Modern computer is a esult of several years of hard work, remarkable inventions and useful discoveries by a large number of individuals and organizations from all over the world. The history of computers dates back to primitive times when the need for computing would have arisen for for the first time, perhaps in counting cattle. Ever since the man has been trying to create faster and more accurate and automatic calculating devices, leading to the creation of modern computer.
A Brief History Of Computing
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. The same is true for computers. History of computers starts with the necessity of the early settled man to keep counting of his belongings, especially cattle. Soon, he developed a counting number system and perhaps started using pebbels for counting.
In 3000BC, the chinese developed abacus, which is seen as the first calculatting device created by the mankind, This was followed by Napier Bones, a manual calculatting device, in 1617 AD. Over the next several year, which run into centuries, people developed progressively smarter computing devices, which were the forerunner of today's computer.
There following are some important scientists in the evolution of computer:
John Napier (Scottish Mathematician)
Blaise Pascal (French Mathematician)
Gotfried Von Leibnitz (German Mathematician)
Lady Ada Lovelace (English Mathematician and Writer) The first programmer
Professor Howard H. Aiken (American Mathematician)
Mauchly, Eckret and others
Generations Of Computers
Development of computers took plce in distinct phases called generations. Each generationsof computers is characterized by the use of a specific technology.
Introduction to Computer Generations
This development period of electronic computing technology is called Computer Generation. There are five generations of computers identified, although the sixth generation could be in development now in the early 21st century.During the evolutionary timeline, each generation of computers has improved a lot by undergoing considerable changes in their size, type, and functionality.
By analyzing them, one can trace the evolution of computer technology, to see how the computer industry has changed over the years and how great capabilities and software progress has been made by humankind in under a hundred years, as a result, the creation of different generations.At present, the computer is playing a significant part in human existence because today’s digital computer is being used for every work in each field. If someday an issue occurs in the computer or the server is down, at that point all the work stops. This is how significant it is for technology development!
In this article, I will introduce you to all the generations of computers with pictures by explaining the complete information about their characteristics, names, components, and examples too.
Generations of Computer From 1st to 5th.
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1st Generation (1940-1956)
This first generation of computers was based on vacuum tube technology used for
calculations, storage, and control, invented in 1904 by John Ambrose Fleming. The vacuum tubes and diode
valves were the chief components of the first generations of computers.
First-generation computers relied on the lowest-level machine language, in order to
perform operations, and could only solve a single problem at a point of time..
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Magnetic drums were used as the memory in these computers (were very slow in speed).
The punched and magnetic tapes were used for the input and output function of the computer in order to display
on prints even the results weren’t 100% accurate.
Also, the first generation of computers available was based on the 8-bit microprocessor.
The disadvantages of 1st gen computers are that they were very enormous in size and heavy in
weight (made of thousands of vacuum tubes), occupying large rooms. Also, once they were kept in one
place it was difficult to transfer. Another con like using a decimal number system and many switches and cables.
In addition, they were also very expensive to operate with using a large amount of electricity,
the vacuum tubes produced large amounts of heat, so an air conditioner was required for the proper
functioning unless a lot of heat can cause a malfunction.
The advantage of the first generation of computers is that they could calculate in milliseconds
(about five thousand sums per second.)
The computers of first-generation were managed to use in different
fields like weather forecasting, solving mathematical problems, energy tasks, also in space research, military, and other scientific tasks.
In the first generation of computers, the first computer of the world named “ENIAC” (Electronic
Numerical Integrator and Computer) was discovered by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert in the year between 1943 to 1945.
ENIAC used panel-to-panel wiring and switches for programming, occupied more than 1,000 square
feet, used about 18,000 vacuum tubes, and weighed 30 tons
Characteristics of the 1st Generation of Computer:
Vacuum tubes and diode valves were used as the main electronic
component in the first generation computers.
Punch cards, paper tape utilized for input and output operations.
Magnetic drums used for storage.
Huge in size and weight with a lot of power consumption.
Very expensive in price also not reliable
Computers were programmed with low-level machine language also has
low operating speed.
