Generation of Computers - Grade XI

Generation in computer refers to the development of the technology. Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technology development that fundamentally changed way computers operate, resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper and more powerful and more efficient and reliable devices.

First Generation of Computers: 1946 to 1958 AD

The technology used in these computers was Vacuum Tube. This technology was developed by Lee De Forest in 1908 AD.

Characteristic features of first-generation computers are as follows:

•   They used vacuum tubes as an electronic circuit and a magnetic drum as a primary storage.
•   They were extremely large and occupied a very large space.
•   They consumed a lot of power and generated a lot of heat.
•   They used machine level language for writing programs, which was tedious and time consuming.
•   They had low level of accuracy and reliability.
• They were restricted to commercial and scientific application

Examples: Mark I, UNIVAC, ENIAC, EDVAC, IBM 650 etc.

Second Generation of Computers: 1959 to 1964 AD

The technology used in these computers was Transistors. This technology was developed by William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain in 1947 AD.

Characteristic features of second-generation computers are as follows:

•  Transistors were used as electronic circuit.
• These computers used magnetic cores as primary data storage medium and magnetic tapes as secondary storage medium.
• These computers were smaller, faster, more reliable, less expensive and accurate than those of first generation computer.
•  Input and output devices were much faster than first generation computer.
• They required less power and emitted less heat than vacuum tubes used in second generation.
• Their operating speed was upto the microsecond range.
• They used machine dependent (high level) programming language such as ALGOL, COBOL, FORTRAN etc for programming.

Examples: MARK III, UNIVAC II, IBM 1620, IBM 1401, ICL 2950/10 etc

Third Generation of Computers: 1965 to 1974 AD

The technology used in these computers was Integrated Circuits (ICs). This technology was developed by Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce in 1958 AD.

Characteristic features of third-generation computers are as follows:

• They used integrated circuits (ICs) as electronic circuits.
• They used semiconductor devices as a primary storage.
• They had large storage capacity.
• Their operating speed was improved to nanosecond.
• They were more reliable, much smaller in size, easier to operate and less expensive than previous generation computer.
• They include multiprogramming, batch and time-sharing operating system.
• They extensively used high level programming languages including Report Programming Generator  (RPG) and Pascal.

Examples: IBM 360, IBM 370 Series, ICL 900 Series etc.

Fourth Generation of Computers: 1975 to  present

The technology used in these computers was Microprocessor. This technology was developed by Dr Ted Hoff in 1971 AD.

Characteristic features of fourth-generation computers are as follows:

• These computers used Large Scale Integration (LSI) and Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) called microprocessor chip as electronic circuits.
• They used semi conductor memory like floppy disk, hard disk and magnetic tape for secondary storage.
• Fourth generation computers are highly reliable and accurate.
• Their operating speed was increased to pico-second.
• Their size was reduced to micro computer such as desktop and laptop.
• They understand many high level languages, and they are quiet user friendly.

Examples: IBM 3033, Apple II, SUPERBRAIN etc.

Fifth Generation of Computers: Under Development

The technology that will be used in these computers is Bio-chips also called Artificial Intelligence.

Characteristic features of fifth-generation computers are as follows:

• Bio-chip and ULSI will be used as main component.
• They will be able to understand natural language and will have thinking power called Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Intelligent programs can be used in the computer.
• They will process non-numerical information such as pictures and graphics.
• Knowledge based problem solving techniques can be implemented.
• They will use super conductor as a main storage.
• They will be using automatic programming computational logic.