Generations of Computer
1st Generation of computer (1945-1956 AD)
Features
The technology used: Vacuum tube
Operating Speed was in terms of millisecond range
Primary memory used: Magnetic core memory
Secondary memory used: Electrostatic tubes, paper tapes, Punched cards, magnetic tape
Machine level language was used to instruct the computer. Programming at the hardware level
A punched card, printing devices were used as input/output operations and store the data
It occupied a large space
It had slow processing, was inefficient and unreliable due to its inaccuracy
It consumed a high amount of power and it generated a high amount of heat
It could only perform simple numeric calculations
It used to be very very expensive so only a few people or organizations could buy it
2nd Generation of computer (1956-1964 AD)
Features
Technology used: Transistors
Operating speed was in terms of microsecond range
Primary memory used: Magnetic core memory
Secondary memory used: Magnetic drum and magnetic tape
Assembly language and machine level language like COBOL and FORTRAN were introduced to simplify programming
A punched card, printing devices were used as input/output operations and store the data
Transistor reduced the size of the computer(a transistor was approximate 1/200th the size of the vacuum tube)
It required less power than first-gen computers
It was faster, more reliable, better speed, and could handle a larger amount of data compared to first-gen computer
It could perform scientific equations like solving differential equations
3rd Generation of computer (1964-1971 AD)
Features
The technology used: IC (Integrated Circuit)
Operating speed was measured in terms of nanoseconds
Primary memory used: Semiconductor memory like RAM and ROM
Secondary memory used: Magnetics disks like floppy disks and hard disks
High-level languages like FORTRAN, BASIC and others were used to develop programs
Monitors and keyboards were introduced for input and output
A database management system was established
Computers were used in banks, military and census
It was smaller, cheaper, consumed less power and generated less heat compared to previous generations
Processing speed, storage capacity, use of computers increased
4th Generation of computer (1971 AD-Present)
Features
The technology used: VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) is introduced and used. Microprocessor-based technology
Operating speed us in terms of picoseconds
Primary memory used: Semiconductor memory like RAM, ROM and Cache memory
Secondary memory used: Magnetic disks like hard disk, optical memories like CD, DVD, Blu-ray disk, flash memories like pen drive
Advanced operating systems were developed
Computers can be linked together and share information
The computer is used for all the scientific, engineering, commercial, entertainment, communication
t was smaller, cheaper, consumed less power and generated less heat compared to previous generations
Processing speed, storage capacity, use of computers increased massively
It was more user friendly and advanced and different technology based on the internet were developed