Discuss the characteristics of different generation computer.
Answers
The five generations of computers are characterized by electrical current flowing through the processing mechanisms listed below: The first within vacuum tubes The second within transistors The third within integrated circuits The fourth within microprocessor chips The fifth unveiled smart devices capable of artificial.
Answer: Hope this helps you
Explanation: 1. FIRST GENERATION OF COMPUTER (1940-1956):
This generation of computers was based on vacuum tube technology. It used vacuum tubes as the main component as well as primary memory and magnetic tubes as secondary memory. The computers were of very large size and were very expensive. Their characteristics are listed below:
i. It used Vacuum tubes as the main component.
ii. Its primary memory was vacuum tubes.
iii. It used magnetic tubes as secondary memory.
iv. Machine Level Language was used as the programming language.
v. Its speed was calculated in millisecond. i.e. It could perform taks in millisecond.
vi. Punched card was used as its input and output device.
vii. It consumed large amount of electricity and generated large amount of heat.
Examples: ENIAC, EDSAC, EDVAC, etc.
2. SECOND GENERATION OF COMPUTER (1957-1963):
This generation of computers was based on transistor technology. It used transistor as the main component, magnetic core as the primary memory and magnetic tape/disk as secondary memory. The computers were of very large size and were very expensive. Their characteristics are listed below:
i. It used Vacuum tubes as the main component.
ii. Its primary memory was magnetic core.
iii. It used magnetic tape/disk as secondary memory.
iv. Assembly Language was used as the programming language.
v. Its speed was calculated in microsecond. i.e. It could perform tasks in microsecond.
vi. Punched card was used as its input and output device.
Examples: IBM 1620, IBM 7090, etc.
3. THIRD GENERATION OF COMPUTER (1964-1971):
This generation of computers was based on Integrated Circuit technology. It used Integrated Circuit as the main component, Semi-conductor memory as the primary memory and magnetic disk as secondary memory. The computers were smaller and cheaper than previous generations of computers. Their characteristics are listed below:
i. It used Integrated Circuit (IC) as the main component.
ii. Its primary memory was Semi-conductor memory.
iii. It used magnetic disk as secondary memory.
iv. Procedure-oriented High Level Language was used to develop programs.
v. Its speed was calculated in nanosecond. i.e. It could perform tasks in nanosecond.
vi. Keyboard and Monitor were used for the first time as its input and output device, respectively.
Examples: IBM 360 Series, CDC 7600, etc.
4. FOURTH GENERATION OF COMPUTER (1972-PRESENT):
This generation of computer is based on LSI (Large Scale Integration) or VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration)/Microprocessor technology. It uses microprocessor as the main component and semi-conductor memory as primary memory, whereas magnetic disk, optical disk and flash disk as secondary memory. The computers of this generations are cheaper and smaller in size than previous generations of computers. They consume less electric power and generate less heat. Their characteristics are listed below:
i. It uses LSI/VLSI (Microprocessor) as its main component.
ii. It uses semi-conductor memory as primary memory.
iii. It uses Magnetic disk, optical disk and flash disk as secondary memory.
iv. It uses Object-oriented High Level Programming Language to develop programs.
v. It uses mouse and other pointing devices and keyboard as input devices and monitor, printer, plotter, etc. as output devices.
Examples: IBM-PC, IBM-Compatible, Apple/Macintosh, etc.
5. FIFTH GENERATION OF COMPUTER (FUTURE):
This generation of computer is under development and it will use ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) i.e. Bio-chip as main component. It will use super conductor memory as primary memory and cloud storage and other technologies as secondary memory. It will use human understandable language to develop programs. It will have very high speed and large amount of data to process very fast. This generation of computers will have the following characteristics:
i. It will use ULSI (Bio-chip) as its main component.
ii. It will use super conductor memory as primary memory.
iii. It will use cloud storage and other technologies as secondary memory.
iv. It will use human understandable language (Natural language) to create programs.
v. It will have very high speed.
vi. It will have voice recognition technology.
vii. It will have AI (Artificial Intelligence).
viii. It will be based on IKBS (Integrated Knowledge Based System).
These are the characteristics of different generations of computer.