Generation of Computer

1. First-generation computer (1940-1956)
2. Second-generation computer(1956-1963)
3. Third-generation of computer (1964-1971)
4. Fourth-generation of computers (1971-present)
5. Fifth-generation of computers (present and beyond)

First-generation of computers(1940-1956)

• Vacuum tubes and magnetic drums were often used.
• Taking an entire room, this computer weighed 30 tons, and 18000 vacuum tubes used for processing.
• Very expensive to operate due to the excessive amount of heat.
• They have relied on machine language.
• Input and output were based on a punch card.
• Used for the government on the census.
• The computer of this generation could only perform a single task and no operating functions.
• UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of the first generation of computers.

Second-generation of computers(1956-1963)

• Allowed programmers to specify instructions in words.
• Still relied on punch cards.
• Transistor is used in this computer instead of vacuum tubes which were more reliable.
• The magnetic core technology was used by replacing the magnetic drum.
• During this generation over 100 computers, programming languages were developed,
• computers had memory and operating systems. storage media such as tape and disk
• were in use along with printers for output.

Third-generation of computers(1964-1971)

• IC (integrated circuit) was the hallmark of third-generation computers.
• Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips called semiconductors.
• Much smaller and cheaper.
• Carry out instructions in billions of a second.
• Used keyboards and monitors for user interaction.
• Accessible to a mass audience.

Fourth-generation of computers(1971-Present)

• Thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip called a microprocessor used in the fourth-generation computer.
• As these small computers became more powerful. They could be linked together from networks which eventually lead to the development of the internet.
• The Intel 4004 chip developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer from
  the CPU and memory to input/output controls on a single chip.
• GUIS was also developed in this generation.

Fifth-generation of computers(Present-Beyond)

• Fifth-generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in
• development, though are some applications, such as voice recognition that are being used today.
• The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.
• Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of computers in years to come.
• The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.