Examples
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)
ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic digital computer.
This computer about 18,000 vacuum tubes used for the calculation result in huge in size,
occupied more than 1,000 square feet, and weighed 30 tons. These were the harbingers of
today’s digital computers. This first computing machine was designed by people J. P.
Eckert, W. Mosley, J. W. Mauchly.
The second generation of computers replaced the vacuum tubes with a reliable
component called transistors for manufacturing of computers was invented by William Shockley in 1947.
The transistors were the revolution in the computer field because this
component advantaged the 2nd gen computer by increasing the performance, operating speed (hundreds
of thousands of operations per second), as well as decreasing the electricity consumption of the
computers.
Transistors were far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers
to get faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient made and possible to reduce the size of computing
equipment and ultimately heat reduced and reliability improved.
Computers of second-generation are characterized by the use of the
first high-level programming languages, allowing programmers to specify instructions in words.
At this time, early versions of COBOL, ALGOL, SNOBOL, and FORTRAN languages were developed.
These were the first computers to store their instructions in their
memory, which went from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology. During this period, the
first computer game name “Spacewar” was seen on a PDP-1 computer.
Also, the concept of Central Processing Unit (CPU), multi-programming
operating systems, programming language, memory, and input and output units (I / O units) were
developed in the timeline of second-generation computers.
The major disadvantages of Second-generation computers were they
still relied on punch cards for input and hard copies for output as well as still it was
difficult to move the computers for the reason they were enough large and even some computers
needed ACs.
This second generation of computers was first used in the fields
like the atomic energy industry and nuclear power plants and other commercial fields.
Characteristics of the 2nd Generation of Computer:
Computers based on transistors instead of vacuum tubes.
Magnetic Tape was used to store data.
Relatively small in size and reduced weight with low energy
consumption than 1st gen computers.
Faster, reliable, and less expensive than the first generation.
Use of storage devices, printers, and operating systems, etc.
Higher-level languages like COBOL, ALGOL, SNOBOL, and FORTRAN
were developed and used.
Examples
Examples of the second generation of computers include IBM 1620,
CDC 1604, IBM 7094, UNIVAC 1108, IBM 620, CDC 3600, IBM 4044, Honeywell 400, IBM 1401
Mainframe, and PDP-1 minicomputer. IBM was actively working, producing transistor versions
of its computers.
The third generation appeared in the form of integrated circuits
(invented by Jack Kilby from 1958 to 1964). An IC (integrated circuit) is consists of many
small transistors mounted on chips, which are called semiconductors.
This synchronized chip became an important foundation for the
third generation computers when scientists combined hundreds of transistors fit in this
circuit result in a more powerful electronic segment called an integrated circuit.
Multiprogramming was implemented (this is when there are several
executable programs in memory) at the same time that it diminished their manufacturing costs.
In the mid-60s. IBM improved the term “computer architecture”. By the end of the 60s.
mini-computers appeared.
This revolutionary innovation allowed to expansion of the
processing capacity and memory of the machines.
Instead of punch cards and prints, users interacted via keyboards
and monitors, and interacted with an operating system, allowing the device to run various
applications at once with a central program that monitored the memory.
As you can see, the first appearance of computer monitors
fell on the second generation of computers. The invention belongs to the company IBM,
which in 1964 released the commercial display station IBM-2250.
it was used in the system/360 series. The model had a vector
monochrome display measuring 12×12 inches, with a resolution of 1024×1024 pixels and a
refresh rate of 40 Hz. This invention revolutionized today’s different types of monitors
including LCD, LED, OLED, and Curved Shaped monitors.
The invention of IC incredibly decreased the size of computers
and made it easy for transportation from one place to another. The working speed and
efficiency of this generation of computers were much faster than the previous generation and even cheaper.
High-end languages such as PASCAL, BASIC, FORTRAN – II TO IV,
COBOL, ALGOL developed in this generation.
For the first time, they got access to a mass audience
allowed computers to penetrate into different spheres of human activity since they were
smaller and cheaper. Along these, they turned out to be more specialized (i.e., there
were different computers for different tasks).
