Genration of Computer

 

Genration of Computer

In computer terminology, a generation denotes a shift in the technology employed by computers. Initially, the term "generation" was utilized to differentiate between different hardware technologies.

Over time, the need for more efficient and reliable computing devices arose, capable of performing tasks swiftly. In 1946, the first successful electronic computer, known as ENIAC, was developed, marking the inception of the current generation of computers.

Generations of computers	Generations timeline	Evolving hardware
First generation	1946-1959	Vacuum tube based
Second generation	1959-1965	Transistor based
Third generation	1965-1971	Integrated circuit based
Fourth generation	1971-1980	Microprocessor based
Fifth generation	1980-present	Artificial intelligence based

**First Generation**

The period of the first generation: 1942-1954, based on vacuum tubes.

ENIAC, developed by scientists J. P. Eckert and J. W. Mauchly, marked the beginning of the first generation of computers. ENIAC, standing for "Electronic Numeric Integrated And Calculator," was a massive machine weighing 30 tons and had limited storage capacity. It relied on vacuum tubes, which were inefficient and required large cooling systems.

**Characteristics of First Generation Computers (1940s-1950s)**

- Main electronic component: vacuum tube

- Main memory: magnetic drums and magnetic tapes

- Programming language: machine language

- Power consumption: high electricity usage and heat generation

- Speed and size: slow processing speed and large physical size

- Input/output devices: punched cards and paper tape

- Examples: ENIAC, UNIVAC1, IBM 650, IBM 701, etc.

**Second Generation**

The period of the second generation: 1952-1964, based on transistors.

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes in second-generation computers, leading to smaller and more efficient machines. This technological advancement resulted in improved speed and reliability.

**Characteristics of Second Generation Computers (1950s-1960s)**

- Main electronic component: transistor

- Memory: magnetic core, magnetic tape, or disk

- Programming language: assembly language

- Power and size: reduced power consumption, heat generation, and physical size

- Speed: faster processing speed compared to first-generation computers

- Input/output devices: punched cards and magnetic tape

- Examples: IBM 1401, IBM 7090/7094, UNIVAC 1107, etc.

**Third Generation**

The period of the third generation: 1964-1972, based on integrated circuits (ICs).

Integrated circuits revolutionized computing by offering smaller size, higher performance, and greater reliability. These computers featured larger storage capacity and faster processing speeds.

**Characteristics of Third Generation Computers (1960s-1970s)**

- Main electronic component: integrated circuits (ICs)

- Memory: large magnetic core, magnetic tape, or disk

- Programming language: high-level languages (e.g., FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, C)

- Size: smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than second-generation computers

- Speed: further improvement in speed and reliability

- Input/output devices: magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.

- Examples: IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC 1108, etc.

**Fourth Generation**

The period of the fourth generation: 1972-1990, based on VLSI microprocessors.

Fourth-generation computers introduced microprocessors, significantly reducing size and improving efficiency. The Intel 4004 microprocessor played a crucial role in this generation, leading to faster and more compact computers.

**Characteristics of Fourth Generation Computers (1970s-present)**

- Main electronic component: very large-scale integration (VLSI) and microprocessor

- Memory: semiconductor memory (e.g., RAM, ROM)

- Programming language: high-level languages (e.g., Python, C#, Java)

- Size: smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than third-generation computers

- Speed: remarkable improvement in speed, accuracy, and reliability

- Input/output devices: keyboard, pointing devices, monitor, printer, etc.

- Examples: IBM PC, Apple II, Apple Macintosh, etc.

**Fifth Generation**

The period of the fifth generation: 1990-onwards, based on ULSI microprocessors.

Fifth-generation computers focus on artificial intelligence (AI), utilizing ultra-large-scale integration (ULSI) technology and parallel processing. They aim to understand natural language, learn, and self-organize, with applications such as voice recognition and quantum computing.

**Characteristics of Fifth Generation Computers (the present and the future)**

- Main electronic component: based on artificial intelligence, ULSI technology, and parallel processing

- Memory: advanced semiconductor memory

- Language: understand natural language

- Power: consume less power and generate less heat

- Speed: remarkable improvement in speed, accuracy, and reliability

- Size: portable and small, with large storage capacity

- Input/output devices: keyboard, monitor, mouse, touchscreen, speech input, etc.

- Examples: desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.