History
The history of computer development is referred to the different generations of computing devices. A major technological development that fundamentally changed the way was to result in increasingly smaller, cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable. The developments and different generations that led to the current devices can be discussed as following.
First Generation 1940-1956 (Vacuum Tubes)
First generation of computer was incorporated during the second world war by Germany to build a war plane while also in England was used to crack German Secret codes and the mode of operation was the use of valves of about 1500 to 1800.The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and 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 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 UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices. The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951.
Advantages
a. Vacuum tubes were used as electronic components.
b. Electronic digital computers were developed.
c. These computers were the fastest of their time.
d. Computations were performed in milli seconds.
a. Vacuum tubes were used as electronic components.
b. Electronic digital computers were developed.
c. These computers were the fastest of their time.
d. Computations were performed in milli seconds.
Limitations
a. Too large in size
b. Unreliable
c. Produce large amount of heat due to vacuum tube.
d. Air conditioning required.
e. Frequent hardware failure.
f. Constant maintenance required.
g. Non-portable.
h. Commercial production was difficult and costly.
j. Limited commercial use.
a. Too large in size
b. Unreliable
c. Produce large amount of heat due to vacuum tube.
d. Air conditioning required.
e. Frequent hardware failure.
f. Constant maintenance required.
g. Non-portable.
h. Commercial production was difficult and costly.
j. Limited commercial use.
Second Generation 1956-1963 (Transistors)
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and started the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 50s. 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 subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output.
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and started the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 50s. 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 subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output.
6. Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL* and FORTRAN*. 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.
a. FORTRAN stands for “Formula Translator”. It is the oldest high-level programming language. Designed by John Backus for IBM in the late 1950s, it is still popular today, particularly for scientific applications that require extensive mathematical computations.
b. The two most common versions of FORTRAN are FORTRAN IV and FORTRAN 77. FORTRAN IV was approved in 1966. FORTRAN 77 was approved in 1978 (they had expected to approve it in 1977, hence the name). FORTRAN 77 includes a number of features not available in older versions of FORTRAN. A new ISO standard for FORTRAN, called FORTRAN-90, was developed in the early 90s.
c. COBOL stands for Common Business Oriented Language. Developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, COBOL is the second-oldest high-level programming language (FORTRAN is the oldest). It is particularly popular for business applications that run on large computers. COBOL is a wordy language; programs written in COBOL tend to be much longer than the same programs written in other languages. It is easy to understand programs because everything is spelled out. Although disparaged by many programmers for being outdated, COBOL is still the most widely used programming language in the world)
Advantages
a. In the comparison of first generation they were smaller in size.
b. They were much reliable.
c. Less heat generated.
d. They could perform the computations in microseconds.
e. They gave less hardware failure errors.
f. They were portable
g. They were used commercially.
Limitations
a. Air conditioning required.
b. Frequent maintenance required.
c. Commercial production was costly.
a. FORTRAN stands for “Formula Translator”. It is the oldest high-level programming language. Designed by John Backus for IBM in the late 1950s, it is still popular today, particularly for scientific applications that require extensive mathematical computations.
b. The two most common versions of FORTRAN are FORTRAN IV and FORTRAN 77. FORTRAN IV was approved in 1966. FORTRAN 77 was approved in 1978 (they had expected to approve it in 1977, hence the name). FORTRAN 77 includes a number of features not available in older versions of FORTRAN. A new ISO standard for FORTRAN, called FORTRAN-90, was developed in the early 90s.
c. COBOL stands for Common Business Oriented Language. Developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, COBOL is the second-oldest high-level programming language (FORTRAN is the oldest). It is particularly popular for business applications that run on large computers. COBOL is a wordy language; programs written in COBOL tend to be much longer than the same programs written in other languages. It is easy to understand programs because everything is spelled out. Although disparaged by many programmers for being outdated, COBOL is still the most widely used programming language in the world)
Advantages
a. In the comparison of first generation they were smaller in size.
b. They were much reliable.
c. Less heat generated.
d. They could perform the computations in microseconds.
e. They gave less hardware failure errors.
f. They were portable
g. They were used commercially.
Limitations
a. Air conditioning required.
b. Frequent maintenance required.
c. Commercial production was costly.
Third Generation 1964-1971 (Integrated Circuits)
The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which dramatitically increased the speed and efficiency of computers. Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through keyboards and monitors 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. Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.
The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which dramatitically increased the speed and efficiency of computers. Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through keyboards and monitors 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. Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.
Fourth Generation - 1971-Present (Microprocessors)
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer – from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls – on a single chip.In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors 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.
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer – from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls – on a single chip.In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors 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.
As 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 GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.
Fifth Generation Present and Beyond (Artificial Intelligence)
Fifth Generation Present and Beyond (Artificial Intelligence)
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. Quantum computation and molecular and Nan technology 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-organization.
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