The Computer Generations with Examples Found in Each

FIRST GENERATION OF COMPUTERS
During the period of 1940 to 1956 first generation of computers were developed. The first generation computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. The vacuum tube was developed by Lee DeForest. A vacuum tube is a device generally used to amplify a signal by controlling the movement of electrons in an evacuated space. First generation computers 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.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) First generation computers were based on
vacuum tubes.
2) The operating systems of the first generation
computers were very slow.
3) They were very large in size.
4) Production of the heat was in large amount in
first generation computers.
5) Machine language was used for programming.
6) First generation computers were unreliable.
7) They were difficult to program and use.
UNIVAC, EDVAC, EDSAC and ENIAC computers
are examples of first generation computing
devices.

SECOND GENERATION COMPUTERS
During the period of 1956 to 1963 second generation of computers were developed. The second generation computers emerged with development of Transistors. The transistor
was invented in 1947 by three scientists J.
Bardeen, H.W. Brattain and W. Shockley. A
transistor is a small device made up of
semiconductor material like germanium and
silicon. Even though the Transistor were
developed in 1947 but was not widely used until the end of 50s. The transistor made th second generation computers faster, smaller, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation computers. Even though the transistor used in the computer generated enormous amount of heat which ultimately would lead to the damage of the computers but
was far better than vacuum tubes.
Second generation computers used the low level
language i.e. machine level language and
assembly language which made the
programmers easier to specify the instructions.
Later on High level language programming were
introduced such as COBOL and FORTRAN.
Magnetic core was used as primary storage.
Second generation computer has faster input /
output devices which thus brought improvement
in the computer.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) Transistors were used in place of vacuum
tubes.
2) Second generation computers were smaller in
comparison with the first generation computers.
3) They were faster in comparison with the first
generation computers.
4) They generated less heat and were less prone
to failure.
5) They took comparatively less computational
time.
6) Assembly language was used for
programming.
7) Second generation computers has faster
input/output devices.
IBM 7000, NCR 304, IBM 650, IBM 1401, ATLAS
and Mark III are the examples of second
generation computers.


THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS
During the period of 1964 to 1971 Third generation computers were developed. The third generation computers emerged with the development of IC (Integrated Circuits). The invention of the IC was the greatest achievement done in the period of third generation of computers. IC was invented by Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby in 1958-59. IC is a single component containing a number of transistors. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers. Keyboards and monitors developed during the period of third generation of computers. The third generation computers 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.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) IC was used instead of transistors in the third
generation computers.
2) Third generation computers were smaller in
size and cheaper as compare to the second
generation computers.
3) They were fast and more reliable.
4) High level language was developed.
5) Magnetic core and solid states as main
storage.
6) They were able to reduce computational time
and had low maintenance cost.
7) Input/Output devices became more
sophisticated.
PDP-8, PDP-11, ICL 2900, IBM 360 and IBM 370
are the examples of third generation computers.

FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
After 1971 the fourth generation computers were built. The fourt generatio computers were the extension of third generation technology. The fourth generation computers
emerged with development of the VLSI (Very
Large Scale Integration).With the help of VLSI
technology microprocessor came into existence.
The computers were designed by using
microprocessor, 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. The fourth
generation computers became more powerful,
compact, reliable and affordable. As a result,
they give rise to personal computer (PC)
revolution.
For the first time in 1981 IBM introduced its
computer for the home user and in 1984 Apple
introduced the Macintosh Microprocessor.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) The fourth generation computers have
microprocessor-based systems.
2) They are the cheapest among all the
computer generation.
3) The speed, accuracy and reliability of the
computers were improved in fourth generation
computers.
4) Many high-level languages were developed in
the fourth generation such as COBOL, FORTRAN,
BASIC, PASCAL and C language.
5) A Further refinement of input/output devices
was developed.
6) Networking between the systems was
developed.
IBM 4341, DEC 10, STAR 1000, PUP 11 and
APPLE II are the examples of fourth generation
computers.

FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
Fifth generation computers are in developmental stage which is based on the artificial intelligence. The goal of the fifth generation Is to develop the device which could respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization. Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will be used in this technology. So we can say that the fifth generation computers will have the power of human intelligence.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) The fifth generation computers will use super
large scale integrated chips.
2) They will have artificial intelligence.
3) They will be able to recognize image and
graphs.
4) Fifth generation computer aims to be able to
solve highly complex problem including decision
making, logical reasoning.
5) They will be able to use more than one CPU for
faster processing speed.
6) Fifth generation computers are intended to
work with natural language.