Computer Generations
GENERATION OF COMPUTERS
The term generation indicates the type of technology used in the computer construction. As new technology was emerging, it was being used in the making of computer. The new technology improved the speed, accuracy and storage capacity of the computers. Different technologies have been used for computers in different times.
Therefore, computers can be divided into five generations depending upon the technologies used. These are:
First Generation (1940 - 1956)
Second Generation (1956 - 1963)
Third Generation (1964 - 1971)
Fourth Generation (1971 to present)
Fifth Generation (In process)
1. First Generation Computers (1940 - 1956)
The vacuum tube technology was used in first-generation computers. Mark-1m, EDSAC, Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC), Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC), and Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC). etc. machines belong to the first generation of computers. The machine language only was used in first-generation computers.
Advantages
The main advantages of first-generation computers were: The electronic digital computers were introduced due to the vacuum tube technology.
These computers were the fastest of their time.
They were programmed using machine language.
Disadvantages
The main disadvantages of first-generation computers were:
Consumed large amount of energy
More costly
Very slow in speed (data processing)
Constant maintenance required
Very big in size
Not reliable
More heat generated and air-conditioning was required
It was difficult to programmed, because they used only machine language
Non-portable
Limited commercial use
2 .Second generations of computers (1956-1963)
The transistor technology was used in second-generation computers. The electronic component transistor was invented in 1948 at Bell Laboratories The transistor is smaller in size and more reliable than vacuum tube. Therefore,
The term generation indicates the type of technology used in the computer construction. As new technology was emerging, it was being used in the making of computer. The new technology improved the speed, accuracy and storage capacity of the computers. Different technologies have been used for computers in different times.
Therefore, computers can be divided into five generations depending upon the technologies used. These are:
First Generation (1940 - 1956)
Second Generation (1956 - 1963)
Third Generation (1964 - 1971)
Fourth Generation (1971 to present)
Fifth Generation (In process)
1. First Generation Computers (1940 - 1956)
The vacuum tube technology was used in first-generation computers. Mark-1m, EDSAC, Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC), Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC), and Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC). etc. machines belong to the first generation of computers. The machine language only was used in first-generation computers.
Advantages
The main advantages of first-generation computers were: The electronic digital computers were introduced due to the vacuum tube technology.
These computers were the fastest of their time.
They were programmed using machine language.
Disadvantages
The main disadvantages of first-generation computers were:
Consumed large amount of energy
More costly
Very slow in speed (data processing)
Constant maintenance required
Very big in size
Not reliable
More heat generated and air-conditioning was required
It was difficult to programmed, because they used only machine language
Non-portable
Limited commercial use
2 .Second generations of computers (1956-1963)
The transistor technology was used in second-generation computers. The electronic component transistor was invented in 1948 at Bell Laboratories The transistor is smaller in size and more reliable than vacuum tube. Therefore,