Computer Generations
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 discussed in detail along with their
time period and characteristics. Here approximate dates against each generations have been mentioned which are normally
accepted.
Following are the main five generations of computers
S.N Generation & Description
.
1 First Generation
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.
2 Second Generation
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.
3 Third Generation
The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.
4 Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor based.
5 Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards. ULSI microprocessor based
Computer - First Generation
The period of first generation was 1946-1959. The computers of first generation used 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. Punched cards, paper tape, and
magnetic tape were used as input and output devices. The computers in this generation used machine code as programming
language.
The main features of first generation are:
Vacuum tube technology
Unreliable
Supported machine language only
Very costly
Generated lot of heat
Slow input and output devices
Huge size
Need of A.C.
Non-portable
Consumed lot of electricity
Some computers of this generation were:
ENIAC
EDVAC
UNIVAC
IBM-701
IBM-650
Computer - Second Generation
The period of second generation was 1959-1965. In this generation
transistors were used that were cheaper, consumed less power, more
compact in size, more reliable and faster than the first generation
machines made of vacuum tubes. In this generation, magnetic cores
were used as primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic
disks as secondary storage devices. In this generation assembly
language and high-level programming languages like FORTRAN,
COBOL were used. The computers used batch processing and
multiprogramming operating system.
The main features of second generation are:
Use of transistors
Reliable in comparison to first generation computers
Smaller size as compared to first generation computers
Generated less heat as compared to first generation computers
Consumed less electricity as compared to first generation computers
Faster than first generation computers
Still very costly
A.C. needed
Supported machine and assembly languages
Some computers of this generation were:
IBM 1620
IBM 7094
CDC 1604
CDC 3600
UNIVAC 1108
Computer - Third Generation
The period of third generation was 1965-1971. The computers of third generation used integrated circuits (IC's) in place of
transistors. A single IC has many transistors, resistors and capacitors along with the associated circuitry. The IC was
invented by Jack Kilby. This development made computers smaller in size, reliable and efficient. In this generation remote
processing, time-sharing, multi-programming operating system were used. High-level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV,
COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this generation.
The main features of third generation are:
IC used
More reliable in comparison to previous two generations
Smaller size
Generated less heat
Faster
Lesser maintenance
Still costly
A.C needed
Consumed lesser electricity
Supported high-level language
Some computers of this generation were:
IBM-360 series
Honeywell-6000 series
PDP(Personal Data Processor)
IBM-370/168
TDC-316
Computer - Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation was 1971-1980. The computers of fourth generation used Very Large Scale Integrated
(VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements and their associated circuits on a
single chip made it possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth generation computers became more
powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to personal computer (PC) revolution. In this generation
time sharing, real time, networks, distributed operating system were used. All the high-level languages like C, C++, DBASE
etc., were used in this generation.
The main features of fourth generation are:
VLSI technology used
Very cheap
Portable and reliable
Use of PC's
Very small size
Pipeline processing
No A.C. needed
Concept of internet was introduced
Great developments in the fields of networks
Computers became easily available
Some computers of this generation were:
DEC 10
STAR 1000
PDP 11
CRAY-1(Super Computer)
CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)
Computer - Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth
generation, the VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale
Integration) technology, resulting in the production of
microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components. This
generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial
Intelligence) software. AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which
interprets means and method of making computers think like human beings. All the high-level languages like C and C++,
Java, .Net etc., are used in this generation.
AI includes:
Robotics
Neural Networks
Game Playing
Development of expert systems to make decisions in real life situations.
Natural language understanding and generation.
The main features of fifth generation are:
ULSI technology
Development of true artificial intelligence
Development of Natural language processing
Advancement in Parallel Processing
Advancement in Superconductor technology
More user friendly interfaces with multimedia features
Availability of very powerful and compact computers at cheaper rates
Some computer types of this generation are:
Desktop
Laptop
NoteBook
UltraBook
ChromeBook
Computer - Types
Computers can be broadly classified by their speed and computing power.
[Link]. Type Specifications
1 PC (Personal It is a single user computer system having moderately powerful microprocessor
Computer)
2 WorkStation It is also a single user computer system which is similar to personal computer but have
more powerful microprocessor.
3 Mini Computer It is a multi-user computer system which is capable of supporting hundreds of users
simultaneously.
4 Main Frame It is a multi-user computer system which is capable of supporting hundreds of users
simultaneously. Software technology is different from minicomputer.
5 Supercomputer It is an extremely fast computer which can execute hundreds of millions of instructions
per second.
PC (Personal Computer) A PC can be defined as a small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user.
PCs are based on the microprocessor technology that enables manufacturers to put an entire CPU on one chip. Businesses
use personal computers for word processing, accounting, desktop publishing, and for running spreadsheet and database
management applications. At home, the most popular use for personal computers is playing games and surfing Internet.
Although personal computers are designed as single-user systems, these systems are normally linked together to form a
network. In terms of power, now-a-days High-end models of the Macintosh and PC offer the same computing power and
graphics capability as low-end workstations by Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and
Dell.
Workstation
Workstation is a computer used for engineering applications (CAD/CAM), desktop
publishing, software development, and other such types of applications which require a
moderate amount of computing power and relatively high quality graphics capabilities.
Workstations generally come with a large, high-resolution graphics screen, large amount of
RAM, inbuilt network support, and a graphical user interface. Most workstations also have a
mass storage device such as a disk drive, but a special type of workstation, called a diskless
workstation, comes without a disk drive.
Common operating systems for workstations are UNIX and Windows NT. Like PC, Workstations are also
single-user computers like PC but are typically linked together to form a local-area network, although they
can also be used as stand-alone systems.
Minicomputer
It is a midsize multi-processing system capable of supporting up to 250 users simultaneously.
Mainframe
Mainframe is very large in size and is an expensive computer
capable of supporting hundreds or even thousands of users simultaneously. Mainframe executes many
programs concurrently and supports many simultaneous execution of programs
Supercomputer
Supercomputers are one of the fastest computers currently available. Supercomputers are very
expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense amount of mathematical
calculations (number crunching). For example, weather forecasting, scientific simulations, (animated)
graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, electronic design, and analysis of geological
data (e.g. in petrochemical prospecting).