The computer is developed from the very beginning and it has been characterized or identified in five generations. These five generations of computer features are as below.
First-generation (1945-1954 AD)
Second-generation (1955-1964 AD)
Third-generation (1965-1974 AD)
Fourth-generation (1975- till the date)
Fifth-generation (in the developing process)
First Generation (1945-1954 AD)
This is the first generation of computers. Some features of this first generation of computers:
The vacuum tube was used as the main component.
Processing speed in Millisecond.
Electronic type of computer.
Machine language was used for programming.
Largest in size.
High power consumption.
Low storage capacity.
Higher heat generation.
Very expensive computer.
Not fully reliable and something of getting errors.
Developed for military work and available for military and some universities.
Examples: MARK-I, ENIAC, ABC, etc.
Second Generations of Computer (1955-1964 AD)
Also, this is the second generation of computers. Some features of the second generation of computers are as given below:
Transistor was used as the main component.
Processing speed is faster than the first generation i.e. Microsecond.
Electromechanical type of computer.
Assembly language used for programming.
Storage capacity is higher than the first generation.
More reliable and accurate than the first generation.
Size and cost are less than the first generation.
Less power consumption than the 1st generation.
Less heat consumption than the 1st generation.
Examples: IBM 1400 and 7000 series.
Third Generation (1965-1974 AD)
Some features of the third generation of computers are as given below:
The integrated circuit (IC) was used as the main component.
Processing speed faster than previous generation i.e. Nanosecond.
Electronic type of computer.
The high-level language used for programming.
Storage capacity is higher than the previous generation of computers.
More reliable and accurate than the previous generation.
Low cost than the previous generation.
Also, it has low size than the previous generation.
Low power and heat consumption than the previous generation.
Examples: IBM PC, Apple, Dell, etc.
Fourth generation (1975 AD- till the date)
Some features of the fourth generation of computers are as given below:
IC and Large Scale of the integrator (LSI) and Very Large Scale of Integrator (VLSI) are used as main components.
The microprocessor is used as a major electronic component.
Processing speed is faster than the previous generation i.e. Picosecond.
High-level language, object-oriented language, and fourth-generation language (4GL) are used for programming.
Electronic type of computer.
Multiprogramming and automatic units are used.
Less cost than the previous generation.
Less heat consumption than the previous generation.
Examples: IBM PC, Apple, Dell, etc.
Fifth Generation (Developing process)
Some features of the fifth generation of computers are as given below:
Not developed yet or under the developing stage.
Massive parallel processing.
Artificial intelligence (AI) will use.
Bio-chip will use as a major electronic component.
List processing (LISP) will use.
Programming logic (PROLOG) will use.
It will very fast and highly accurate capacity than the previous generation.