The Computer Generations :
The evolution of computer started from 16th century and resulted in the form that we see today. The present day computer, however, has also undergone rapid change during the last fifty years. This period, during which the evolution of computer took place, can be divided into five distinct phases, basis of the type of switching circuits known as Generations of Computers.
1. First Generation Computers (1950’s) These computers which used vacuum tubes (valves) as major electronic component . The advantage of vacuum tubes technology is that it made the advent of Electronic digital computer. Vacuum tubes were only electronic devices available during those days which made computing possible.
2. Second Generation Computers (1960’s)
Around 1955 a device called Transistor replaced the bulky electric tubes in the first generation computer. Transistors are smaller than electric tubes and have higher operating speed. They have no filament and require no heating. Manufacturing cost was also very low. Thus the size of the computer got reduced considerably.
3.Third Generation Computers (1970’s)
The third generation computers were introduced in 1964. They used Integrated Circuits (ICs). These ICs are popularly known as Chips. A single IC has many transistors, registers and capacitors built on a single thin slice of silicon. So it is quite obvious that the size of the computer got further reduced. Computers of this generation were small in size, low cost, large memory and processing speed is very high.
4. Fourth Generation (1980’s)
The present day computers that you see today are the fourth generation computers that started around 1975. It uses large scale Integrated Circuits (LSIC) built on a single silicon chip called microprocessors. Due to the development of microprocessor it is possible to place computer’s central processing unit (CPU) on single chip. These computers are called microcomputers. Later very large scale Integrated Circuits (VLSIC) replaced LSICs. Thus the computer which was occupying a very large room in earlier days can now be placed on a table. The personal computer (PC) that you see in your college is a Fourth Generation Computer.
5. Fifth Generation (Late 1990’s)
These computers use optic fiber technology to handle Artificial Intelligence, expert systems, Robotics etc., these computers have high processing speeds and are more reliable.
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The evolution of computer started from 16th century and resulted in the form that we see today. The present day computer, however, has also undergone rapid change during the last fifty years. This period, during which the evolution of computer took place, can be divided into five distinct phases, basis of the type of switching circuits known as Generations of Computers.
1. First Generation Computers (1950’s) These computers which used vacuum tubes (valves) as major electronic component . The advantage of vacuum tubes technology is that it made the advent of Electronic digital computer. Vacuum tubes were only electronic devices available during those days which made computing possible.
Around 1955 a device called Transistor replaced the bulky electric tubes in the first generation computer. Transistors are smaller than electric tubes and have higher operating speed. They have no filament and require no heating. Manufacturing cost was also very low. Thus the size of the computer got reduced considerably.
The third generation computers were introduced in 1964. They used Integrated Circuits (ICs). These ICs are popularly known as Chips. A single IC has many transistors, registers and capacitors built on a single thin slice of silicon. So it is quite obvious that the size of the computer got further reduced. Computers of this generation were small in size, low cost, large memory and processing speed is very high.
The present day computers that you see today are the fourth generation computers that started around 1975. It uses large scale Integrated Circuits (LSIC) built on a single silicon chip called microprocessors. Due to the development of microprocessor it is possible to place computer’s central processing unit (CPU) on single chip. These computers are called microcomputers. Later very large scale Integrated Circuits (VLSIC) replaced LSICs. Thus the computer which was occupying a very large room in earlier days can now be placed on a table. The personal computer (PC) that you see in your college is a Fourth Generation Computer.
These computers use optic fiber technology to handle Artificial Intelligence, expert systems, Robotics etc., these computers have high processing speeds and are more reliable.
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