Computer Generations

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Generations of Computer
The computer has evolved from a large-sized simple
calculating machine to a smaller but much more powerful
machine.
The evolution of computer to the current state is defined

in terms of the generations of computer.
Each generation of computer is designed based on a new

technological development, resulting in better, cheaper
and smaller computers that are more powerful, faster and
efficient than their predecessors.
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Generations of Computer
Currently, there are five generations of computer. In
the following subsections, we will discuss the
generations of computer in terms of the technology
used by them (hardware and software), computing
characteristics (speed, i.e., number of instructions
executed per second), physical appearance, and their
applications.
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First Generation Computers
(1940-1956)
The first computers used vacuum tubes(a sealed glass tube
containing a near-vacuum which allows the free passage of
electric current.) for
circuitry and magnetic drums for memory.
They were often enormous and taking up entire room.
First generation computers relied on machine language.
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 malfunctions(defect or breakdown).
The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-
generation computing devices.
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First Generation Computers
Advantages :
It was only electronic device
First device to hold memory
Disadvantages :
Too bulky i.e large in size
Vacuum tubes burn frequently
They were producing heat
Maintenance problems
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Second Generation Computers
(1956-1963)
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the
second generation of computers.
• Second-generation computers moved from
cryptic binary machine language to symbolic.
• 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.
• Examples of the second generation computers
include IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 1604, CDC
3600, UNIVAC 1108 6
Second Generation Computers
Advantages :
Size reduced considerably
The very fast
Very much reliable
Disadvantages :
They over heated quickly
Maintenance problems
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Third Generation Computers
(1964-1971)
The development of the integrated circuit was the
hallmark of the third generation of computers.
Transistors were miniaturized and placed on siliconchips,
called semiconductors.
Instead of punched cards and paper tapes, users interacted
with third generation computers through keyboards
and monitors and interfaced with an operating system.
Examples of the third generation computers include IBM-
360 series, Honeywell-6000 series, PDP (Personal Data
Processor), and IBM-370/168
Allowed the device to run many different applications at
one time.
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Third generation computers
Advantages :
ICs are very small in size
Improved performance
Production cost cheap
Disadvantages :
ICs are sophisticated
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Fourth Generation Computers
(1971-present)
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of
computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were
built onto a single silicon chip.
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.
 Fourth generation computers also saw the development
of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.
Examples – IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple
Macintosh, etc.
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Fourth Generation Computers
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Fifth Generation Computers
(present and beyond)
Fifth generation computing devices, based
on artificial intelligence.
Are still in development, though there are some
applications, such as voice recognition.
The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop
devices that respond to natural language input and
are capable of learning and self-organization.
Examples - Param 1000, Intel P4, IBM laptops,
notebooks, and PCs of Pentium
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Fifth Generation Computers
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From Vaccum Tubes to
Microprocessors
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High Level to Machine Language
Program to add two numbers
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Assembly code to add two numbers
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Machine Language Code to add two
numbers
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Computer Generations

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Computer Generations

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The evolution of computer to the current state is defined

Each generation of computer is designed based on a new

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