Computers are essential devices that you must have used while growing up. There are also pretty good chances that you still use a computer daily. Have you ever wondered what a computer really is? Do you know what the generation of computers is?
If you are curious to know the answer to these questions, that is great. In this article, we will answer both of these questions in great detail.
Let’s first begin with what the meaning of computers is. According to experts, a computer can be defined as an electronic device used for manipulating information or data. Computers also have the ability to store, retrieve and process information.
These days, people use computers for typing documents, playing games, sending emails and browsing the internet. One can also use these devices to create or edit presentations, spreadsheets and videos.
You might also be interested to know that the evolution of computers began sometime during the 1940s. At that time, the first generation of computers was created. Since then, experts have also developed other generations of computers. As of now, there are five generations of computers.
In the field of electronics and technology, generation is computer terminology. This term refers to the change that a computer goes through. Earlier, the term generation was used to differentiate between different hardware technologies. However, these days, generation can be used to refer to both software and hardware; these together form the entire computer system.
In the rest of the article, we will discuss these five computer generations. Before we jump on to the details, it is important to go through an overview of these generations.
The Generation of Computer Evolution is Generally Divided Into 5 Categories.
S.no | Time-period | Generations of Computer | Evolving Hardware |
1 | 1940-1950 | First-generation | Vacuum-Tube Based |
2 | 1950-1960 | Second generation | Transistor Based |
3 | 1960-1970 | Third generation | Integrated-Circuit Based |
4 | 1970-Present | Fourth Generation | Microprocessor-Based |
5 | Present-Future | Fifth Generation | Artificial Intelligence Based |
The First Generation of Computers- (the 1940s-1950s)
The main electronic component used in the computers of the 1940s to 1950s era were vacuum tubes.
The main memory storing units were magnetic tapes and magnetic drums.
The machine language was used as the programming language.
The sizes used to be very large which could take up entire rooms and the speed was very slow.
The only input/output devices were paper tape and punched cards.
Around 100 different vacuum tubes were used in order to produce the computers.
Examples are UNIVAC1, ENIAC, IBM 701 and IBM 650, etc.
The Second Generation of Computers- (the 1950s-1960s)
The main electronic component used in the computers of the 1950s to 1960s era were transistors.
The main memory storing units were magnetic tape or disk and magnetic core.
The assembly language was used as the programming language.
The sizes were smaller as compared to those of the first generation and they used to consume low power and generate less heat.
There was an improvement in speed.
The input/output devices were magnetic tape and punched cards.
Examples are IBM 1401, IBM 7094 AND IBM 7090, UNIVAC 1107, and so on.
The Third Generation of Computers- (the 1960s-1970s)
The main electronic components used in the computers of the era 1060s to 1970s were integrated circuits ICs.
The memory storing units were the magnetic disk or take and a large magnetic core.
High-level languages such as BASIC, COBOL, Pascal were used as the programming language.
The sizes were smaller and efficient and the computers were called minicomputers.
There was an improvement in reliability and speed as compared to the second generation of computers.
The input/output devices were keyboards, magnetic tape monitor, printer, etc.
Examples are IBM 370, IBM 360, UNIVAC 1108 and so on.
The Fourth Generation of Computers- (1970s-present)
The main electronic components used in the fourth generation of computers are microprocessors and very large scale integration (VLSI).
When thousands of transistors are attached to a single microchip, it is known as VLSI.
Semiconductor memory storage units such as RAM, ROM, etc were introduced.
RAM (random-access memory)- Temporarily stores the programs and data and the contents are lost when the computer is shut down.
ROM (read-only memory)- Permanently stores the data and programs and the contents are retained even after shutting down the computer.
High-level languages such as C#, JAVA, Python, JavaScript are used as programming languages.
The sizes are smaller and the speed has improved.
The input/output devices are a monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer, and so on.
Examples are STAR 1000, APPLE II, IBM PC, and so on.
The Fifth Generation of Computers- (present and the future)
The main electronic components that are used in the present generation of computers is Artificial Intelligence which uses the parallel processing method and the Ultra-Large Scale Integration (ULSI).
The fifth generation of computers understands the natural human language.
The speeds are really fast and the sizes are also small.
The fifth-generation computers are portable and have a huge storage capacity.
The input/output devices are keyboards, monitors, touchscreen pens, printers, light scanners, and so on.
Examples are laptops, desktops, tablets, smartphones, etc.
