GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS
Introduction
Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was being
used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware
technologies. But nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which
together make up an entire computer system.
There are totally five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been
discussedin detail along with their time period, characteristics. We've used approximate
dates against each generations which are normally accepted.
Following are the main five generations of computers
S.N. Generation & Description
First Generation
1
The period of first generation : 1946-1959. Vaccum tube based.
Second Generation
2
The period of second generation : 1959-1965. Transistor based.
Third Generation
3
The period of third generation : 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.
Fourth Generation
4
The period of fourth generation : 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor based.
Fifth Generation
5
The period of fifth generation : 1980-onwards.ULSI microprocessor based
First Generation
The period of first generation was 1946-1959.
First generation of computer started with using vacuum tubes as the basic components for
memory and circuitry for CPU(Central Processing Unit). These tubes like electric bulbs
produced a lot of heat and were prone to frequent fusing of the installations, therefore,
were very expensive and could be afforded only by very large organisations.
In this generation mainly batch processing operating system were used. In this generation
Punched cards, Paper tape, Magnetic tape Input & Output device were used.
There were Machine code and electric wired board languages used.
http://ecampus.maseno.ac.ke
, The main features of First Generation are:
Vacuum tube technology
Unreliable
Supported Machine language only
Very costly
Generate lot of heat
Slow Input/Output device
Huge size
Need of A.C.
Non portable
Consumed lot of electricity
Some computer of this generation were:
ENIAC
EDVAC
UNIVAC
IBM-701
IBM-650
Second Generation
The period of second generation was 1959-1965.
http://ecampus.maseno.ac.ke
Introduction
Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was being
used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware
technologies. But nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which
together make up an entire computer system.
There are totally five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been
discussedin detail along with their time period, characteristics. We've used approximate
dates against each generations which are normally accepted.
Following are the main five generations of computers
S.N. Generation & Description
First Generation
1
The period of first generation : 1946-1959. Vaccum tube based.
Second Generation
2
The period of second generation : 1959-1965. Transistor based.
Third Generation
3
The period of third generation : 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.
Fourth Generation
4
The period of fourth generation : 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor based.
Fifth Generation
5
The period of fifth generation : 1980-onwards.ULSI microprocessor based
First Generation
The period of first generation was 1946-1959.
First generation of computer started with using vacuum tubes as the basic components for
memory and circuitry for CPU(Central Processing Unit). These tubes like electric bulbs
produced a lot of heat and were prone to frequent fusing of the installations, therefore,
were very expensive and could be afforded only by very large organisations.
In this generation mainly batch processing operating system were used. In this generation
Punched cards, Paper tape, Magnetic tape Input & Output device were used.
There were Machine code and electric wired board languages used.
http://ecampus.maseno.ac.ke
, The main features of First Generation are:
Vacuum tube technology
Unreliable
Supported Machine language only
Very costly
Generate lot of heat
Slow Input/Output device
Huge size
Need of A.C.
Non portable
Consumed lot of electricity
Some computer of this generation were:
ENIAC
EDVAC
UNIVAC
IBM-701
IBM-650
Second Generation
The period of second generation was 1959-1965.
http://ecampus.maseno.ac.ke
