The
history of computer technology is often used to refer to the origin of all the
different generations of computers. From first to fifth each computer generation
is characterized by significant technological development in their components, memory, and elements which essentially changed the way these devices
work.
Several periods of generation from over the years advanced the technological evolution leads to the creation of today’s modern computer with more complex, more powerful, and increased capability and functionality.
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
GENERATIONS
This
development period of electronic computing technology is called Computer Generation.
There are five generations of computers identified, although the sixth generation
could be in development now in the early 21st century.
During
the evolutionary timeline, each generation of computers has improved a lot by
undergoing considerable changes in their size, type, and functionality.
By
analyzing them, one can trace the evolution of computer technology, to see how
the computer industry has changed over the years and how great capabilities and
software progress has been made by humankind
in under a hundred years, as a result,
the creation of different generations.
At
present, the computer is playing a significant part in human existence because
today’s digital computer is being used for every work in each field. If someday an
issue occurs in the computer or the server is down, at that point all the work stops. This is how
significant it is for technology development!
In this
article, I will introduce you to all the generations of computers with pictures
by explaining the complete information about their characteristics, names, components, and examples too.
SUMMARY
Generations of Computers
A generation of computers
refers to the specific improvements in computer technology with time. In 1946,
electronic pathways called circuits were developed to perform the counting. It
replaced the gears and other mechanical parts used for counting in previous
computing machines.
In each new
generation, the circuits became smaller and more advanced than the previous
generation circuits. The miniaturization helped increase the speed, memory and
power of computers. There are five generations of computers which are described
below;
Generations of Computer From 1st to 5th
1st
Generation of Computer (1940-1956)
This
first generation of computers was based on vacuum
tube technology used for calculations, storage, and control, invented in
1904 by John Ambrose Fleming. The vacuum tubes and diode valves were the chief
components of the first generations of computers.
First-generation
computers relied on the lowest-level machine language, in order to perform
operations, and could only solve a single problem at a point of time.
Magnetic
drums were used as the memory in these computers (were very slow in speed). The
punched and magnetic tapes were used for the input and output function of the computer in order to display on prints even the results
weren’t 100% accurate.
Also,
the first generation of computers available was based on the 8-bit
microprocessor.
The
disadvantages of 1st gen computers are that they were very enormous in size and heavy in weight
(made of thousands of vacuum tubes),
occupying large rooms. Also, once they were kept in one place it was difficult
to transfer. Another con like using a decimal number system and many switches
and cables.
In
addition, they were also very expensive to operate with using a large amount of
electricity, the vacuum tubes produced large amounts of heat, so an air
conditioner was required for the proper functioning unless a lot of heat can cause a malfunction.
The
advantage of the first generation of computers is that they could calculate in
milliseconds (about five thousand sums per second.)
The
computers of first-generation were managed to use in different fields like weather forecasting, solving mathematical
problems, energy tasks, also in space research, military, and other scientific
tasks.
In the
first generation of computers, the first computer of the world named “ENIAC”
(Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was discovered by John Mauchly
and J. Presper Eckert in the year between 1943 to 1945.
ENIAC
used panel-to-panel wiring and switches for programming, occupied more than
1,000 square feet, used about 18,000 vacuum tubes, and weighed 30 tons.
Characteristics
of the 1st Generation of Computer:
• Vacuum tubes and diode
valves were used as the main electronic component in the first
generation computers.
• Punch cards, paper tape utilized for input and output
operations.
• Magnetic drums used for storage.
• Huge in size and weight with a lot of power consumption.
• Very expensive in price also not reliable.
•
Computers were programmed
with low-level machine language also has low operating speed.
Examples
Examples
of the first generation of computers are
• ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer),
• UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer)
• EDSEC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator),
• EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer),
(Electronic delay storage automatic calculator), • IBM -701 and
• IBM 650.
