Generations of Computer

Generations of Computer The evolution of computer to the current state is defined in terms of the generations of computer. Currently, there ...

Generations of Computer

The evolution of computer to the current state is defined in terms of the generations of computer. Currently, there are five generations of computer. The generations of computer is classified 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

First generation of computer

Characteristics

1. Vaccum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory were used.
2. Operating speed was in terms of milliseconds
3. Machine language was used to instruct the computer and could solve only one problem at a time.
4. Magnetic core is used as a primary memory and paper tube, punched card, magnetic tape, electrostatic tubes are used as a secondary memory.
5. For i/o operations punched card, printing devices were used.

Eg: ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC and UNIVAC

Advantages

Coming soon

Disadvantages

1. It occupied very large space, slow processing, inefficient and unreliable due to low accuracy.
2. Power consumption was very high
3. Generated much heat. So, special cooling system was required.
4. Could only perform straight forward simple numerical calculations.
5. Much expensive.

Second generation of Computer

Characteristics

1. Transistor was used
2. Operating speed was in terms of microsecond
3. Assembly language, COBOL, FORTAN were introduced for programming
4. Magnetic core was used as a primary memory and magnetic drum & magnetic tape were used as a secondary memory.
5. For i/o operations punched card, printing devices were used.

Eg: IBM 1620, IBM 7094, LEO Mark III, Honeywell 400 series

Advantages

1. Transistor reduced the size of computer.
2. Power required to operate them was low.
3. Could perform scientific calculations.
4. Storage capacity and use of computers increased.
5. Much faster, more reliable; could handle enormous amount of data than first generation computer

Disadvantages

Coming soon

Third generation of Computer

Characteristics

1. Integrated Circuit (IC) was used.
2. Operating speed was in terms of nanosecond.
3. High level languages like FORTAN, BASIC, were used.
4. RAM and ROM were used as a primary memory and magnetic disks like floppy disk, hard disk & magnetic tape were used as a secondary memory.
5. For i/o operations monitors and keyboards were introduced.
6. Database Management System was developed.

Eg: IBM-360 series, ICL-900 series, Honey Well 200

Advantages

1. Computers were used in census calculation, military, banks and industries.
2. Size, cost, power requirement, heat generation decreased.
3. Processing speed, storage capacity, use of computer increased.

Disadvantages

Coming soon

Fourth generation of computer

Characteristics

1. VLSI is introduced
2. Operating speed is in terms of the picoseconds
3. 4GL is used to develop programs
4. RAM , ROM and Cache memory is used as a primary memory and CD, DVD, Blu-ray Disk, pen drive are used as a secondary memory.
5. For i/o operations mouse, touch screen, scanner & LCD, LED, monitors, colour, printers are developed.
6. Microcomputers like desktop PC, laptop, tablet PC are developed.

Eg: IBM-PC, HP Laptops, Mac Notebook

Advantages

1. Size, cost, power requirement, heat generation decreased
2. Operating speed, storage capacity, use of computer increased.

Disadvantages

Coming soon

Fifth generation of computer

Characteristics

1. Bio chips will be used
2. Input and Output will be in the form of speech and graphics images.
3. Aims to solve highly complex problems, which require reasoning, intelligence and expert knowledge.
4. Are intended to cope with natural languages.
5. Based on parallel processing architecture.
6. Research and advancement in quantum computation and molecular and nano technology could be utilized.

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