Generation of the Computer

Generation of the Computer

   GENERATION TECHNIC USED PERIOD
1st                                    Vacuum tubes                 1943-1956
2nd                                    Transistor                       1956-1964
3rd                        IC (integrated circuit)               1964-1971
4th             VLSI (Very large scale Integration)    1972- Present
5th            BIO – CHIPS (Parallel Processor)      Under development

The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the difference generation of computing devices each generation of computer is characteristics by a measured technological development that fundamentally changed the way computer operate, resulting in increasing smaller, cheaper, efficient and more reliable. In the simple word the generation of computer means it started two thousand years ago and it rich the current stage to pass the different steps these steps are known as generation of computer. Depending on the device used, system architecture, processing mode and language used in the computer are categorized in the following 5 generation.

1st   Generation Computer (Vacuum Tubes)(1943-1956)

The first generation computer used vacuum tubes and magnetic drums for memory. They are placed and they taking the entire room. They work very expensive to operate as well as they using a great deal of electricity and it generated a lot of hits. These computers support and used machine language to perform operation and they can perform only one task at a time. Input was based on punched card and output was displayed on printout.

Features of 1st generation 

1.  Vacuum tubes were used for electronic circuits. 
2.  Storage capacity was limited(1KB-4KB)
3.  Slow processing speed.(Mili Second)
4.  Large in size(1500 square feet)

2nd    Generation Computer (Transistor) (1956-1964)

Transistor replaced vacuum tubes in the second generation computer. It was invented in 1947 and they are used in after 1950. The transistor was far superior to vacuum tube they allowing computers to become smaller, faster and cheaper than first generation. They use high level language and low level language and they used punch card at a input and print out s a output.

Features of 2nd generation 

1. Transistors were use instead of vacuum tubes. 
2. Processing speed is faster than 1st generation computer. (Micro second)
3. Smaller in size. (51 squire feet)
4. The input and output devices were faster.

3rd  Generation Computer (IC chips) (1964-1971)

The development of the integrated circuit was the hall mark of the third generation computer. They used silicon chips which increase the speed and efficiency of the computer and they use\s keyboard and monitor as well as interface with operating system. They can run more than two programs at the same time.

Features of 3rd generation 

1. ICs were used in place of transistor. 
2. processing speed is faster than second generation computer.( Nano second) 
3. Mini computers were introduced during this generation. 
4. Storage capacity increased in Megabyte. 

4th Generation Computer (1972- Present) (Microprocessor)

The microprocessor use the small silicon chip and thousand of integrated circuit work, built on to single chip. They decrease their size, they are fit on to palm. The Intel 4004 chip is 1991 and in 1981 IBM introduced first computer as a microprocessor and in 1984 Apple Company introduce the Macintosh. They are more powerful, reliable computers and they support GUI application.

Features of 4th   generation

1. VLSI and microprocessor are used.
2. Processing speed is very high in Pico second.
3. Storage capacity was very high in GB.
4. Very smaller size. Various from a desktop, to Laptop.

5th Generation Computer (Under development) (AI- Artificial Intelligence) 

Fifth generation computer device is Artificial Intelligence nd they are still in developing phase. These uses some application such as voice recognition which are being used today the artificial Intelligence is the branch of computer science concerned with intelligence. Such application is used in fifth generation computer.

Features of 5th generation

1. High performance, multiprocessor system.
2. Easy human computer interface.
3. There will be used BIO (Basic Input Output) chips, ULSI (Ultra Large scale Integration.)
4. Computer will understand natural language.
5. They have artificial intelligence.