1,000 circuits per cubic foot

-Harvard Mark I (electromechanical)-ENIAC-EDSAC-UNIVAC I, UNIVAC II, UNIVAC 1101

Characteristics:

Examples:

Vacuum Tubes

The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951. It was approximately 25 feet long by 50 feet long.

ENIAC UNIVAC

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Second Generation

Third Generation

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented in 1947 but used widespread in computers in the late 1950s. The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube. Transistors allowed 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 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 machine language to 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.

-used transistors-about 100,000 circuits per foot

-UNIVAC 1107, UNIVAC III-IBM 7070, 7080, 7090, 1400 series, 1600 series-General Electric GE 635, 645, GE 200

The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistorswere miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speedand efficiency of computers.

Characteristics:

Examples:

Transistor

Punched Cards

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Use of punched cards was obsolete in this generation of computers. Users now interacted with third generation computers through keyboards and monitors. These computers were 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.

-large scale integrated circuits-10 million circuits per square foot

-Honeywell 200-IBM System/360, System 3, System 7-UNIVAC 9000 series-General Electric GE 600 series, GE 235

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

Characteristics:

Examples:

Fourth Generation

Integrated Circuit

Tick the most appropriate answer.………………………………

a) b) c)

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a) b) c)

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a) b) c)

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a) b) c)

1. Generations are actually related with .

Evolution inflation deterioration

2. First generation of computers used .

Transistors vacuum tubes integrated circuits

3. replaced vacuum tubes in second generation of computers.

Transistors integrated circuits microprocessors

4. The development of the was the hallmark of the third generation of computers.

Integrated circuits transistors vacuum tubes

An integrated circuit (IC) is a small electronic device made out of a semiconductor material. The first integrated circuit was developed in the 1950s by Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce of Fairchild Semiconductor.

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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.

-very large scale integration-continued miniaturization-billions of circuits per cubic foot

-IBM System 3090, IBM RISC 6000, IBM RT-Cray 2 XMP-HP 9000

-extremely large scale integration-parallel processing-high speed logic and memory chips-high performance, micro-miniaturization-voice/data integration; knowledge-based platforms-artificial intelligence, expert systems-virtual reality generation-satellite links

Characteristics:

Examples:

Characteristics:

Fifth Generation

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 nano technology 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.

The fifth generation of computers has included right from powerful and high technique computers of present day to the computers to be introduced in future. In this generation of computers, computer scientists are trying to infuse artificial intelligence. Today's computers are so advanced that they are being used in every specific field basically in accounting, engineering, building construction, space and research work.

Microprocessor

Ted Hoff, employed by Intel (Robert Noyce's new company) invented a chip the size of a pencil eraser that could do all the computing and logic work of a computer.

Artificial Intelligence

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?Generation means all the people who were born at about the same time.?In technical context, generation means a stage in the development of a computer.?The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices.?The first computers used vacuum tubes. They were often enormous and took up entire rooms.?First generation computers relied on machine language.?The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices.?Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers.?The transistor was invented in 1947 but used in computers in the late 1950s.?The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube.?The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers.?The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers.?Thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single microprocessor.?Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development.

In technical context, generation means a stage in the development of a computer. The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different

generations of computing devices.

A. Write T for true statement and F for false statement in the box.

1. ( )2.

( )

Note For Teacher : Different computer authors and scientists have different assumptions about period of generations of computers. Mentioned in this book are based on the fact majority believe in. Teachers are advised to clarify this to the pupils.

Write T for true statement and F for false statement.

( )( )( )( )

1. Integrated Circuits were used in second generation computers.2. The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers.3. In 1961 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user.4. GUIs, mouse and handheld devices were developed in fourth generation computers.5. Artificial Intelligence is primary focus in fifth generation of computers.

Buzzwords

UNIVACENIACEDSAC

: UNIVersal Automatic Computer : Electronic Numerical Integrator And calculator : Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator

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3. ( )4. ( )5. ( )6. ( )7. ( )8. ( )

1.

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2.

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3.

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4.

a) b) c)

5.

a) b) c)

6.

a) b) c)

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8.

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1. .....................................2. .............................3. ........................... ............................

4. ......................5. ......................6. .............................7. ......................................8. ..............................

1.2.3.

The first computers used transistors. First generation computers relied on machine language. The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer. Transistors replaced vacuum tubes in the third generation of computers. Use of punched cards was obsolete in the third generation of computers. The microprocessor brought the fifth generation of computers.

This was used in the first computers.

Vacuum tube transistor microprocessor

The first generation computers relied on this language.

Assembly high machine

This computer was used by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951.

ENIAC UNIVAC Apple

The transistor was invented in this year.

1947 1956 1857

Assembly language was used in this generation of computers.

First second third

In this year IBM introduced its first computer for the home user.

1981 1988 1991

This was introduced in the fourth generation computers.

Microprocessor integrated circuit vacuum tube

The fifth generation of computers are based on this.

Artificial intelligence natural intelligence both

The first computers used . First generation computers relied on language.

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

replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The development of the was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called . The brought the fourth generation of computers. Fifth generation computing devices are based on intelligence.

How many generations of computers are there?What is the period of the first generation of computers?What is the period of the second generation of computers?

B. Choose the most appropriate answer.

C. Fill in the blanks with suitable words.

D. Very Short Answer Questions

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4.5.

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.

1.2.3.4.5.6.

7.8.

What is the period of the third generation of computers? Which generation of computers were the vacuum tubes used in ?

What does generation mean technically?Which two computers are examples of first-generation computing devices?How were the first generation computers?What does UNIVAC stand for?What does ENIAC stand for?Which language were the first generation computers relied on?What replaced vacuum tubes in the second generation computers?Which generation of computers was microprocessor used in?

What do you understand by generations of computers?Elucidate the first generation of computers.What happened when transistors replaced vacuum tubes in the second generation of computers?What was the advantage of using transistor in the third generation of computers?Write 100 words about the fourth generation of computers.What are the diferences between the third generation computers and the fourth generationcomputers?Explain the fifth generation computers.What are helping to make artificial intelligence a reality

E. Short Answer Questions

F. Long Answer Questions