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Five Generations of Computers

category:
Introduction to Computing

Table of Contents

MSc in Informatics
Computational Science University of Lugano, Switzerland

1. First Generation of

Thedevelopmentofelectroniccomputerscanbedividedintofivegenerationsdepending

Computers (1942-1955)

uponthetechnologiesused.Thefollowingarethefivegenerationsofcomputers.

1.1. Advantages
1.2. Disadvantages

FirstGenerationofComputers(19421955)

2. Second Generation
Computers (1955-1964)
2.1. Advantages
2.2. Disadvantages
3. Third Generation
Computers (1964-1975)
3.1. Advantages
3.2. Disadvantages
4. Fourth Generation
Computers (1975-Present)
4.1. Advantages
4.2. Disadvantages
5. Fifth Generation
Computers (Present

Image Courtesy: www.computerhistory.org

The beginning of commercial computer age is from UNIVAC (Universal Automatic

Computer). It was developed by two scientists Mauchly and Echert at the Census
Department of United States in 1947. The first generation computers were used
during 19421955. They were based on vacuum tubes. Examples of first generation
computersareENIVACandUNIVAC1.

Advantages

Vacuumtubesweretheonlyelectroniccomponentavailableduringthosedays.
Vacuumtubetechnologymadepossibletomakeelectronicdigitalcomputers.
Thesecomputerscouldcalculatedatainmillisecond.
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Disadvantages
Thecomputerswereverylargeinsize.
Theyconsumedalargeamountofenergy.
Theyheatedverysoonduetothousandsofvacuumtubes.
Theywerenotveryreliable.
Airconditioningwasrequired.
Constantmaintenancewasrequired.
Nonportable.
Costlycommercialproduction.
Limitedcommercialuse.
Veryslowspeed.
Limitedprogrammingcapabilities.
Usedmachinelanguageonly.
Usedmagneticdrumswhichprovideverylessdatastorage.
Usedpunchcardsforinput.
Notversatileandveryfaulty.
SimilarTopics:TypesofComputersbyPurpose|TypesofPrinters

SecondGenerationComputers(19551964)

Image Courtesy: www.ibm.com

The second generation computers used transistors. The scientists at Bell laboratories developed transistor in 1947. These
scientistsincludeJohnBarden,WilliamBrattainandWilliamShockley.Thesizeofthecomputerswasdecreasedbyreplacingvacuum
tubeswithtransistors.TheexamplesofsecondgenerationcomputersareIBM7094series,IBM1400seriesandCDC164etc.

Advantages
Smallerinsizeascomparedtothefirstgenerationcomputers.
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The2ndgenerationComputersweremorereliable
Usedlessenergyandwerenotheated.
Widercommercialuse
Betterportabilityascomparedtothefirstgenerationcomputers.
Betterspeedandcouldcalculatedatainmicroseconds
Usedfasterperipheralsliketapedrives,magneticdisks,printeretc.
UsedAssemblylanguageinsteadofMachinelanguage.
Accuracyimproved.
Disadvantages
Coolingsystemwasrequired
Constantmaintenancewasrequired
Commercialproductionwasdifficult
Onlyusedforspecificpurposes
Costlyandnotversatile
Puchcardswereusedforinput.

ThirdGenerationComputers(19641975)

Image Courtesy: www.computerhistory.org

TheThirdgenerationcomputersusedtheintegratedcircuits(IC).JackKilbydevelopedtheconceptofintegratedcircuitin1958.It
wasanimportantinventioninthecomputerfield.ThefirstICwasinventedandusedin1961.ThesizeofanICisaboutsquare
inch. A single IC chip may contain thousands of transistors. The computer became smaller in size, faster, more reliable and less
expensive.TheexamplesofthirdgenerationcomputersareIBM370,IBMSystem/360,UNIVAC1108andUNIVACAC9000etc.

Advantages

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Smallerinsizeascomparedtopreviousgenerations.
Morereliable.
Usedlessenergy
Producedlessheatascomparedtotheprevioustwogenerationsofcomputers.
Betterspeedandcouldcalculatedatainnanoseconds.
Usedfanforheatdischargetopreventdamage.
Maintenancecostwaslowbecausehardwarefailureisreare.
Totallygeneralpurpose
Couldbeusedforhighlevellanguages.
Goodstorage
Versatiletoanextent
Lessexpensive
Betteraccuracy
Commercialproductionincreased.
Usedmouseandkeyboardforinput.
Disadvantages
Airconditioningwasrequired.
HighlysophisticatedtechnologyrequiredforthemanufacturingofICchips.

FourthGenerationComputers(1975Present)

The fourth generation computers started with the invention of Microprocessor. The Microprocessor contains thousands of ICs. Ted
Hoffproducedthefirstmicroprocessorin1971forIntel.ItwasknownasIntel4004.Thetechnologyofintegratedcircuitsimproved
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rapidly.TheLSI(LargeScaleIntegration)circuitandVLSI(VeryLargeScaleIntegration)circuitwasdesigned.Itgreatlyreducedthe
size of computer. The size of modern Microprocessors is usually one square inch. It can contain millions of electronic circuits. The
examplesoffourthgenerationcomputersareAppleMacintosh&IBMPC.

Advantages
Morepowerfulandreliablethanpreviousgenerations.
Smallinsize
Fastprocessingpowerwithlesspowerconsumption
Fanforheatdischargingandthustokeepcold.
Noairconditioningrequired.
Totallygeneralpurpose
Commercialproduction
Lessneedofrepair.
Cheapestamongallgenerations
AlltypesofHighlevellanguagescanbeusedinthistypeofcomputers
Disadvantages
ThelatesttechnologyisrequiredformanufacturingofMicroprocessors.

FifthGenerationComputers(Present&Beyond)
Scientists are working hard on the 5th generation computers with quite a few breakthroughs. It is based on the technique of
Artificial Intelligence (AI). Computers can understand spoken words & imitate human reasoning. Can respond to its surroundings
usingdifferenttypesofsensors.Scientistsareconstantlyworkingtoincreasetheprocessingpowerofcomputers.Theyaretryingto
createacomputerwithrealIQwiththehelpofadvancedprogrammingandtechnologies.IBMWatsoncomputerisoneexamplethat
outsmartsHarvardUniversityStudents.Theadvancementinmoderntechnologieswillrevolutionizethecomputerinfuture.
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