❖ NOTE: ENIAC, the first
general-purpose electronic digital computer. This computer about 18,000
vacuum tubes used for the calculation result in huge in size, occupied more
than 1,000 square feet, and weighed 30 tons. These were the harbingers of
today’s digital computers. This first computing machine was designed by people J. P. Eckert, W. Mosley,
J. W. Mauchly.
SUMMARY
First Generation Computers
The first generation
(1946-1959) computers were slow, huge and expensive. In these computers, vacuum
tubes were used as the basic components of CPU and memory. These computers were
mainly depended on batch operating system and punch cards. Magnetic tape and
paper tape were used as output and input devices in this generation;
2nd
Generation of Computer (1956-1964)
The
second generation of computers replaced the vacuum tubes with a reliable
component called transistors for manufacturing of computers was invented by
William Shockley in 1947.
The
transistors were the revolution in the computer field because this component advantaged the 2nd gen computer by
increasing the performance, operating speed (hundreds of thousands of
operations per second), as well as decreasing the electricity consumption of
the computers.
Transistors
were far superior to the vacuum tube,
allowing computers to get faster, cheaper, more energyefficient made and
possible to reduce the size of computing equipment and ultimately heat reduced
and reliability improved.
Computers
of second-generation are characterized by the use of the first high-level
programming languages, allowing programmers to specify instructions in words.
At this time, early versions of COBOL, ALGOL,
SNOBOL, and FORTRAN languages were developed.
These
were the first computers to store their instructions in their memory, which
went from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology. During this period, the
first computer game name “Spacewar”
was seen on a PDP-1 computer.
Do you know~ that the oldest abacus was a computing machine
designed to calculate thousands of years ago, which is
still used in schools today to do calculations.
Also,
the concept of Central Processing Unit (CPU), multi-programming operating systems, programming
language, memory, and input and output units (I / O units) were developed in
the timeline of secondgeneration computers.
The major disadvantages of Second-generation
computers were they still relied on punch cards for input and hard copies for output as well as still it was difficult to move the
computers for the reason they were enough large and even some computers needed
ACs
This
second generation of computers was first used in the fields like the atomic
energy industry and nuclear power plants and other commercial fields.
Characteristics
of the 2nd Generation of Computer:
•
Computers based on
transistors instead of vacuum tubes.
•
Magnetic Tape was used to
store data.
•
Relatively small in size
and reduced weight with low energy consumption than 1st gen computers.
•
Faster, reliable, and less
expensive than the first generation.
•
Use of storage devices,
printers, and operating systems, etc.
•
Higher-level languages
like COBOL, ALGOL, SNOBOL, and FORTRAN were developed and used.
Examples
Examples
of the second generation of computers include
•
IBM 1620,
•
CDC 1604,
•
IBM 7094,
•
UNIVAC 1108,
•
IBM 620,
•
CDC 3600,
•
IBM 4044,
•
Honeywell 400,
•
IBM 1401 Mainframe,
and
•
PDP-1 minicomputer.
❖ NOTE: IBM was actively working, producing transistor versions of
its computers.
SUMMARY
Second Generation Computers
The second generation
(1959-1965) was the era of the transistor computers. These computers used
transistors which were cheap, compact and consuming less power; it made
transistor computers faster than the first generation computers.
n this generation,
magnetic cores were used as the primary memory and magnetic disc and tapes were
used as the secondary storage. Assembly language and programming languages like
COBOL and FORTRAN, and Batch processing and multiprogramming operating systems
were used in these computers.
3rd
Generation of Computer (1964-1971)
The
third generation appeared in the form of integrated circuits (invented by Jack
Kilby from 1958 to 1964). An IC (integrated circuit) is consists of many small
transistors mounted on chips, which are
called semiconductors.
Instead
of punch cards and prints, users interacted via keyboards and monitors,
and interacted with an operating system, allowing the device to run various
applications at once with a central program that monitored the memory.
As you
can see, the first appearance of computer monitors fell on the second
generation of computers. The invention belongs to the company IBM, which in
1964 released the commercial display station IBM-2250. it was used in the
system/360 series. The model had a vector monochrome display measuring 12×12
inches, with a resolution of 1024×1024 pixels and a refresh rate of 40 Hz. This
invention revolutionized today’s different types of monitors including LCD,
LED, OLED, and Curved Shaped monitors.
