THE EARLY DAYS (1,000 B.C. TO
1940):
Computers are named so because they make mathematical
computations at fast speeds. As a result, the history of computing goes back at
least 3,000 years ago, when ancient civilizations were making great strides in
arithmetic and mathematics. The Greeks, Egyptians, Babylonians, Indians,
Chinese, and Persians were all interested in logic and numerical computation.
The Greeks focused on geometry and rationality, the Egyptians on simple
addition and subtraction, the Babylonians on multiplication and division, Indians
on the base-10 decimal numbering system and concept of zero, the Chinese on
trigonometry, and the Persians on algorithmic problem solving.
These developments carried over into the more
modern centuries, fueling advancements in areas like astronomy, chemistry, and
medicine.
FIRST GENERATION (1942 - 1955)
The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and
magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms.
First generation computers relied on machine language to perform operations,
and they could only solve one problem at a time.
The Mark-I, EDSAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC-I and ENIAC computers are
examples of first-generation computing devices. It was very expensive to
operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot
of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.
Vacuum tubes used to calculate and store information, these
computers were also very hard to maintain. First generation computers also used
punched cards to store symbolic programming languages. Most people were
indirectly affected by this first generation of computing machines and knew
little of their existence.
IMPORTANT MACHINES:
Mark-I, EDSAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC-I and ENIAC
ADVANTAGES:
- After long history of computations, the 1G computers are able to process any tasks in milliseconds
- The hardware designs are functioned and programmed by machine languages (Languages close to machine understanding).
- Vacuum tube technology is very much important which opened the gates of digital world communication.
DISADVANTAGES:
- Size of that machines are very big
-
Required
large amount of energy for processing
Very expensive - Heat generated and need air conditioning.
- Not portable ( never take from one place to other)
- Comparing with 5G computers, these computers are slow in speed.
- Not reliable
- In order to get proper processing, maintenance is required continuously.
SECOND GENERATION (1942 - 1955)
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes
and ushered in the second generation computer. Transistor is a device composed
of semiconductor material that amplifies a signal or opens or closes a circuit.
Invented in 1947 at Bell Labs, transistors have become the key ingredient of
all digital circuits, including computers. Today's latest microprocessor contains
tens of millions of microscopic transistors.
Prior to the invention of
transistors, digital circuits were composed of vacuum tubes, which had many
disadvantages. They were much larger, required more energy, dissipated more
heat, and were more prone to failures. It's safe to say that without the
invention of transistors, computing as we know it today would not be possible.
The transistor was invented in 1947
but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 50s. 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. Though the transistor still generated a great
deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement
over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards
for input and printouts for output.
Second-generation computers moved
from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which
allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level programming
languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of
COBOL and FORTRAN. These were also the first computers that stored their
instructions in their memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic core
technology. The first computers of this generation were developed for the
atomic energy industry.
IMPORTANT MACHINES:
IBM 7074
series, CDC 164, IBM 1400 Series.
ADVANTAGES:
- If we compare it with G1 computer, less expensive and smaller in size.
- Fast in speed
- Less head generated as G1 computers generate more.
- Need low power consumption
- Language after machine language for programming, in G2 assembly language (COBOL, FORTRON) is introduced for programming.
- Portable.
DISADVANTAGES:
- Maintenance of machine is required.
- Air conditioning required still as heat causes to process slowly.
- These computers are not used as personal system.
- Preferably used for commercial purposes
THIRD GENERATION (1964 - 1975)
The development of the Integrated
Circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were
miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which
drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers.
Instead of punched cards and
printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through keyboards
and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device
to run many different applications at one time with a central program that
monitored the memory. Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass
audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.
IMPORTANT MACHINES:
IBM
System/360 & IBM 370, PDP-8, DEC, UNIVAC 1108, UNIVAC 9000.
ADVANTAGES:
- Smaller in size
- Low cost then previous
- Low power consumption
- Easy to operate
- Portable
- Input devices introduced and that make user easy to interact with it like keyboard, mouse etc
- External Storage medium introduced like floppy & tape.
DISADVANTAGES:
- IC chips are still difficult to maintain
- Need complex technology.
FOURTH GENERATION (1975 ONWARDS)
The Microprocessor brought the
fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built
onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room
could now fit in the palm of the hand.
The Intel 4004 chip, developed in
1971, located all the components of the computer—from the central processing
unit and memory to input/output controls—on a single chip.
In 1981 IBM introduced its first
computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh.
Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more
and more everyday products began to use microprocessors. As these small computers became more
powerful, they could be linked together to form networks which eventually led to the
development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the
development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.
IMPORTANT MACHINES:
Intel
processors, AMD processor based machines
ADVANTAGES:
- Smaller in size
- High processing speed
- Very reliable
- For general purpose
- More external storage mediums are introduced like CD-ROM, DVD-ROM.
- GUIs developed for interaction
FIFTH GENERATION (1980 ONWARDS)
Fifth generation computing devices,
based on Artificial Intelligence, are still in development, though there are
some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today.
The use of parallel processing and
superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. Quantum computation
and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of computers in
years to come.
The goal of fifth-generation
computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are
capable of learning and self-organization.
IMPORTANT MACHINES:
ULAIC Technology, Artificial
intelligence etc
PROPERTIES
- Program independent
- Have thinking and analysis by its own
- Voice reorganization & biometric devices
- Self organization and learning
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