2nd GENERATION COMPUTER

(1956 to 1963)

The period of second generation was from 1956

to 1963. The second generation computers used
transistors as the basic components. The first transistor
was developed at bell laboratories on 1947 by William
Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Houser Brattain.
Transistors are made from silicon. Second generation
computers used magnetic tapes, magnetic disks for

secondary memory. The input to second generation

computers was given through punchcards and output
displayed as printouts. The instruction for computer are
written is assembly language. It is reliable, smaller in
size, generate less heat, consume less electricity and
faster in comparison to first generation computer. Some
advantages of second generation computer are :-
(i) Perform operation in micro seconds.
(ii) The size of second generation computer is small compared to the size of first
generation computer.
(iii) The cost of second generation computer is low.
(iv) Maintenance cost of second generation computer
is low because hardware failures are rare.
(v) Writing instructions in assembly language is
easier than writing instruction in machine
language.

But the disadvantage of second generation computer is that :-

i) It required air conditioning.

Made by:- Smruti Mishra, Khushika Pradhan, Subhashri Dash, Arpita Priyadarshini,
Debashree Priyadarshini, Abhipsa O. Das, Spandana Rautray.

Class – X ‘B’ (2019-20)