Generation in computer science terminology is a change in the technology of a computer being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies which are used in computer systems. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which together make up an entire computer system.
There are five generations of computer are available at this time. Each generation has been discussed in detail along with its period and characteristics. Below, approximate dates against each generation have been mentioned, which are normally accepted.
Explain the generation‘s computer
Based on the development of computers and the technology used, computers are classified into five major generations –
- First-generation computer (1940-1956) “vacuum Tube”
- The second generation of computer (1956-1963) “Transistor”
- The third generation of computer (1964-1971) “Integrated circuits”
- The fourth generation of computer (1971-1985) “Microprocessor”
- Fifth-generation of computer (1985-Present) “Artificial intelligence”
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First-generation‘s computer
The first generation lasted from 1940 to 1956. In the first generation computers, ‘vacuum Tubes‘ have been used as the circuit and ‘Magnetic Drum‘ as memory, they were much larger, and more power was used to run them. Due to being bigger, there was a lot of problem of heat in them, in which ‘Machine Language‘ was used.
Examples of this are as follows :
- ENIAC ( Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)
- EDVAC ( Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer)
- UNIVAC( Universal Automatic Computer)
- IBM-701
- IBM-650
Also Read: What is Computer You Didn’t Know Your Computer Could Do?
Second-generation‘s computer
In the second generation computers, ‘Transistor’ was used instead of ‘Vacuum Tube‘. Transistors were very small, fast, and cheap and were more energy efficient. Second-generation computers used to generate slightly less heat than the first generation computers, but still, the problem of heat remained in the computer.
Examples of this are as follows :
- IBM 1620
- IBM 7094
- CDC 1604
- CDC 3600
- UNIVAC 1108
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Third-generation of computer
In the third generation computer ‘Integrated Circuit’ was used, in which the transistor was truncated and inserted into the silicon chip, which is called Semi-Conductor. Since its use, the processing capacity of the computer has increased to a great extent.
Third-generation computers were user-friendly, in which monitor, keyboard, and operating system were used.
Some of the popular examples of third-generation computers are as follows :
- IBM-360 series
- Honeywell-6000 series
- PDP(Personal Data Processor)
- IBM-370/168
- TDC-316
Also Read: What can we do in our life with a computer?
The fourth generation of computer
The ‘Microprocessor‘ was used for the first time in this computer and thousands of integrated circuits were embedded in the silicon chip, this made it easy to reduce the size of the computer.
After the use of microprocessors, the efficiency of the computer increased and big calculations could be done by them in the working time.
Some of the popular examples of fourth-generation computers are as follows :
- DEC 10
- STAR 1000
- PDP 11
- CRAY-1(Super Computer)
- CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)
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Fifth-generation of computer
The fifth generation has been called the modern generation, which is going on since 1985 till now where ‘Artificial intelligence is being used and new technology such as speech recognition, parallel processing, and quantum calculation. Many advanced technologies are being used.
Due to the use of artificial intelligence in the fifth generation, that is, the modern generations, computers can make decisions on its own.
That is, the computer has become a fully automatic machine.
Some of the popular examples of fifth-generation computers are as follows :
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Conclusion :
Today, we have read and learned in this article how many computer generations are available? How many types of computer generations?
If you still have any doubt regarding computer generations, then you can ask us through comment, or add your questions and answers in a comment below! I will try my best to clear your doubt.
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