2. Features of 1st
generation
computers
(1940-1956)
Very large in size and taking up entire
room.
They used very large vacuum tubes for
circuitry and magnetic drums for memory.
Relied on machine and assembly
language.
System cost and working cost was very
3. They were consumed lot of electricity
and generated tremendous heat.
Speed was very slow.
Result was not very reliable and
accurate.
i.e.- UNIVAC,
ENIAC,
Mark-1 etc.
5. Second generation computers
(1956-1963)
• Speed increased from seconds to
milliseconds.
• Transistors replaced by vacuum tubes.
• Size became small due to use of
transistors.
• Became very reliable and accurate.
6. • High level language(COBAL,
FORTRAN) and symbolic language
came into existence.
• Storage capacity increased due to use
of magnetic cores.
• First computers that stored their data
in their memory.
• Input/Output devices were of better
quality.
8. Third generation computers
(1964-1971)
The development of the integrated
circuit (IC’s)was the hallmark of the
third generation of computers.
Transistors were miniaturized and
placed on silicon chips, called
semiconductors.
9. Input / Output devices became more
sophisticated. Keyboard, monitor and
mouse came into existence.
Speed increased to nano-second
range.
Storage capacity, Reliability and
accuracy also increased.
Allowed the device to run many
11. Fourth generation computers
(1971-present)
The microprocessor(Chip) came into
existence, as thousands of integrated
circuits were built onto a single silicon
chip.
The size of chip was 1 cm x 1 cm. It
contained 1000 components since then
the numbers of components have
doubled every year.
12. Today a microchip is 30000 times
cheaper and yet 2000 times faster.
Memory is based on semiconductors
and storage capacity is also increased.
Fourth generation computers also saw
the development of GUIs,
the mouse and handheld devices.
Cost and size were further reduced.
Language became more refined. Like-
14. Fifth generation computers
(present and beyond)
Fifth generation computing
devices, based on artificial
intelligence.
Are still in development, though
there are some applications, such
15. The use of parallel processing and
superconductors is helping to make
artificial intelligence a reality.
The goal of fifth-generation
computing is to develop devices that
respond to natural language input and
are capable of learning and self-
organization.
