Evolution of the Different Generations of Computers

First Generation of Computers (1946 - 1959)

The first generation used vacuum tube technology and was built between 1946 and 1959. Vacuum tubes were expensive and produced a lot of heat, which made these computers very expensive and only affordable to large organizations. Machine language was the programming language used for these computers, and they could not multitask.

The ENIAC was the first electronic general-purpose computer, using 18,000 vacuum tubes and built in 1943 for war-related calculations. Examples of the first generation include EDVAC, IBM 650, IBM 701, Manchester Mark 1, Mark 2, etc.

Advantages & Disadvantages of First-Generation Computers

Second Generation of Computers (1956-1963) 

The late 1950s and 1960s were the time when the world saw the onset of the second generation of computers. These computers were an improvement over the first gen of computers as they replaced vacuum tubes with transistors. This development made the second gen of computers smaller, faster and more efficient. Transistors required less maintenance and generated less heat, making them an obvious choice over vacuum tubes.

Second-generation computers were smaller and more portable, which made them popular. This generation also witnessed the introduction of Magnetic Core Memory, which thereby offered faster, more reliable performance. Basis this development, the next generation of computers, known as the third generation, was envisioned, which used integrated circuits.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Second-Generation Computers

Third Generation of Computers (1964 - 1971)

The third generation of computers was introduced in 1964 and remained until 1971. This generation used microchips and integrated circuits, enabling the creation of smaller, cheaper, and much faster computers.

The third generation of computers was much faster than previous generations, with computational times reduced from microseconds to nanoseconds. New input devices, such as the mouse and keyboard, were introduced, replacing older methods like punch cards. New functionalities, like multiprogramming and time-sharing, and remote processing, were introduced, allowing for more efficient use of computer resources.

Fourth Generation of Computers (1971-1980)

Fourth-generation computers were developed in 1972 after the third generation, which used microprocessors. They used Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits, which contained about 5000 transistors capable of performing complex computations.

Fourth-generation computers were more adaptable, had more primary storage capacity, were faster and more reliable than previous generations, and were also portable, small, and required less electricity. Intel was the first company to develop a microprocessor used in a fourth-generation computer.

Fourth-generation computers used LSI chip technology and were incredibly powerful but also very small, leading to a societal revolution in the computer industry. This generation introduced the first supercomputers, used complex programming languages such as C, C++, and DBASE, and could perform many accurate calculations.

Fifth Generation of Computers (1980 - Present Day)

The fifth generation of computers emerged after the fourth generation and continues to be developed. Computers of the fifth generation use artificial intelligence (AI) to perform various tasks. These computers utilise programming languages such as Python, R, C#, and Java as input methods.

Fifth-generation computers employ ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, parallel processing, and AI to perform scientific computations and develop AI software. They can perform intricate tasks such as image recognition, speech interpretation, and natural language understanding. Examples of fifth-generation devices include laptops, desktops, notebooks, and Chromebooks.