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FAQs
The first generation of computers was developed from 1940-1956, followed by the second generation from 1956-1963, the third generation from 1964-1971, the fourth generation from 1971 until the present, and the fifth generation are still being developed.
What are the 5 generations of computers? ›
The first generation of computers was developed from 1940-1956, followed by the second generation from 1956-1963, the third generation from 1964-1971, the fourth generation from 1971 until the present, and the fifth generation are still being developed.
What is the difference between 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th generation of computers? ›
First Generation: Used vacuum tubes, large size, limited processing power. Second Generation: Featured transistors, smaller and more reliable. Third Generation: Introduced integrated circuits, reduced size and power consumption. Fourth Generation: Utilized microprocessors, personal computers emerged.
What is generation in computer fundamentals? ›
Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which together make up an entire computer system.
What are the 5 computers used in first generation? ›
Examples of the first generation computers include ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC, IBM-701, and IBM-650. These computers were large and very unreliable. They would heat up and frequently shut down and could only be used for very basic computations.
What is 7th generation in computer? ›
7th Gen Intel Core processor-based desktop PCs are packed with new and enhanced features to deliver amazing experiences that a 5-year old PC can't handle. Great VR experiences involve the entire platform – not just any one component. Processor, graphics, I/O connectivity, display, audio, are all involved.
What are the four basic computer periods? ›
History of Information Technology
- The Premechanical Age: 3000 BC and 1450 AD.
- The Mechanical Age: 1450 – 1840.
- The Electromechanical Age: 1840 - 1940.
- The Electronic Age: 1940 - Present.
The Fifth Generation of Computers- (present and the future)
The fifth generation of computers understands the natural human language. The speeds are really fast and the sizes are also small. The fifth-generation computers are portable and have a huge storage capacity.
How many generations of computers do we have? ›
The evolution of computer technology is often divided into five generations.
What generation is good for laptops? ›
Which generation laptop should you buy? If you're buying a new laptop in 2023, you can opt for 12th generation and 13th generation laptops. Anything older is also fine, but you may be giving up on newer features and performance figures that may make your new laptop more future-proof in the long run.
ROM (read-only memory) is a non-volatile memory type. This means it receives data and permanently writes it on a chip, and it lasts even after you turn off your computer. The data is coded to not be overwritten, so it's used for things like your printer software or your startup programs.
How have computers evolved over generations? ›
The first generation was up to vacuum tubes and punch cards; the second generation consisted of high-speed programming languages and memory that could be accessed through instructions; third-generation computers comprised mainframes; the fourth generation allowed us to use networks in our home or office instead of the ...
What are the two main types of software? ›
The two main categories of software are application software and system software. An application is software that fulfills a specific need or performs tasks. System software is designed to run a computer's hardware and provides a platform for applications to run on top of.
What is the most famous first generation computer? ›
The IBM 650 Magnetic Drum Data-Processing Machine is one of IBM's early computers, and the world's first mass-produced computer. It was announced in 1953 and in 1956 enhanced as the IBM 650 RAMAC with the addition of up to four disk storage units.
Which generation of computer can solve the problem itself? ›
The main goal of these fifth generations of computers is to create machines that can learn and organize themselves (Artificial Intelligence).
What is a fifth generation computer known for? ›
Benefits of Fifth Generation Computers
They're high-capacity storage units that run at a rapid speed. They can interact with people through sign language, pictures, graphs, and other ways thanks to AI (Artificial Intelligence). They are less expensive than computers from previous generations.
What are the 5 types of computer generation and their characteristics? ›
Classification of generations of computers
| Generations of computers | Generations timeline | Evolving hardware |
|---|
| Second generation | 1950s-1960s | Transistor based |
| Third generation | 1960s-1970s | Integrated circuit based |
| Fourth generation | 1970s-present | Microprocessor based |
| Fifth generation | The present and the future | Artificial intelligence based |
1 more rowThe sixth generation of computers is the rearmost and most advanced stage of computer technology. The sixth generation of computers started around the time 2000 and is still ongoing. Some people still consider us to be in the fifth generation, as AI is still evolving and developing.
What is the fifth generation computer? ›
The Fifth Generation computers are defined as the computers which will be used predominantly in 1990s. Supercomputers will be used in scientific and engineering calculations and simulations. Database machines and present mainframe computers will be networked in order to organise worldwide information systems.
What is different between 1 and 5 generation of computer? ›
One key factor used to classify each generation is the significant technological advancements made during that period. For example, the first generation was characterized by vacuum tubes and large machines, while today's computers belong to the fifth generation, featuring artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
