Generations of Computers

Introduction:- 

The development of computers started from the 16th century and evolved into today's modern machines. Current computers have, nevertheless, endured rapid changes over time. This period during which computers expanded can be divided into five distinct phases known as computer generations. Each new generation of computers is not only superior to its predecessor in processing and capabilities, but also differs in aesthetics and size. Each phase is separated from the others depending on the type and switching circuit used. these are generations:

1. First generation computers (1940–1956)
2. Second generation computers (1956–1963)
3. Third generation computers (1964–1971)
4. Fourth generation computers (1971–present)
5. Fifth generation computers (present and beyond)

The first generation of computers was vacuum tubes (1940–1956)

The first generation computers were characterized by the use of vacuum tubes. The vacuum tube was a delicate glass device, which used filaments as a source of electronics. It can control and amplify electronic signals. These vacuum tubes were used for calculations as well as storage and control. The first general purpose programmable electronic computer was the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), created by J. Presper Eckert and John V. Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania. ENIAC was 30-50 bases long, weighed 30 tons, had 18,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 registers, 10,000 capacitors, and demanded 15,000 watts of power. The first generation computers were very large in size, required large space to be installed and they emitted large amount of heat, hence air conditioning was essential for the proper functioning of the computer. Programs written in higher programming languages are retranslated into assembly languages or machine language by a compiler. Assembly language programs are retranslated into machine language by a program called assembler (assembly language compiler).

Before ENIAC was finished, von Neumann designed the Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) with a memory to hold both a stored program and data. This allowed significantly faster operations as computers had faster access to both data and instructions. Other benefits of storing instructions were that the computer could make logical decisions internally. Eckert and Mauchly later developed what was probably the first commercially successful computer. Universal Automated Computer (UNIVAC), in 1952.
Samples ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC-1

Second generation computer transistors (1956–1663)

Solid-state factors (transistors and diodes) and glamorous core storage formed the basis of alternative generations of computers. A transistor is a device made of semiconductor material that amplifies signals or opens or closes a circuit. Created at Bell Labs, transistors have become vital elements of all digital circuits, including computers. Transistors replaced large electric tubes in the first generation computers. Transistors function similarly to vacuum tubes, except that electrons move through a solid material instead of a vacuum. Transistors were made of semi-conducting materials and controlled the flow of electricity through circuits. They allowed computers to be less important and more rushed at the same time. They are also less expensive, demand less power and emit less heat than vacuum tubes. The manufacturing costs were also really low.

It is in the alternative generation that the central processing unit (CPU), memory, programming languages, and input and output units were widely developed. Alternate generation computers moved from secret double machine language to representational, or assembly, languages, allowing programmers to specify instructions in words. These were also the first computers to store their instructions in their memory, which ranged from a glamorous barrel to glamorous core technology. Several high-status programming languages were introduced during the alternative generation, including FORTRAN (1956), ALGOL (1958), and COBOL (1959).
Samples PDP-8, IBM1400 series, IBM 1620, IBM 7090, CDC 3600

Third generation computer integrated circuits (1964–1971)

The third generation computers were introduced in 1964. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which greatly increased the speed and effectiveness of computers. They used integrated circuits (IC). The development of IC proved to be a cornerstone in the field of computers and electronics. These ICs are popularly known as chips.

Silicon is a starting material used to make computer chips, transistors, silicon diodes and other electronic circuits and switching biases because its atomic structure makes the element an ideal semiconductor. Silicon is usually doped or alloyed with other elemental elements such as boron, phosphorus and arsenic to change its conductive ratio.

FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS MICROPROCESSORS( 1971- PRESENT)

Forth generation computers started around 1971 by using large scale of integration( LSI) in the construction of calculating rudiments. LSI circuits erected on a single silicon chip called microprocessors. A microprocessor contains all the circuits needed to perform computation, sense and control functions on a single chip. Because of microprocessors, the fourth generation includes further data processing capacity than original- sized third generation computers. Due to the development of microprocessor it's possible to place computer's central processing unit( CPU) on single chip. These computers are called microcomputers. latterly veritably large scale Integrated( VLSI) circuits replaced LSI circuits. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the win of the hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the factors of the computer from the central processing unit and memory to input/ affair controls on a single chip.

The major inventions in this generation were the development of microelectronics and the different areas in computer technology similar as multiprocessing, multiprogramming, time- sharing, operating speed, and virtual storehouse. During this period, high speed vector processors changed the script of high performance computing. substantially microcomputers and workstations were introduced for time participated mainframe computers. therefore the computer which was enwrapping a veritably large room in earlier days can now be placed on a table. The particular computer is a Fourth Generation Computer. It's the period when elaboration of computer networks also took place.
Example Apple II, Alter 8800

FIFTH GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS( PRESENT AND BEYOND)

Fifth generation computers, grounded on artificial intelligence, are still in development, however there are some operations, similar as voice recognition, that are being used moment. Artificial Intelligence is the branch of computer wisdom concerned with making computers bear like humans and allow the computer to take its own decision. presently, no computers parade full artificial intelligence( that is, are suitable to pretend mortal geste ). The topmost advances have passed in the field of games playing. The stylish computer chess programs are now able of beating humans. moment, the hottest area of artificial intelligence is neural networks, which are proving successful in an number of disciplines similar as voice recognition and natural- language processing. There are several programming languages that are known as AI languages because they're used nearly simply for AI operations. The two most common are LISP and Prolog. The speed is extremely high in fifth generation computer. In the development of Fifth generation of computers, resemblant processing attended the main focus of inventors. Until this time, community was limited to pipelining and vector processing. This generation introduced machines with hundreds of processors that could all be working on different corridor of a single program. Developments of more important computers are still in progress. It has been prognosticated that such a computer will be suitable to communicate in natural spoken language with its stoner, store vast knowledge databases, search fleetly through these databases, making intelligent consequences, drawing logical conclusions, image processing and see objects in the way that humans do.