Generation of ComputerFirst Generation Computers (1940-1956)

First Generation Computers (1940-1956)

During the first generation,computers were with vacuum tubes.Vacuum tube is an electronic tube is made of glass used as computer component to store and process data.The problems of vacuum tube are generates lots of heat that can damage computer and tubes can burnt out frequently.ENIAC is first generation computer that contains weights of 30 tons,18000 vacuum tubes,30-50 foot space and 16000 watts of power.Advantages of computers in this era :The using of vacuum tubes that can store and process data

Second Generation of Computer (1956-1963) 

The invention of Transistors marked the start of the second generation. These transistors took place of the vacuum tubes used in the first generation computers. Second generation computers also started showing the characteristics of modern day computers with utilities such as printers,disk storage and operating systems. 

In Second Generation computers, the instructions(program) could be stored inside the computer's memory. High-level languages such as COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) and FORTRAN (Formula Translator) were used, and they are still used for some applications nowdays.

Third Generation of Computer (1964-1971)

 

In third generation, the operating systems allowerd the machine to run many different application. These applications were monitored and cooordinated by the computer's memory. In third generation also, the Integrated Circuit(IC) was invented in 1958 by Jack Kilby is combined with electronic components onto a small silicon disc, made from quartz. more advancement made possible the fitings of even more components on a small chip or semi conductor.

Fourth Generation of Computer (1971-present) 

Fourth Generation of computers are the modern day computers. The siz started to go down with the improvement in the integrated circuits. Very Large Scale(VLSI) and Ultra Large Scale(ULSI) ensured that millions of components could be fit into a small chip. It reduced the size and price of the computers at the same time increasing power, efficiency and reliability. "the intel 4004 chi[, developed in 1971, took integrated circuit one step further by locating all the components of a computer (central processing unit, memory,and input and output controls) on a minuscule chip."

The continued improvement allowed the networking of computers for the sharing of data. Local Area Networks(LAN) and Wide Area Network(WAN), were potential benefits, in that they could be implemented in corporations and everybody could share data over it. Soon the internet aand World Wide Web appeared on the computer scene and formented the Hi-Tech revolution of 90's. 

Fifth Generation of Computer (present and  beyond)

Fifth generations computers are only in the minds of advance research scientiets and being tested out in the laboratories. These computers will be under Artifical Intelligence(AI), They will be able to take commands in a audio visual way and carry out instructions. Many of the operations which requires low human intelligence will be perfomed by these computers.

Parallel Processing is coming and showing the possibiliy that the power of many CPU's can be used side by side, and computers will be more powerful than thoes under central processing. Advances in Super Conductor technology will greatly improve the speed of information traffic. Future looks bright for the computers.