Generation of Computers

Nov 5, 2011 by admin

Computer generation is divided into five parts depending upon the device used, processing mode, system design and languages used in the computer. The development of computer can be considered to be started from 1946 till now. This time is divided into different generations as follows

1. First Generation Computers: First generation of computers started from the introduction of UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) in 1952. This computer used vacuum tubes as a memory unit and they consumed a lot of power. UNIVAC 1, IBM 700 series, IBM 701, IBM 704, IBM 709 are the first generation computers.

2. Second generation computers: This generation marks the use of semi-conductors transistors. The invention of semi-conductors transistors had produced a big revolution in the field of computer. In this generation, transistors replaced vacuum tubes. Second generation computers used transistors as memory unit. One transistors was capable of doing work of 1000 vacuum tubes hence reducing the size of the computer considerably and increasing speed at the same time. Assembly language was used for programming in second generation computers. IBM 1400 and IBM 7000 series, CDC 1604, PDP 1/5/8 (mini computers) are examples of Second generation computers.   

3. Third Generation Computers: In this generation ICs were used. The development of chip was a major breakthrough for this generation. Each chips had the capacity of 300 transistors and were called Integrated Chip (IC). They were smaller in size and had high efficiency as well as more memory capacity. Very soon ICs were replaced by LSI (Large scale Integration). IBM System/360, CDC 7600, PDP 11, CDC’s CYBER-175, STAR-100 are some examples of third generation computers.

4. Fourth Generation computers: Fourth generation computer used VLSI (very large scale integration) as their memory unit. The first microprocessor 8008 was developed by Intel Corporation in 1971 and in 1974 another more powerful microprocessor 8080 was used in early XT computers. Microprocessor based computers falls under fourth generation computers. IBM PCs, Acer, Gateways, Apple are the examples of fourth generation computers.

5. Fifth Generation computers: Fifth generation computers are under developmental stage and these computers will use ULSI (Ultra large scale integration) chips. They are expected to use intelligent programming and it is estimated that these computers will have an Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a little thinking capacity.

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