Generations of Computers

 

Generations of Computers

In this article I would like to give you a small & short introduction about the generations of computers through which anyone can easily understand about the generations of computers & the equipments used in those computers. Let’s start with the step by step information about this topic.

(1.)           First Generation Computers:-

·        Time Period (1940 – 1956).

·        Vaccum tubes are used in the computers of this generation.

·        Magnetic Drums are to be used as memory devices.

·        Computers size is very much enormous in this generation.

·        Computers generate too much heat that A.C. should be compulsory to reduce their heat.

·        They were very inefficient because operating system is not used in this generation computers.

·        Machine Language is used in the computers.

·        Speed of this generation computers is 333 micro seconds.

·        Examples- UNIVAC, ENIAC, EDSAC, EDVAC.

Vaccum tube

(2.)           Second Generation Computers:-

·        Time Period (1956 – 1963).

·        Transistors are used in comparison of Vaccum tubes in this generation.

·        Size of computers is lesser than in comparison of previous generation computers.

·        High level languages such as COBOL, FORTRAN are developed in this time period.

·        Speed of computers of this generation is 10 micro seconds.

·        Magnetic storage devices are used to replace punch cards for memory.

·        Examples- UNIVAC-110, CDC-3600, IBM-1401.

Transistor

(3.)           Third Generation Computers:-

·        Time Period (1964- 1971).

·        Integrated Circuits (IC’s) are used in this generation.

·         Circuits are printed on a single silicon chip which is termed as semiconductors.

·        Speed of the computers made in this generation is 100 nano seconds.

·        Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC) language is originated in this time period.

·        Some more applications are developed in this time period to improve the drawbacks of previous generation computers. Which are: Time sharing system, disk.

·        Example- IBM-360, CDS-6000, UNIVAC-9000.

Integrated Circuit (IC)

(4.)           Fourth Generation Computers:-

·        Time Period (1972-2010).

·        Microprocessors are used in place of integrated circuits.

·        Very large Scale Integration technology is originated in this time period. In which whole CPU is easily printed on a single chip & this technology is known as Microprocessors.

·        As microprocessors are used in the computers of current generation therefore they should be also named as Micro Computers.

·        Graphical User Interface (GUI), Multimedia & Parallel computing technologies are developed.

·        More high level languages are developed such as: SQL, Oracle.

·        Speed is 300 nano seconds of this generation computers.

·        High speed computer networks are also developed e.g.- LAN, WAN.

·        Example- Personal Computers.

Microprocessor

(5.)           Fifth Generation Computers:-

·        Time Period (2010- Present).

·        The computers of this generation are having the capability of creating Logics, Thinking process, Decision Making.

·        Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI) technology is used in these computers.

·        Internet & E-Mail are developed in this time duration.

·        Artificial Intelligence & Robotics are trying to be implemented in this generation computers. So that they should be more better & advanced.

·        Example- Super Computers.

I hope that this information which I have given you in this article should be proved very much crucial and very much necessary for everyone.