The generation of Computer is characterized by major technological development. The Scientist changed the Computer's fundamentally for easy to operate, smaller in size, cheaper in price, more powerful,efficient and reliable devices etc.
First Generation of Computer (1940-1956) Vacuum Tubes
The first generation of computer had used vacuum tubes for circuits and magnetic drums for memory. Size of first generation computer is like a room so it used more electricity and generated lots of heat which may cause of fire.
the first generation computers understood the lowest-level programming language to perform operations and they could solve the problems only only one time. Punched cards and paper tapes are input device and print out was output.
The UNIVAC and ENIAC are the examples of first generation of computer.
Second Generation of Computer (1956-1963) Transisters
In second generation, vacuum tubes replaced by Transistors. The Transistors was very superior to the vacuum tubes. Then the size of computer also become smaller, faster, cheaper, and more reliable than first generation computer. The punched cards still used for input and printout for output. Although the transistor had still generated more heat which may cause of damage the computer.
The second generation computer moved from binary machine language to symbolic or assembly language which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. The high level programming language also developed in this generation. The memory of computer changed form magnetic drum to magnetic core technology.
Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits
In third generation of computer Transistors minimized and placed silicon chips called semiconductors. This computers increased the speed and efficiency of computers. In this generation punched cards changed into keyboard as a input device and printout to monitor as a output device. The operating system used as a interface which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time. This computers were the first time become accessible to the each and every person because they were smaller and cheaper price.
Fourth Generation (1971-Present) Microprocessors
In forth Generation of computer thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip called microprocessor. In 1971 Intel 4004 chip developed as a central processing unit which controls input and output altogether.
In 1981 The IBM introduced its first computer for home users. The Apple also introduced its first computer for home user in 1984.
The fourth generation of computers are very small but very powerful, they can linked together to form networks.
Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial Intelligence
The parallel processing and superconductors are the making artificial intelligence. Voice recognization has been used in this generation. Quantum computation, molecular and nanotechnology will radially change the face of computers in fifth generation. The goal of Fifth Generation Computer is to develop the device which respond to natural language input and capable of learning and self organization.
