COMPUTER GENERATIONS

Computer Generations

Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies. But nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which together make up an entire computer system.

There are totally five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been discussed in detail along with their time period, characteristics. We've used approximate dates against each generations which are normally accepted.

 Following are the main five generations of computers: 

  

     

S.N.	Generation	Description
1	First	1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.
2	Second	1959-1965. Transistor based.
3	Third	1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.
4	Fourth	1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor based.
5	Fifth	1980-onwards. ULSI microprocessor based

First Generation

The period of first generation was 1946-1959.

First generation of computers started with using vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU (Central Processing Unit). These tubes like electric bulbs produced a lot of heat and were prone to frequent fusing of the installations, therefore, were very expensive and could be afforded only by very large organisations.  

In this generation, mainly batch processing operating systems were used. In this generation, Punched cards, Paper tape, Magnetic tape Input & Output device were used.

There were machine codes and electric wired board languages used.

Ø Colossus  was  the first  electronic  computer  of  this  era.  It's  every  aspect  was  kept secret by British Government. 

Colossus 

Colossus

ØIn 1945,  Von  Neumann  Architecture was introduced. Eckert and     Mauchley      began working  on  EDVAC  (Electronic  Discrete Variable   Automatic Computer)  but  it  never completed. Later Von Neumann developed his own EDVAC (IAS machine).    

EDVAC

Ø In 1946, the development of ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), which was started in 1943, was completed.

Ø Some other  computers of this generation are  UNIVAC,  MARK  II,  MARK  III,  Z2, Z4, SSEC (Selective Sequence Electronic calculator) and some IBM computers series such as IBM 604, IBM 650, IBM 701, IBM 702.

UNIVAC

MARK  II

Ø In 1954, first version of FORTRAN (Formula Translator) was published by IBM.

The main features of First Generation are:

Ø  Vacuum tube technology

Ø  Unreliable

Ø  Supported Machine language only

Ø  Very costly

Ø  Generate lot of heat

Ø  Slow Input/Output device

Ø  Huge size

Ø  Need of A.C.

Ø  Non-portable

Ø  Consumed lot of electricity

Some computers of this generation were:

Ø  ENIAC

Ø  EDVAC

Ø  UNIVAC

Ø  IBM-701

Ø  IBM-650

Second Generation

The period of second generation was 1959-1965.

This generation using the transistor were cheaper, consumed less power, more compact in size, more reliable and faster than the first generation machines made of vacuum tubes. In this generation, magnetic cores were used as primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic disks as secondary storage devices.

magnetic cores 

In this generation, assembly language and high-level programming language like FORTRAN, COBOL were used.

There were Batch processing and Multiprogramming Operating system used.

The main features of Second Generation are:

Ø  Use of transistors

Ø  Reliable as compared to First generation computers

Ø  Smaller size as compared to First generation computers

Ø  Generate less heat as compared to First generation computers

Ø  Consumed less electricity as compared to First generation computers

Ø  Faster than first generation computers

Ø  Still very costly

Ø  A.C. needed

Ø  Support machine and assembly languages

Some computers of this generation were:

Ø  IBM 1620   

Ø  IBM 7094  

Ø  CDC 1604 

Ø  CDC 3600  

Ø  UNIVAC 1108  

Third Generation

The period of third generation was 1965-1971.

The third generation of computer is marked by the use of Integrated Circuits (IC's) in place of transistors. A single IC has many transistors, resistors and capacitors along with the associated circuitry. The IC was invented by Jack Kilby. This development made computers smaller in size, reliable and efficient.

  

Integrated Circuits (IC's)

In this generation, Remote processing, Time-sharing, Real-time, Multi-programming Operating System were used.

High-level language (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68, etc.) were used during this generation.

The main features of Third Generation are:

Ø  IC used

Ø  More reliable

Ø  Smaller size

Ø  Generate less heat

Ø  Faster

Ø  Lesser maintenance

Ø  Still costly

Ø  A.C. needed

Ø  Consumed lesser electricity

Ø  Support high-level language

Some computers of this generation were:

Ø  IBM-360 series 

Ø  Honeywell-6000 series

Ø  PDP(Personal Data Processor) 

Ø  IBM-370/168

 

Ø  TDC-316

Fourth Generation

The period of Fourth Generation was 1971-1980. The fourth generation of computers is marked by the use of Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements and their associated circuits on a single chip made it possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth Generation computers became more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to personal computer (PC) revolution.  

 

   

In this generation, Time sharing, Real time, Networks, Distributed Operating System were used. All the higher level languages like C and C++, DBASE, etc., were used in this generation.

The main features of Fourth Generation are:

Ø  VLSI technology used

Ø  Very cheap

Ø  Portable and reliable

Ø  Use of PC's

Ø  Very small size

Ø  Pipeline processing

Ø  No A.C. needed

Ø  Concept of internet was introduced

Ø  Great developments in the fields of networks

Ø  Computers became easily available

Some computers of this generation were:

Ø  DEC 10

Ø  STAR 1000

Ø  PDP 11

Ø  CRAY-1 (Super Computer)

Ø  CRAY-X-MP (Super Computer)

Ø  TANDY TRS-80 

TANDY TRS-80

Fifth Generation

The period of Fifth Generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth generation, the VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components. This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software.

AI is an emerging branch in computer science which interprets means and methods of making computers think like human beings. All the higher level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net, etc., are used in this generation.

AI includes:

Ø  Robotics

Ø  Neural networks

Ø  Game Playing

Ø  Development of expert systems to make decisions in real life situations.

Ø  Natural language understanding and generation.

The main features of Fifth Generation are:

Ø  ULSI technology

Ø  Development of true artificial intelligence

Ø  Development of Natural language processing

Ø  Advancement in Parallel Processing

Ø  Advancement in Superconductor technology

Ø  More user friendly interfaces with multimedia features

Ø  Availability of very powerful and compact computers at cheaper rates

Some computers types of this generation are:

Ø  Desktop

Ø  Laptop

Ø  NoteBook

Ø  UltraBook

Ø  ChromeBook