Computer - Generations

The development of computers has gone through different generations, each generation marked by significant advancements in terms of technology and architecture. These generations are classified as follows:

• First generation
• Second generation
• Third generation
• Fourth generation
• Fifth generation

First Generation

• The timeline for the first generation computers was 1940 to 1956.
• The first generation computers were developed using vacuum tube or thermionic valve machine.
• Punched cards and paper tape were used as input/output.
• Magnetic drums and magnetic tapes were used as a memory device to save the data.

• These computers were consuming lot of electricity because of vacuum tubes and other electronic devices and generate lot of heat.
• These were bigger in size and more expensive.
• These computers were worked on binary-coded concept (i.e., language of 0-1).
• Examples − ENIAC, EDVAC, etc.

Second Generation

• The timeline for the second generation computers was 1956 to 1963.
• Transistors were used to develop.

• In comparison to the first generation, second generation computers were small in size.
• Punched cards and magnetic tape were used for input /output.
• Electricity consumption was low and produces less heat.
• Magnetic core memory was used.
• Fast computing and were used in business, scientific research, and government applications.
• Examples − UNIVAC, IBM 1401, IBM 7090.

Third Generation

• The timeline for the third generation computers was 1963 to 1971.
• Integrated Circuit (IC) was used to develop.
• In comparison to the second generation, third generation computers were small in size.
• Magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer devices were used as input and output.

• Computation power was higher as compare to second generation computers.
• The third generation computer consumed less power and also generated less heat.
• The maintenance cost of the computers in the third generation was also low as these were consuming less power and generated less heat.
• These were most widely used in commercial purposes.
• Examples − UNIVAC, IBM 360, IBM 370.

Fourth Generation

• The timeline for the fourth generation computers was 1972 to 2010.
• Microprocessor technology was used to develop.
• These were surprising in terms of size and computing power.

• Portable computers.

• Very less power consuming and affordable.

• Semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM were used which makes computation faster.

• Keyboard, pointing devices, optical scanning, monitor, printer devices were used for input and output.

• It became available for the common people as well.

• Examples − IBM PC, STAR 1000, Apple.

Fifth Generation

• The timeline for the fifth generation computers is form 2010 to till date.
• These computers are based on artificial intelligence, Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI), Quantum computation, Nanotechnology, Parallel processing technology.

• Very fast and multiple tasks could be performed simultaneously.
• These are smaller in size as compare to fourth generation computers.
• Consumes very low power.
• Keyboard, monitor, mouse, touchscreen, scanner, printer are used as an input output devices.
• Examples − Laptops, tablets, smartphones are most popular examples of fifth generation computers.