GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

A computer is an electronic device for storing and

processing data, typically in binary form, according to
instructions given to it in a variable program. The
computer was invented in order to automate
mathematical calculations that were previously
completed by people. Charles Babbage is considered to
be the “father” of the computer. Babbage was a
mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical
engineer who saw a need for an automated system that
would negate human error in computation.
There are five generations of computers. This long
period is often conveniently divided into the subsequent
phases called computer generations:

first second third

generation generation generation
computer computer computer

fourth fifth
generation generation
computer computer
 GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

FIRST GENERATION OF COMPUTERS;

The period of first generation was from 1946-1959. The
computers of first generation used vacuum tubes as the
basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU
(Central Processing Unit). These tubes, like electric
bulbs, produced a lot of heat and the installations used
to fuse frequently. Therefore, they were very expensive
and only large organizations were able to afford it.
In this generation, mainly batch processing operating
system was used. Punch cards, paper tape, and
magnetic tape was used as input and output devices.
The computers in this generation used machine code as
the programming language.
 GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

CHARACTERISTICS:
 Use of vacuum tubes to make circuits

 Use of magnetic drums

 Use of machine language and symbols in instructions

 Very small amount of storage space

 Use of punch cards as I/O devices

 Huge in size and poor in mobility

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 Very slow and less reliable output

 Use of high electricity

 Generates too much heats

 Complex and expensive to maintain

 GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

Second generation of computers:

The period of second generation was from 1959-1965.
In this generation, transistors were used that were
cheaper, consumed less power, more compact in size,
more reliable and faster than the first-generation
machines made of vacuum tubes. In this generation,
magnetic cores were used as the primary memory and
magnetic tape and magnetic disks as secondary storage
devices.
In this generation, assembly language and high-level
programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL were
used. The computers used batch processing and
multiprogramming operating system.
 GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Use of transistors

 Magnetic memory and magnetic storage disks

 High speed I/O devices

 Invention and use of high level languages such as

Fortran and Cobol.
 GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS
  
 Reduced size

 Solution to heat generation

 Communication by using telephone line

 Improvement of speed and reliability

GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS