Generations of Computer

The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices. Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable devices. 2) Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 1950s. The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors. Though the transistor still generated a great deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Secondgeneration computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output. Prior to the invention of transistors, digital circuits were composed of vacuum tubes, which had many disadvantages. They were much larger, required more energy, dissipated more heat, and were more prone to failures. It's safe to say that without the invention of transistors, computing as we know it today would not be possible. At that time the new high level languages are developed like COBOL and FORTRON. Because it was so difficult to understand the machine language by the programmers which is easly understandable for the computer machines. [1] First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time. Computer Programmers, therefore, use either high level programming languages or an assembly language programming. An assembly language contains the same instructions as a machine language. Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts. Examples of First Generation Computers are UNIVAC and ENIAC. [2]

1) First Generation (1940-1956) Vacuum Tubes The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions and Problems.

Generations of Computer
3) Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits The development of the integrated circuit was the highlighted area of the third generation of computers. Transistors individually ends and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which increased the speed and efficiency of computers. Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory which is know as the multiprocessing. Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper than the early describe computer generations. printed circuit boards. There are different types of chips. For example, CPU chips (also called microprocessors) contain an entire processing unit, whereas memory chips contain blank memory. Computer chips, both for CPU and memory, are composed of semiconductor materials. Semiconductors make it possible to miniaturize electronic components, such as transistors. Not only does miniaturization mean that the components take up less space, it also means that they are faster and require less energy.

4) Fourth Generation (1971-Present) Microprocessors The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. In 1981 IBM first produce there personel computer for home use, and in 1984 apple company introduce the macintosh. Now microsoft also now starts to develope personel computers. It was a time when everybody starting to use the microprocessor. The idea of internet is come in this generation because the size of computer is reduce in small size and many computers can be network together easily. So we can say that the this generation is the start of the internet. Computer now can link together and communicate with each other.

[3] A chip is a small piece of semi conducting material(usually silicon) on which an integrated circuit is embedded. A typical chip is less than square inches and can contain millions of electronic components(transistors). Computers consist of many chips placed on electronic boards called

Generations of Computer

[5] Basically in the fourth generation the the circuits which are very complicated designed are embed on the silicon chip. So the previous all the problem solve. This chip is basically a microprocessor. Microprossesor also control all the logic devices so there is no external devices needed to control the logic devices. Three basic characteristics differentiate microprocessors: 1) Instruction Set: Set of instructions that excute by the microprossesor. 2) Bandwidth: The number of bits processed in a single instruction. 3) Clock Speed: Given in megahertz (MHz), the speed at which the processor exute instructions in one second(unit time). As discribe above few terms that vary in different microprocessors. This is the terms that directly effect the microprocessor performance. As these things improve will also improve the speed and performance of the microprocessor. Basically the best thing in this generation was silicon chip through which many problems solve and many complicated circuites can be easly put on the circuits.

[6] For example in the above diagram a very much complicated circuit is shown which is again made on a silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. Location of all the components of the computer - from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls on a single chip. Central procession unit (CPU) is the most important part of the computer or workstation. CPU is the ofcoarse the brain of the computer. CPU may sometimes called the processor or microprocessor, because all the important circuites are in CPU. All the calculations and logical things that a computer can do is perform on this part of the computer.In personel computers or workstations the whole CPU is embed on the single chip called the microprossor. On large computers the CPU is not necessarlly consists on the single chip, it may consists on two chips. We all know that the CPU basically consists on two parts. 1) ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit) 2) Control Unit

Generations of Computer
ALU as its name shows perform the arithmetic and logical operations. All the mathematical and logical operations perform in this part of the CPU. On the other hand the control unit just fetch instruction, decodes that one and excutes. It may contact the Arithmetic Logic Unit if necessary. 4) Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial Intelligence Our next generation of computer is the Arificial Intelligent. Artificial intelligence basically a complete and big field of compter science. In future generation the computers will builds so that they can understand and learn. Future teachnology will develope the SuperConductors and parallel processing. The few terms are using in this time too. So this all future teachnology will change the size of the computer very much. The basic purpose of future teachnology is to develope devices that are fully trained and ready to learn and intelligent enough. There are some applications that are use in this generation for example a voice recognition application that is already in Windows 7 operating system. This application just listen the voice and behave accordingly.

References: Studied Links: http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_S oftware/2002/FiveGenerations.asp http://www.techiwarehouse.com/engine/a046ee08/Ge nerations-of-Computer Blogs: http://lifeofchoonyik.blogspot.com/2011/02/fifthgeneration-present-and-beyond.html

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