Overview of Computer System:
A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions
stored in its own memory that can accept data (input), process the data according
to specified rules, produce information (output), and store the information for
future use.
Data and Information
Data: Facts and figures which are not organized in any way and which
provide no further information regarding patterns, context, etc. So data means
"unstructured facts and figures."
Information: For data to become information, it must be, categorized and
calculated. Information thus paints a bigger picture.
Generations of Computers
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. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware
and software, which together make up an entire computer system.
There are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been
discussed in detail along with their time period and characteristics.
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Following are the main five generations of computers.
Sl. No. Generation & Description
First Generation
1
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum 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.
1.1 First Generation Computers
The period of first generation was from 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 the installations used to fuse frequently. Therefore,
they were very expensive and only large organizations were able to afford it.
The main features of the first generation are:
Slow input and output devices
Vacuum tube technology
Huge size
Unreliable
Need of AC
Supported machine language
only Non-portable
Very costly Consumes lot of electricity
Generates lot of heat
Some computers of this generation were:
ENIAC
EDVAC
UNIVAC
IBM-701
2
First Generation Computer
1.2 Second Generation Computers
The period of second generation was from 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 the 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 main features of second generation are:
Use of transistors
Reliable in comparison to first generation computers
Smaller size as compared to first generation computers
Generates 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
AC required
Supported machine and assembly languages
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Some computers of this generation were:
IBM 1620
IBM 7094
CDC 1604
CDC 3600
4
1.3 Third Generation Computers
The period of third generation was from 1965-1971. The computers of third
generation used Integrated Circuits (ICs) in place of transistors. A single IC has
many transistors, resistors, and capacitors along with the associated circuitry.
This development made computers smaller in size, reliable, and efficient. In this
generation time-sharing, multi-programming operating system were used.
The main features of third generation are:
Lesser maintenance
IC used
Costly
More reliable
AC required
Smaller size
Consumed lesser electricity
Generated less heat
Supported high-level language
Faster
Some computers of this generation were:
IBM-360 series
Honeywell-6000 series
PDP (Personal Data Processor)
IBM-370/168
TDC-316
5
1.4 Fourth Generation Computers
The period of fourth generation was from 1971-1980. Computers of fourth
generation used Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having
about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements with 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.
The main features of fourth generation are:
Concept of internet was
VLSI technology used
introduced
Very cheap
Great developments in the
Portable and reliable fields of networks
Use of PCs Computers became easily
Very small size available
No AC required
Some computers of this generation were:
CRAY-1(Super Computer)
DEC 10
CRAY-X-MP(Super
STAR 1000
Computer)
PDP 11
1.5 Fifth Generation Computers
The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth generation, 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 the 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.
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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