What are the computer generations

1. Computer Generations
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2. 1st Generation -> 1940 - 1956
VACUUM TUBES

3. VACUUM TUBES

4. VACUUM TUBES

5. • Used vacuum tubes
• Was large in size
• Very expensive to operate
• High electricity consumption.
• Generated a high volume of heat.
• Depended on machine language which is in
the binary format.

6. • Could only solve one problem at a time.
– Speed of instructions up to
10,000 Instructions per second (IPS)
• Input was based on punched cards and paper
tapes
• Output was displayed on printouts.
• Examples of 1st generation computers
– UNIVAC ‘Universal Automatic Calculator’
– ENIAC ‘Electronic Numerical Integrator & Computer’

7. 2nd Generation -> 1956 - 1963

8. • Used transistors instead of vacuum tubes.
• The ‘Transistor’ was invented in 1947.
• Transistors helped computers to become
– Smaller
– More faster (200,000- 300,000 IPS)
– Cheaper
– More energy efficient
– More reliable than 1st generation computers.

9. • Still used punch cards for inputs & printouts
for outputs.
• Changed from machine or binary language to
symbolic or assembly language.
• This helped programmers to give instructions
in words.
• E.g.- IBM 1620 UNIVAC 1108

10. 3rd Generation -> 1964 - 1971
Integrated Circuit

11. • In this stage used ‘Integrated Circuits’.
• Also used ‘semiconductors’ where transistors were
placed on silicon chips .
• Data input was through keyboards.
• Output was taken on to monitors.
• E.g.-HONEY WELL-6000 SERIES

12. • Started using an operating systems where we
can run many applications.
• Computers were accessible for a wide range of
people
– Because they were ;
• Smaller in size
• & cheaper in price than 2nd generation computers.
• Speed up to 5 Million Instructions per second (MIPS)

13. 4th Generation ->1971 to present

17. • Started to use ‘Microprocessors’ known as
Central Processing Unit.
• More user friendly computers were
introduced like ‘GUI’-Graphical User Interface-
through OS.
• E.g.- Apple-ii IBM-PC

18. • Special features are;
– These are more powerful
– Very low price than other generations.
– Smaller
– Large memory space available (Specially for
Storage)
– Speed up to 200 MIPS

19. 5th Generation ->> Artificial Intelligence

20. • Computers based on artificial intelligence
which are still on development.
• The goal of these computers is to develop
computers that can respond to natural
languages.

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