COMPUTER
Write a short note on the followings terms-
(i) Generation of computers
(ii) Timeline of the development of computers.
(iii) Hardware OR Software components of computer
Answers
Answer:
i) Following are the main five generations of computers.
S.No Generation & Description
1 - First Generation
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.
2 -Second Generation
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.
3 -Third Generation
The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.
4 - Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor based.
5 - Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards. ULSI microprocessor based.
ii) 1936 - The First Computer
The first freely programmable computer came into play.
1947 - The transistor
The transistor was invented by Bell Telephone Company. It wasn't a computer in itself'but it was a vital computer component.
1953 - IBM
International Business Machines came out with their first computer machine.
1955 - Bank computers
The first bank computers were invented. They used MICR'or magnetic ink character recognition'to read checks.
1958 - The computer chip
Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce invented the integrated circuit'better known as the computer chip.
1962 - Video games
Spacewar games invented the first computer video games.
1963 - The mouse is invented
Douglas Engelbart invented the computer mouse. He called it the mouse because the cord came out the back like a tail.
1969 - The internet
The first internet was called ARPANET. The original internet wasn't used very widely because not many people had access to it.
1974-1977 - The first personal computers
IBM and Apple were just a couple of the brands that put out the first personal computers.
1975 - Microsoft is born
Bill Gates worked with Paul Allen to develop BASIC for the Altair 8800.
1989 - Microsoft expands
Microsoft made a program that was compatible with IBM computers. This let more people come into contact with the now well-known program.
1991 - The internet as we know it
Tim Berners Less came up with the World Wide Web. He started a computer revolution.
1991 - The laptop comes into play
The first laptop computer'the Power Book 100'came out. There were other portable computers before this'but they were very clunky and expensive.
1996 - World Wide Convention
the first internet convention was held.
1996 - Mini computers
Nokia introduced a phone that had internet capabilities. This started a revolution of devices that were small'portable computers.
iii) hardware device - Computer hardware is the collection of all the parts you can physically touch.Without hardware, there would be no way of running the essential software that makes computers so useful.
Example - CPU, Mouse etc.
software devices - Software is defined as the virtual programs that run on your computer; that is, operating system, internet browser, word-processing documents, etc.