GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

First Generation (1940-1956) Vacuum Tubes

The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often
enormous, taking up entire rooms. They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great
deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.

First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language
understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time. Input
was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.

The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices. The UNIVAC
was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951.

Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor
was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 1950s. The transistor
was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more
energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors. Though the transistor still
generated a great deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over
the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for
output.

Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly,
languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level programming
languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN.
These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their memory, which moved from a
magnetic drum to magnetic core technology.

The first computers of this generation were developed for the atomic energy industry.

Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits

The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers.
Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically
increased the speed and efficiency of computers.

Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through
keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many
different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory. Computers for the
first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their
predecessors.
Fourth Generation (1971-Present) Microprocessor
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were
built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of
the hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer—from the
central processing unit and memory to input/output controls—on a single chip.

In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh.
Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.

Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial Intelligence

Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there
are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today. The use of parallel
processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. Quantum computation
and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of computers in years to come. The goal
of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable
of learning and self-organization.

EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS
Are you on a computer right now? Then do you know how a computer evolved? Read all about the evolution of
computers.

The term Computer, originally meant a person capable of performing numerical calculations with the help of a
mechanical computing device. The evolution of computers started way back in the late 1930s. Binary arithmetic is at
the core of the computers of all times. History of computers dates back to the invention of a mechanical adding
machine in 1642. ABACUS, an early computing tool, invention of logarithm by John Napier and the invention of
slide rules by William Oughtred were significant events in the evolution of computers from these early computing
devices.

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS
"Who invented the computer?" is not a question with a simple answer. The real answer is that
many inventors contributed to the history of computers and that a computer is a complex piece of
machinery made up of many parts, each of which can be considered a separate invention.

Computer History Computer History Computer History

Year/Enter Inventors/Inventions Description of Event

1936 Konrad Zuse - Z1 Computer First freely programmable

computer.

1942 John Atanasoff & Clifford Berry Who was first in the computing
 ABC Computer biz is not always as easy as
ABC.

1944 Howard Aiken & Grace Hopper The Harvard Mark 1 computer.
Harvard Mark I Computer

1946 John Presper Eckert & John W. 20,000 vacuum tubes later...
Mauchly
ENIAC 1 Computer

1948 Frederic Williams & Tom Kilburn Baby and the Williams Tube
Manchester Baby Computer turn on the memories.
& The Williams Tube

1947/48 John Bardeen, Walter Brattain & No, a transistor is not a

Wiliam Shockley computer, but this invention
The Transistor greatly affected the history of
computers.

1951 John Presper Eckert & John W. First commercial computer &
Mauchly able to pick presidential
UNIVAC Computer winners.

1953 International Business Machines IBM enters into 'The History of

IBM 701 EDPM Computer Computers'.

1954 John Backus & IBM The first successful high level
FORTRAN Computer programming language.
Programming Language

Stanford Research Institute, The first bank industry

1955 Bank of America, and General computer - also MICR (magnetic
(In Use 1959) Electric ink character recognition) for
ERMA and MICR reading checks.

1958 Jack Kilby & Robert Noyce Otherwise known as 'The Chip'
The Integrated Circuit

1962 Steve Russell & MIT The first computer game

Spacewar Computer Game invented.

1964 Douglas Engelbart Nicknamed the mouse because

Computer Mouse & Windows the tail came out the end.

1969 ARPAnet The original Internet.

1970 Intel 1103 Computer The world's first available

Memory dynamic RAM chip.
 1971 Faggin, Hoff & Mazor The first microprocessor.
Intel 4004 Computer
Microprocessor

1971 Alan Shugart &IBM Nicknamed the "Floppy" for its

The "Floppy" Disk flexibility.

1973 Robert Metcalfe & Xerox Networking.

The Ethernet Computer
Networking

1974/75 Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair & IBM The first consumer computers.
5100 Computers

1976/77 Apple I, II & TRS-80 & More first consumer computers.

Commodore Pet Computers

1978 Dan Bricklin & Bob Frankston Any product that pays for itself
VisiCalc Spreadsheet in two weeks is a surefire
Software winner.

1979 Seymour Rubenstein & Rob Word Processors.

Barnaby
WordStar Software

1981 IBM From an "Acorn" grows a

The IBM PC - Home personal computer revolution
Computer

1981 Microsoft From "Quick And Dirty" comes

MS-DOS Computer Operating the operating system of the
System century.

1983 Apple Lisa Computer The first home computer with a

GUI, graphical user interface.

1984 Apple Macintosh Computer The more affordable home

computer with a GUI.

1985 Microsoft Windows Microsoft begins the friendly

war with Apple.

SERIES TO BE CONTINUED