Generation of Computer || Different generation of computer and their features

 

Generation of Computer

 

Computer generations refer to the advancements in the computing devices and state of improvements in the product development process. In terms of technological developments and devices used in the computers over time, computers have been broadly classified into five generations. 

1)     First Generation of Computer (1944 – 1959):

The first generation computers were built using the technology vacuum tube as main component. A vacuum tube is an electronic device consisting sealed glass which used filaments as an electronic and could control and amplify the electronic signals. The memories of these computers were constructed using electromagnetic relays based on punched cards and they used machine level language for coding. The examples of first generation computers are ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC, UNIVAC, etc.

 

Features of the First Generation Computers:

Ø   They used vacuum tube as main component.

Ø   They were huge in size.

Ø   Their operating speed was up to milliseconds.

Ø   They used machine level language for programming.

Ø   They consumed a lot of electric power.

 

2)     Second Generation of Computers (1960 – 1964):

The second generation computers used transistors as their main technology instead of vacuum tubes. One single transistor could perform the task of 1000 vacuum tubes. The transistor was made of germanium semiconductor materials rather than glass. This generation computers were smaller, better and easier to handle than first generation computers. They used magnetic core memory and operated up to microseconds. Second generation computers used assembly language.

 

Features of the Second Generation Computers:

Ø They used transistor as main component.

Ø Their operating speed was up to microsecond.

Ø They used magnetic core memory as internal storage.

Ø They understand assembly and high level language.

Ø They were smaller and faster than first generation computers.

 

3)     Third Generation Computers:

Third generation computers used integrated circuit (IC)  as main components. The IC was mounted with Small Scale Integration and Medium Scale Integration to form Large Scale Integration instead of earlier transistors. The IC is an electronic circuit consisting of several electronic components like transistors, registers and capacitors grown on a single chip of silicon. This is also known as microelectronics technology. These computers were operated up to nanosecond and used high level language for programming. They also used large magnetic core based Random Access Memory and larger capacity magnetic disks.

 

Features of the Third Generation Computers:

Ø They used Integrated circuits in terms of (LSI) as main component.

Ø They were general purpose computers.

Ø They were small, efficient and reliable.

Ø They supported a large number of high level languages.

Ø Their operating speed was up to nanoseconds.

 

4)     Fourth Generation Computers (1964 – 1975):

Fourth generation computers used microprocessors as main components instead of LSI. A microprocessor contains all the circuits needed to perform Arithmetic Logic and Control functions on a single chip. Due to the microprocessor technology it is resulted to the personal computer. They used GUI based advanced software and supported networking and internet system.

 

Features of Fourth Generation Computers:

Ø They used VLSI based microprocessors ad main electronic component.

Ø Their operating speed is picoseconds and even more.

Ø They are user friendly and supported numerous high level language and GUI programs.

Ø Their size reduced up to laptops and palmtop computer.

Ø They supported magnetic and optical storage device.

 

5)     Fifth Generation of Computers  (1990’s and future): 

   Fifth Generation of Computer is still running. Whose period is from 1980 till today’s date. This is the golden time of computer history. Where AI means Artificial Intelligence is going to change the world completely. Now VLSI Technologies has turned into ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology. Due to this technology, more than 10 million transistors are present in a microscope. A CPU has been transformed into a small chip.

The Fifth Generation of Computer has the secret of Parallel Processing Hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence Technology). Once noticed, AI will know everywhere today. Like Mobile, Google Assistant, Image Recognition, Voice Search, Machine Learning, Spell Check, Expert in SYSTEM MEDICAL, Google Map.

Because of this AI technology, today a computer is much faster than a human. AI means putting HUMAN brain into a computer. All high-level languages ​​come in this FIFTH generation.

Features of the Fifth Generation Computer:

Ø They use ULSI technology as main components.

Ø They posses artificial intelligence (AI).

Ø They implement knowledge based problem solving technology.

Ø They are much faster than present computers.

Ø They use internet based application.

 

Technology under AI

1. Robotics
2. Neural Networks
3. Game Playing
4. Developing an Expert System to make decisions in real life situations, especially in the medical field.
5. Natural language is the process of processing human language in a digital way like you are doing in Google Voice Search.
6. ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology is being used in this generation.

# Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science which deals with listening, reasoning, analyzing, processing and understanding natural language as human being. It is major capability which will be included in the fifth generation computers so that computer will be able to use their own intelligence.