GENRATIONS OF COMPUTERS

      There are five generations of computers .Each generation is characterised by a major technological development that fundamentally ,changed the way computers operated .These helped to develop smaller ,economical ,powerful , efficient and reliable devices. 

<script data-ad-client="ca-pub-9079285414929475" async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

  1.FIRST GENERATION COMPUTERS (1940-1956):VACCUME TUBES

* The first generation computers used vacuum tubes for switching circuits and magnetic drums for memory.

 *They were large in size ,occupied a lot of space and produced enormous amount of heat . 

 *They were very expensive and consumed large amount of electricity. 

 *First generation computers operated only on machine language.

 *First generation computers could solve only one problem at a time.

  2.SECOND GENERATION COMPUTERS (1956-1963):TRANSISTERS

*In the second generation computers vacuum tubes were replaced by transistors. 

 *Due to the use of transistors computers became smaller ,more faster and economically more reliable. *It produces less amount of heat compared to first generation computers.

 *It used punched cards for inputs and printouts for outputs.

 *Second generation computers moved from machine language to assembly language ,which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words.   

 

    3.THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS(964-1971):INTIGRATED CIRCUITS

*In the third generation computers integrated chips were used ,in which transistors were made smaller in size and placed into silicon chips which dramatically increased the speed and efficiency of computers. 

 *In third generation computers keyboards and monitors were used instead of punched cards and printouts.

 *the computers were interfaced with operating systems which allowed solve many problems at a time.

  4.FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS(1971-PRESENT):MICROPROCESSORS

*In the fourth generation computers microprocessors were used in which thousands of integrated circuits were built into a single silicon chips.

 *These computers were small and more powerful.

 *They could be linked together to form networks ,which eventually led to the development of internet.

  5.FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS(PRESENT):ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

*The fifth generation computers ,based on artificial intelligence.

 *These computers are still in their developmental stage.

 *fifth generation computers will come close to bridge the gap between computing and thinking.