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

Advantages

• Faster than mechanical computers
• Solved simple calculations electronically

Disadvantages

• Very large in size and occupied entire rooms
• Consumed a lot of electricity
• Produced a lot of heat and usually failed
• Very expensive to build and maintain

Second Generation of Computers (1956-1963) 

Between 1956 and 1963, the second generation of computers prevailed. These were an improved version of the first-generation computers. They replaced vacuum tubes with transistors, and hence these computers were smaller, faster, and more efficient; due to this, they gained more popularity. Magnetic Core Memory was also introduced in the second generation of computers, which provided faster and more reliable performance. Based on this progress, a further generation of computers, known as the third generation, was conceptualised, which employed integrated circuits.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Second-Generation Computers

Advantages

• Smaller and faster compared with vacuum tube computers
• More reliable and energy-efficient
• Easier to maintain and operate
• More commercially available to businesses

Disadvantages

• Generated heat
• Expensive for common users
• Used machine and assembly language, making it hard to program
• Limited multitasking

Third Generation of Computers (1964 - 1971)

The third generation of computers started in 1964 and ended in 1971. This generation utilised microchips or integrated circuits, which enabled the construction of smaller, cheaper, and significantly faster computers.

The third-generation computers were significantly faster than earlier generations; computational time decreased from microseconds to nanoseconds. New input devices were introduced, such as the mouse and keyboard, which replaced the older method that involved punch cards. Some new features that were introduced included multi-programming and time-sharing and remote processing, whereby a number of people at different places could share computer resources.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Third-Generation Computers

Advantages

• Much smaller and more powerful
• Cheaper and more efficient than earlier generations
• Higher-level programming languages supported

Disadvantages

• Required cooling systems

• Still expensive for individual use

• Their maintenance depended on qualified technicians

• Some hardware limitations existed.

 

Fourth Generation of Computers (1971-1980)

Fourth-generation computers were developed in the year 1972 and came after the third generation of computers that used microprocessors. These computers utilized Very Large Scale Integration circuits containing about 5000 transistors running complex computations.
Fourth-generation computers were more adaptable, had more primary storage capacity, and were faster and more reliable compared to earlier generations; they were portable, small, and required less electricity. Intel was the first company to develop a microprocessor used in a fourth-generation computer.
This was the fourth generation of computers, which used the LSI chip technology and were very powerful but small; thus, this generation brought a revolution in society as far as computers are concerned. It also introduced the first supercomputers during this generation, used complex programming languages like C, C++, and DBASE, and performed many calculations with high accuracy.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Fourth-Generation Computers

Advantages

• Very small, fast, and inexpensive
• Suitable for personal computers
• Supported advanced operating systems and GUI
• Highly reliable and energy-efficient

Disadvantages

• Can get outdated very quickly
• Overheating can happen with high use.
• There has been an increase in cybersecurity threats.
• Dependent on electricity and the environment

Fifth Generation of Computers (1980 - Present Day)

The fifth generation of computers appeared after the fourth one and remains in development up to now. Computers of the fifth generation are based on AI technologies for performing any operation. The input method for these computers includes programming languages: Python, R, C#, Java. This generation of computers uses ULSI technology, parallel processing, and AI for scientific computation and AI software development. They are capable of doing complex operations like image recognition, interpretation of speech, and understanding of natural languages. The devices included in the fifth generation include laptops, desktops, notebooks, and Chromebooks. 

Advantages & Disadvantages of Fifth-Generation Computers

Advantages

• Uses AI and machine learning for smart computing
• Faster processing and handling of large data
• Supports natural language and expert systems
• Highly portable, user-friendly

Disadvantages

• Very high development cost
• Can cause unemployment due to automation
• Risk of misuse or bias in AI decisions
• Requires high computational power and data