RAYAT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, RAILMAJRA

Subject :- ICT.
Topic :- Generations of Computers.
Submitted To:
Submitted B y:
Mrs. Rekha Amrit Kaur
B.e !e"#D
R$%% N$#&''
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 UI!"# and $I"# computers are examples of first-generation computing devices. The UI!"#
was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.%. #ensus &ureau in '()'.
First Generation
(vacuum tube circuits)
First Ge(erati$( "$m)uters are "hara"terise *+ the use $, -a"uum tu*es. These -a"uum tu*es .ere use
,$r "a%"u%ati$( as .e%% as st$ra/e a( "$(tr$%. Later, ma/(eti" ta)es a( ma/(eti" rums .ere im)%eme(te
as st$ra/e meia. The ,irst -a"uum tu*e "$m)uter, ENIAC, .as e-e%$)e *+ U! arm+ $ri(a("e t$
"a%"u%ate *a%%isti" ,iri(/ ta*%es i( 00II. It ha a*$ut &1 ''' -a"uum tu*es. The ma"hi(e .ei/he 2' t$(s,
"$-ere a*$ut &''' s3uare ,eet $, ,%$$r, a( "$(sume &2' $r &4' ki%$.atts $, e%e"tri"it+. The ENIAC5s
"%$"k s)ee .as a*$ut &'' k67. I( aiti$( t$ *a%%isti"s, the ENIAC5s ,ie% $, a))%i"ati$( i("%ue .eather
)rei"ti$(, at$mi"#e(er/+ "a%"u%ati$(s, "$smi"#ra+ stuies, therma% i/(iti$(, ra($m#(um*er stuies, .i(#
tu((e% esi/(, a( $ther s"ie(ti,i" uses. N$ e%e"tr$(i" "$m)uters .ere *ei(/ a))%ie t$ "$mmer"ia%
)r$*%ems u(ti% a*$ut &89&.
Vacuum tube circuit
This is a( e:am)%e $, a -a"uum tu*e *ase "ir"uit use i( a ,irst /e(erati$( "$m)uter ;a Burr$u/hs<,
)i"ture here (e:t t$ a tra(sist$r *ase "ir"uit, .ith simi%ar ,u("ti$(a%it+, ,r$m a se"$( /e(erati$(
"$m)uter ;the IBM &=>'<. The -a"uum tu*es ;at the t$) $, the "ir"uit< ha-e *ee( ama/e *e"ause $,
$-erheati(/. 0e sus)e"t that this )arti"u%ar "ir"uit is a 4#*it re/ister. Cir"uits "reate i this .a+ .ere
e:treme%+ *u%k+. T$ "reate a 2>#*it ADD "ir"uit .$u% re3uire ?'' %$/i" /ates usi(/ a t$ta% $, &,9'4
tra(sist$rs. I( -a"uum tu*e *ase "$m)uters, this ma(+ -a"uum tu*es .$u% take u) a s)a"e a*$ut the si7e
$, a re,ri/erat$r.

Vacuum tube
This is a sma%% -a"uum tu*e, use i( ,irst /e(erati$( "$m)uters. 6ere +$u "a(
"%ear%+ see the e,,e"t $, $-erheati(/, %ea-i(/ a *%a"k stai( $( the i(sie $, the
/%ass tu*e. C$(sta(t $-erheati(/ a( *ur($ut i( the -a"uum tu*es $, ENIAC, the
,irst e%e"tr$(i" "$m)uti(/ e-i"e, i( &841 %e AT@T Be%% Te%e)h$(e La*$rat$r+
e(/i(eers J$h( Baree(, 0i%%iam !h$"k%e+, a( 0a%ter Brattai( t$ seek $ut a
suita*%e a%ter(ati-e ,$r the "$mmer"ia%%+ u(re%ia*%e -a"uum tu*e. The three
su""ess,u%%+ em$(strate the )ri("i)%e $, am)%i,+i(/ a( e%e"tri"a% "urre(t usi(/ a
s$%i semi"$(u"ti(/ materia%, si%i"$(, ,$rmi(/ the *asi" "$("e)t *ehi( the
tra(sist$r.






Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor was
invented in '(*+ but did not see widespread use in computers until the late '(),s. 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 sub-ected the
computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. %econd-generation computers still relied on
punched cards for input and printouts for output.
%econd-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages,
which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. .igh-level programming languageswere also being
developed at this time, such as early versions of #/&/0 and F/1T1". 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.
Transistor computer
A transistor computer is a computer .hi"h uses is"rete transistors i(stea $, vacuum tubes. The A,irst
/e(erati$(A $, e%e"tr$(i" "$m)uters use -a"uum tu*es, .hi"h /e(erate %ar/e am$u(ts $, heat, .ere *u%k+, a(
.ere u(re%ia*%e. A Ase"$( /e(erati$(A $, "$m)uters, thr$u/h the %ate &89's a( &8='s ,eature *$ars ,i%%e
.ith i(i-iua% tra(sist$rs a( magnetic memory cores. These ma"hi(es remai(e the mai(stream esi/( i(t$
the %ate &8='s, .he( integrated circuits starte a))eari(/ a( %e t$ the Athir /e(erati$(A ma"hi(es.
The first transistor computer
The University of 2anchester3s experimental Transistor #omputer was first operational in ovember '()4 and it is widely believed to be the first
transistor computer to come into operation anywhere in the world. There were two versions of the Transistor #omputer, the prototype,
operational in '()4, and the full-si5e version, commissioned in "pril '()). The '()4 machine had (6 point-contact transistors and )), diodes,
manufactured by %T#. It had a *7-bit machine word.
8'9
The '()) machine had a total of 6,, point-contact transistors and '4,, point diodes,
8'9
which resulted in a power consumption of '), watts. There were considerable reliability problems with the early batches of transistors and the
average error free run in '()) was only '.) hours. The #omputer also used a small number of tubes in its clock generator, so it was not the
first fully transistori5ed machine.
869
The design of a full-si5e Transistor #omputer was subse:uently adopted by the 2anchester firm of 2etropolitan-!ickers, who changed all the
circuits to more reliable types of -unction transistors.
8'9
The production version was known as the 2etrovick (), and was built from '(); to the
extent of six
8'9
or seven machines,
849
which were <used commercially within the company<
849
or <mainly for internal use.
Third Generation (1964-1971) nte!rated "ircuits
The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were
miniaturi5ed 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 andmonitors 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. #omputers for the first time
became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.
Integrated Circuit
A( i(te/rate "ir"uit, $r IC, is sma%% "hi) that "a( ,u("ti$( as a( am)%i,ier, $s"i%%at$r, timer,mi"r$)r$"ess$r, $r
e-e( "$m)uter mem$r+. A( IC is a sma%% .a,er, usua%%+ mae $, si%i"$(, that "a( h$% a(+.here ,r$m hu(res
t$ mi%%i$(s $, tra(sist$rs, resist$rs, a( "a)a"it$rs. These e:treme%+ sma%% e%e"tr$(i"s "a( )er,$rm "a%"u%ati$(s
a( st$re ata usi(/ either i/ita% $r a(a%$/ te"h($%$/+.
Di/ita% ICs use %$/i" /ates, .hi"h .$rk $(%+ .ith -a%ues $, $(es a( 7er$s. A %$. si/(a% se(t t$ t$ a "$m)$(e(t
$( a i/ita% IC .i%% resu%t i( a -a%ue $, ', .hi%e a hi/h si/(a% "reates a -a%ue $, &. Di/ita% ICs are the ki( +$u
.i%% usua%%+ ,i( i( "$m)uters, (et.$rki(/ e3ui)me(t, a( m$st "$(sumer e%e"tr$(i"s.
A(a%$/, $r %i(ear ICs .$rk .ith "$(ti(u$us -a%ues. This mea(s a "$m)$(e(t $( a %i(ear IC "a( take a -a%ue $,
a(+ ki( a( $ut)ut a($ther -a%ue. The term A%i(earA is use si("e the $ut)ut -a%ue is a %i(ear ,u("ti$( $, the
i()ut. F$r e:am)%e, a "$m)$(e(t $( a %i(ear IC ma+ mu%ti)%e a( i("$mi(/ -a%ue *+ a ,a"t$r $, >.9 a( $ut)ut
the resu%t. Li(ear ICs are t+)i"a%%+ use i( aui$ a( rai$ ,re3ue("+ am)%i,i"ati$(.
Fourth Generation (1971-#resent) $icro%rocessors
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a
single silicon chip. =hat in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. The Intel
*,,* chip, developed in '(+', located all the components of the computer>from the central processing unit and
memory to input?output controls>on a single chip.
In '(7' I&2 introduced its first computer for the home user, and in '(7* "pple introduced the 2acintosh.
2icroprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and more
everyday products began to use microprocessors.
"s these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form networks, which eventually
led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of@UIs,
the mouse and handheld devices.
Fi&th Generation (#resent and 'e(ond) )rti&icia* nte**i!ence
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. Auantum computation and molecular
andnanotechnology 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-
organi5ation.
++ ,-. /0-12223
"n integrated circuit BI#C is a small electronic device made out of a semiconductor material. The first integrated
circuit was developed in the '(),s by Dack Eilby of Texas Instruments and 1obert oyce of Fairchild
%emiconductor.