Q2. Write about different generations of computer
Answers
Answer:
Classification of generations of computers
Generations of computers Generations timeline Evolving hardware
First generation 1940s-1950s Vacuum tube based
Second generation 1950s-1960s Transistor based
Third generation 1960s-1970s Integrated circuit based
Fourth generation 1970s-present Microprocessor based
Explanation:
The journey of a computer is an incredible one, from a gigantic size to a microscopic size today. There are Five Generations of Computer.
First generation (1-GL).
Second generation (2-GL).
Third generation (3-GL).
Fourth generation (4-GL).
Fifth generation (5-GL) *Current Generation*.
Sixth generation (6-GL) *Upcoming Generation*.
First Generation (1-GL) - 1942–1955:
•Machine language was used.
•Vacuum tube was the main component.
•Instructions are made of Binary numbers, which are 0s and 1s.
••Big in size, consumes more power and produce more heat. Malfunction due to overheat.
The speed was very slow.
••Memory – magnetic drums and magnetic tapes.
punched cards and magnetic tape were used as an input/output device.
••First generation computers - ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC 1. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator) was the first digital computer.
Second generation (2-GL) - 1955–1964:
••Smaller in size, consumed less power and produced less heat compared to the first generation.
•Assembly language as well as high level machine language was used.
••Transistors were the main component.
Improvement in speed compared to the first generation.
••Punched cards and magnetic tape were used as an input/output device.
••First Operating system was developed - Multiprogramming and batch processing.
••Memory – magnetic core and magnetic disk.
••Second generation computers: IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107.
Third Generation (3-GL) - 1964–1975:
••Computers were smaller, faster, cheaper and more reliable.
••High level languages (FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, C) were used.
••Memory – large magnetic core, magnetic disk.
••Consumed less power.
••Integrated Circuit was the main component.
••Input / output devices: magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.
••Third generation computers – IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC 1108, etc.
Third Generation (3-GL) - 1964–1975:
Computers were smaller, faster, cheaper and more reliable.
High level languages (FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, C) were used.
Memory – large magnetic core, magnetic disk.
Consumed less power.
Integrated Circuit was the main component.
Input / output devices: magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.
Third generation computers – IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC 1108, etc.
Fourth Generation (4-GL) - 1975–1980:
Portable computers were introduced.
Very large-scale integration (VLSI) and microprocessor were the main components.
VLSI - thousands of transistors on a single microchip.
Memory – semiconductor memory (RAM, ROM).
Improvement of speed, accuracy, and reliability.
Input / output devices – keyboard, pointing devices, optical scanning, monitor, printer, etc.
High level language (Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust) was used.
Microcomputer series such as IBM and APPLE was developed.
Fourth generation computers: IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh.
Fifth generation (5-GL) - 1980-present:
Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI) and parallel processing method were the main components.
ULSI – millions of transistors on a single microchip
Parallel processing method – use two or more microprocessors to run tasks simultaneously.
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and expert system.
The size was drastically reduced.
Natural language is used.
Able to solve High complex problem.
The speed is very high.
Input / output device – keyboard, monitor, mouse, trackpad (or touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognise voice / speech), light scanner, printer, etc.
Fifth generation computers: desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.