Hello everyone. Today we are going to learn about generation of computer. So let’s start–
| Generation | Time period | Hardware |
| First Generation | 1940-1950 | Vacuum tube based |
| Second Generation | 1950-1960 | Transistor based |
| Third Generation | 1960-1970 | Integrated based |
| Forth Generation | 1970- Present | Microprocessor based |
| Fifth Generation | The Present and The Future | Artificial Intelligence based |
First Generation of Computer
- The main characteristics of first generation of computers (1940s-1950s)
- Main electronic component – vacuum tube
- Main memory – magnetic drums and magnetic tapes
- Programming language – machine language
- Power – consume a lot of electricity and generate a lot of heat.
- Speed and size – very slow and very large in size (often taking up entire room).
- Input/output devices – punched cards and paper tape.
- Examples – ENIAC, UNIVAC1, IBM 650, IBM 701, etc.
- Quantity – there were about 100 different vacuum tube computers produced between 1942 and1963.
Second Generation of Computers
- The main characteristics of second generation of computers (1950s-1960s)
- Main electronic component – transistor
- Memory – magnetic core and magnetic tape / disk
- Programming language – assembly language
- Power and size – low power consumption, generated less heat, and smaller in size (in comparison with the first generation computers).
- Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the first generation computers).
- Input/output devices – punched cards and magnetic tape.
- Examples – IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107, etc.
Third Generation of Computers
- The main characteristics of third generation of computers (1960s-1970s)
- Main electronic component – integrated circuits (ICs)
- Memory – large magnetic core, magnetic tape / disk
- Programming language – high level language (FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, C, etc.)
- Size – smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than second generation computers (they were called minicomputers).
- Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the second generation computers).
- Input / output devices – magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.
- Examples – IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC 1108, etc.
Fourth Generation of Computers
- The main characteristics of fourth generation of computers (1970s-present)
- Main electronic component – very large-scale integration (VLSI) and microprocessor.
- VLSI– thousands of transistors on a single microchip.
- Memory – semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.)
- RAM (random-access memory) – a type of data storage (memory element) used in computers that temporary stores of programs and data (volatile: its contents are lost when the computer is turned off).
- ROM (read-only memory) – a type of data storage used in computers that permanently stores data and programs (non-volatile: its contents are retained even when the computer is turned off).
- Programming language – high level language (Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust, Kotlin, etc.).
- A mix of both third- and fourth-generation languages
- Size – smaller, cheaper and more efficient than third generation computers.
- Speed – improvement of speed, accuracy, and reliability (in comparison with the third generation computers).
- Input / output devices – keyboard, pointing devices, optical scanning, monitor, printer, etc.
- Network – a group of two or more computer systems linked together.
- Examples – IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh, etc.
Fifth Generation of Computers
- The main characteristics of fifth generation of computers (the present and the future)
- Main electronic component: based on artificial intelligence, uses the Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI) technology and parallel processing method.
- ULSI – millions of transistors on a single microchip
- Parallel processing method – use two or more microprocessors to run tasks simultaneously.
- Language – understand natural language (human language).
- Power – consume less power and generate less heat.
- Speed – remarkable improvement of speed, accuracy and reliability (in comparison with the fourth generation computers).
- Size – portable and small in size, and have a huge storage capacity.
- Input / output device – keyboard, monitor, mouse, trackpad (or touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognise voice / speech), light scanner, printer, etc.
- Example – desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc
Thank You!