Generations of Computer – Learn About 5 Generations

According to Computer Processing Hardware, there are 5 Computer Generations are till date, which are mentioned into the following list with approximate dates against of each generation.

First Generation of Computer:

Period: 1946-1959

Used Technology: Vacuum Tube Based

Remarks : First generation of computers worked on Machine Language of 0s, 1s and it has used vacuum tubes as components of memory. The first generation computers were large and occupied large spaces almost a room-size area. They were slow in processing and very expensive.

They were unable of multitasking and could only focus on one task at a time. It used a lot of electricity and generated a lot of heat. Followings are some Examples of First Generation Computers:

• ENIAC – Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer
• EDVAC – Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
• UNIVAC- Universal Automatic Computer
• EDSAC – Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator

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Second Generation of Computer:

Period: 1959-1965

Used Technology: Transistor-based

Remarks : Transistors were used in place of vacuum tubes in the second generation of computers. Higher-level languages like COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language), FORTRAN (Formula Translation), etc. were used as input for these systems.

Second-generation computers processed data more quickly than first-generation ones. Utilizing transistors reduced the amount of electricity used. Following are the examples of second-generation computers include:

• IBM 1620
• IBM 7094
• CDC 1604
• CDC 3600, etc.

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Third Generation of Computer:

Period: 1965-1971

Used Technology: Integrated Circuit based

Remarks : The third generation computers employ IC’s or Integrated Circuits. The development of integrated circuits (ICs) made it feasible to compact thousands of circuit components into a small space, ultimately resulting in a reduction in the size of the computers.

An integrated circuit is a tiny device made of a single thin slice of silicon that contains thousands of components such as transistors, resistances, capacitors, and other circuit elements.

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Fourth Generation of Computer:

Period: 1971-1980

Used Technology: VLSI microprocessor-based

Remarks : The Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits technology and LSI (Large Scale Integration) technology were both used in the Fourth Generation of computers.

Microprocessors are the result of these circuits. The original microprocessor was created by Intel using the “Ted Hoff” 4004 chip. This resulted in the invention of personal computers and the creation of the first “personal computer” (PC) by IBM.

Because of their tiny size and low power consumption, VLSI-based computers were able to conduct a wide range of complex operations and computations.

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Fifth Generation of Computer:

Period: 1980 -Till Date

Used Technology: ULSI microprocessor-based

Remarks : The most recent and technologically advanced generation of computers, known as the Fifth Generation, has improved the quality and convenience of our lives.

The fifth generation of technology is faster, more affordable, uses less electricity, and is easily portable and practical to use. Currently, artificial intelligence is being used in devices, enabling millions of tasks to be completed in a matter of seconds on a single device and giving the machines the capacity to think for themselves.

The Ultra-Large Scale Integration (ULSI) chips used in Fifth Generation computers allow for the placement of millions of transistors in a single integrated circuit (IC).

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