Generations of Computer
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.
- Will support embedded expert system.