(GK 2) (Computer 1)
GENERATIONS OF COMPUTER
1. First Generation (1946-1959) :
In first generation vaccum tubes were used for
circuitry and magnetic drums for memory. They
used the "Stored Program Concept" and they
were very large in size taking up the entire
rooms and generating a lot of heat. Machine
languages were used for giving the instructions.
Examples:
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And
Calculator) was the first electronic computer
developed.
EDVAC: Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic
Computer
EDSAC: Electronic Delay Storage Automatic
Computer
UNIVAC-I: The Universal Automatic Computer
2. Second Generation (1959-1965) :
This generation using the transistor were
cheaper, consumed less power, more compact
in size, more reliable and faster than thefirst
generation machines made of vaccum tubes. In
this generation, magnetic cores were used as
primary memory and magnetic tape and
magnetic disks as secondary storage devices.
In this generation assembly language and high
level programming language like FORTRAN,
COBOL were used. There were Batch
processing and Multiprogramming Operating
system used.
Examples: IBM 1620,IBM 7094, CDC 1604, CDC
3600, UNIVAC 1108
3. Third Generation (1965-1971) :
The development of the integrated circuit(I.C)
was the hallmark of the third generation of
computers. A single I.C has many transistors,
resistors and capacitors along with the
associated circuitry. The I.C was invented by
Jack Kilby. This development made computers
smaller in size, reliable and efficient.
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.
Examples: IBM-360 series, Honeywell-6000
series, PDP(Personal Data Processor)
4. Fourth Generation (1971-1980) :
Medium scale integrated circuits yieldedto
Large Scale Integration (LSI) and Very Large
Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits. It led to the
advent of microprocessor (CPU on a single chip)
and marked the beginning of the fourth
generation computers. Semi conductor
memories replaced magnetic core memories.
The cost of computer came down so rapidly.
The accessing and processing speeds and
increased memory capacity helped in
development of much more powerful operating
systems.
Examples: DEC 10, STAR 1000, PDP 11,
CRAY-1(Super Computer), CRAY-X-MP(Super
Computer)
5. Fifth Generation (1980-Present) :
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 generationis
based on parallel processing hardware and AI
(Artificial Intelligence) software. AI is an
emerging branch in computer science, which
interprets means and method of making
computers think like human beings.
All the Higher level languages like C and C++,
Java, .Net etc. are used in this generation.
Examples: Desktop, Laptop, NoteBook,
UltraBook, ChromeBook.
