Finding a Revolution -Generations of Computer.

Generations of Computer The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices. Each of the five generations of computers is characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper, and more powerful and more efficient and reliable computing devices.

                     

History of Computer Generation

As early as the seventeenth century, mathematicians were trying to create a machine that could perform basic mathematical functions such as, addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.

1804 British inventor, Charles Babbage, designed an all-purpose problem-solving machine, the difference engine, which had a mechanical memory to store the results of calculations.

Generations of Computer

• First Generation

• Second Generation

• Third Generation

• Fourth Generation

• Fifth Generation

First Generations

• The period of first generation was 1946-1959.

• First generation of computers started with using vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU (Central Processing Unit). These tubes like electric bulbs produced a lot of heat and were prone to frequent fusing of the installations, therefore, were very expensive and could be afforded only by very large organizations.

Second Generations

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 1950s. The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors.

Third Generations

The period of third generation was 1965-1971.

• The third generation of computer is marked by the use of Integrated Circuits (IC's) in place of transistors. A single IC has many transistors, resistors and capacitors along with the associated circuitry. The IC was invented by Jack Kirby.

This development made computers smaller in size, reliable and efficient.

Fourth Generations

• The period of Fourth Generation was 1971-1980.

• The fourth generation of computers is marked by the use of Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements and their associated circuits on a single chip made it possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation.

Fourth Generation computers became more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to personal computer (PC) revolution.

Fifth Generations

The period of Fifth Generation is 1980-till date.

• In the fifth generation, the VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components.

• This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software.