The
invention of IC incredibly decreased the size of computers and made it easy for
transportation from one place to another. The working speed and efficiency of
this generation of computers were much faster
than the previous generation and even
cheaper.
High-end
languages such as PASCAL, BASIC, FORTRAN – II TO IV, COBOL, ALGOL developed in
this generation.
For the
first time, they got access to a mass audience allowed computers to penetrate
into different spheres of human activity since they were smaller and cheaper.
Along these, they turned out to be more specialized (i.e., there were different
computers for different tasks).
The 3rd
generation of computers was the initial move towards the miniaturization of
computers and quickly expanded their scope: control, automation of scientific
experiments, data transmission, etc. In addition to being used in the
manufacture of radios, TVs, and other similar devices.
This
synchronized chip became an important foundation for the third generation
computers when scientists combined hundreds of transistors fit in this circuit
result in a more powerful electronic segment called an integrated circuit.
Multiprogramming
was implemented (this is when there are several executable programs in memory)
at the same time that it diminished their manufacturing costs. In the mid-60s.
IBM improved the term “computer architecture”. By the end of the 60s.
mini-computers appeared.
This revolutionary
innovation allowed to expansion of the processing capacity and memory of the
machines.
Characteristics
of the 3rd Generation of Computer:
•
In this generation,
computers based on Integrated Circuit was more powerful than the transistor.
•
The size of the computers
was likewise little because the size of the IC being more modest than the
circuit size of the transistors.
•
More reliable,
inexpensive, faster, energy-efficient, as well as very light in weight than 2nd
gen computers.
•
The first Computer Mouse and Keyboard were appeared and used in the 3rd generation of computers
•
Use of new versions of
high-level languages like BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, PASCAL, and ALGOL
•
Available for a mass
audience and made it possible for general purpose usage.
Examples
Some of
the most popular models of the 3rd generation of computers were the
•
ICL 2903,
•
ICL 1900,
•
TDC-B16,
•
IBM 360 and 370,
•
Honeywell 6000,
•
UNIVAC 1108,
•
PDP(Personal Data
Processor)
❖ NOTE:
PDP-8, and PDP-11, which were ideal in their handling multiprocessing
capabilities, reliability, and flexibility than previous generations.
SUMMARY
Third Generation Computers
The third generation
computers used integrated circuits (ICs) instead of transistors. A single IC
can pack huge number of transistors which increased the power of a computer and
reduced the cost. The computers also became more reliable, efficient and
smaller in size. These generation computers used remote processing,
time-sharing, multi programming as operating system. Also, the high-level
programming languages like FORTRON-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, ALGOL-68 were
used in this generation.
4th
Generation of Computer (1971-2010)
The
microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of
integrated circuits equivalent to about millions of transistors were assembled
and brought the whole central processing unit and other fundamental elements of
the machine into a small chip called a microprocessor fitted on the CPU socket.
These
computers used Very Large Scale Integrated circuits technology also called VLSI
technology. After the invention, the microprocessor began to used in computing
machines in the fourth and fifth generations of computers.
Within the framework of the considered generation in 1971, the first microprocessor appeared as an unexpected result of Intel’s work on calculator circuits and further development of minicomputers ( PDP-11).
The
first personal computer and a microcomputer was “ALTAIR”
developed by the company MITS in
1974.
Also, the first microprocessor was the Intel 4004, manufactured in 1971,
initially for an electronic calculator. Whereas the computers of the first
generation filled an entire room, while now the 4th generation
‘microprocessors’ fit in the palm of the hand.
This
generation of computers used an operating system based on the graphical user
interface (GUI), which means these numbers were very easy to perform
mathematical and logical tasks.
The
computers started to utilize high-speed memory systems on integrated circuits
with a capacity of several megabytes. Computer performance has increased
significantly (hundreds of millions of operations per second).
The
high-level language like C, C ++, Java, PHP,
Python, Visual Basic, was utilized to compose programs in the computers of
the fourth generation.
The
most popular companies in the world like Intel
and AMD were rising. Then again,
companies like Microsoft and Apple introduced their operating systems
‘Windows’ and ‘Macintosh’ in the generation of this computer. Because of which
the act of multimedia started.
This is
the era where personal computers were born, an idea that actually persists
today. Also, these were the generation of DEC’s (Digital Equipment Corporation)
minicomputers.
Characteristics
of the 4th Generation of Computer:
•
Computers based on microprocessors
and VLSI technology.
•
The computers of 4th gen
were small in size, lightweight, and almost portable computers.
•
The integrating of multi
cores in processors like Dual
core, Octa core, etc has began.
•
The processing speed of
this computer generation was much faster and reliable than the previous three
generations.
•
The size and cost of power
supply units has reduced.
•
Use of languages like C, C
++, .Net, Java, PHP, Python, Visual
Basic.
•
Use of GUI Based OS with more memory capacity.
•
Due to the low cost of
these computers, they were available to every common man.
Examples
•
Desktops,
•
Laptops,
•
Workstations,
•
Tablets,
•
Chromebooks, and
•
Smartphones,
•
CRAY-1(Super Computer) • CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)
SUMMARY
Fourth Generation Computers
The fourth generation
(1971-1980) computers used very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits; a chip
containing millions of transistors and other circuit elements. These chips made
this generation computers more compact, powerful, fast and affordable. These
generation computers used real time, time sharing and distributed operating
system. The programming languages like C, C++, DBASE were also used in this
generation.
5th
Generation of Computer (2010-At Present)
Artificial intelligence is the
name of the fifth as well as the latest generation of computers based on ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology is the process of
integrating or embedding millions of transistors on a single silicon microchip.
Computing
in the 5th computer generation is versatile made portable, powerful,
lightweight, innovative, comfortable with low electricity consumption. Because of the Internet’s advantages, it extended its limits of use to limits never before
suspected.
The main objective of the latest
fifth-generation computing and effort made by computer researchers is to make
them smart by incorporating Artificial Intelligence so as to develop devices
that respond to the input of natural language and are capable of learning and
self-organizing even in 2022 it is under development.
This
new information technology has greatly increased the size and working ability
of the microprocessor, which has prompted the use of computers in the various fields of Entertainment, Accounting, Educational institutes, Film-making, Traffic-control, Business applications, and Hospitals, Engineering, Researches, Defense, etc.
That’s
why a computer of the 5th generation is also known as the AI (Artificial
Intelligence) generation of computers.
Some
computers are being intended to do all the work themselves as a human act,
behave, and communicate. The best example of this is an Artificial Intelligence
(AI) based computing machine in the 5th generation of computers “Sophia” a robot.
Characteristics
of the 5th Generation of Computer:
• The main focus on AI-based computers.
• Computers made of microprocessors based on ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology.
• The processing speed is quite high can perform billions of
calculations in a second.
• Computers are portable, cheap, reliable, fast, and available
in various forms and sizes like a Desktop, Laptop, Smartphone, Smartwatches,
etc.
• Invention of the operating system such as Windows, Macintosh
and ChromeOS
of Chromebooks.
• Multimedia has evolved in this generation by combining Sound,
Graphics, or Picture and Text.
• Development of Internet of Things.
Examples
Computers
of the fifth generation are being made to think like us. For which continuous
advancement of technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things,
Robotics, etc. Although the examples of AI computing software such as Chatbots,
Windows Cortana, Google Assistant, Apple Siri, Speech recognition, that are
being used today.
Some
of the popular fifth generation computers are;
o Desktop
o Laptop
o NoteBook
o UltraBook
o ChromeBook
SUMMARY
Fifth Generation Computers
In fifth generation
(1980-till date) computers, the VLSI technology was replaced with ULSI (Ultra
Large Scale Integration). It made possible the production of microprocessor
chips with ten million electronic components. This generation computers used
parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software. The
programming languages used in this generation were C, C++, Java, .Net, etc.
Factors/Reasons
for the development of computer generations:
There
below are the general factors associated with the development and change in the
generations of electronic computers:
• Improvement of the element base,
• Downsizing,
• Technological progress
(increased performance, speed, and memory)
• Reduced cost,
• Changes in architecture, expansion of the range of tasks
solved by computers,
• Simplification and standardization of hardware.
• Changing the way of interaction between the user and the
computer.
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