The 3rd generation of computers was the initial move
towards the miniaturization of computers and quickly expanded their scope: control,
automation of scientific experiments, data transmission, etc. In addition to being used
in the manufacture of radios, TVs, and other similar devices.
Characteristics of the 3rd Generation of Computer:
In this generation, computers based on Integrated
Circuit was more powerful than the transistor.
The size of the computers was likewise little because
the size of the IC being more modest than the circuit size of the transistors.
More reliable, inexpensive, faster, energy-efficient,
as well as very light in weight than 2nd gen computers.
The first Computer Mouse and Keyboard were
appeared and used in the 3rd generation of computers
Use of new versions of high-level languages like
BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, PASCAL, and ALGOL
Available for a mass audience and made it possible
for general purpose usage.
Examples
Some of the most popular models of the 3rd generation
of computers were the ICL 2903, ICL 1900, TDC-B16, IBM 360 and 370, Honeywell
6000, UNIVAC 1108, PDP-8, and PDP-11, which were ideal in their handling
multiprocessing capabilities, reliability, and flexibility than previous generations.
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation
of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits equivalent to about
millions of transistors were assembled and brought the whole central
processing unit and other fundamental elements of the machine into a small
chip called a microprocessor fitted on the CPU socket.
These computers used Very Large Scale Integrated
circuits technology also called VLSI technology. After the invention,
the microprocessor began to used in computing machines in the fourth and
fifth generations of computers.
Within the framework of the considered generation in
1971, the first microprocessor appeared as an unexpected result of Intel’s
work on calculator circuits and further development of minicomputers ( PDP-11 ).
The first personal computer and a microcomputer was
“ALTAIR” developed by the company MITS in 1974. Also, the first microprocessor
was the Intel 4004, manufactured in 1971, initially for an electronic calculator.
Whereas the computers of the first generation filled an entire room, while now the
4th generation ‘microprocessors’ fit in the palm of the hand.
This generation of computers used an operating
system based on the graphical user interface (GUI), which means these numbers
were very easy to perform mathematical and logical tasks.
The computers started to utilize high-speed
memory systems on integrated circuits with a capacity of several megabytes.
Computer performance has increased significantly (hundreds of millions of
operations per second).
The high-level language like C, C ++, Java,
PHP, Python, Visual Basic, was utilized to compose programs in the
computers of the fourth generation.
The advent of the first personal computers in the mid-70s gave every common user the same computing resources that enormous computers had during the 60s. These computers were made more modest, faster, and less expensive can undoubtedly be put on a table or desk. Which marked the so-called era of personal computers.
Peripheral devices, such as mice, joysticks, handheld devices, etc., were developed during this 4th generation. Computers could be connected together in a network to share information with each other, this has played an important role in the birth and development of LAN, Ethernet, and the Internet.
The most popular companies in the world like Intel and AMD were rising. Then again, companies like Microsoft and Apple introduced their operating systems ‘Windows’ and ‘Macintosh’ in the generation of this computer. Because of which the act of multimedia started.
This is the era where personal computers were born, an idea that actually persists today. Also, these were the generation of DEC’s (Digital Equipment Corporation) minicomputers.
Characteristics of the 4th Generation of Computer:
Computers based on microprocessors and VLSI technology.
The computers of 4th gen were small in size, lightweight, and almost portable computers.
The processing speed of this computer generation was much faster and reliable than the previous three generations.
The size and cost of power supply units has reduced.
Use of languages like C, C ++, .Net, Java, PHP, Python, Visual Basic.
Use of GUI Based OS with more memory capacity.
Accessible to the Internet.
Due to the low cost of these computers, they were available to every common man.
Examples
Desktops, Laptops, Workstations, Tablets, and Smartphones, are examples of the fourth generation of computers.
NB:Good to Know~ Alan Turing is the father of modern computers born in England in 1912.
Artificial intelligence is the name of the fifth as well as the latest generation of computers based on ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology is the process of integrating or embedding millions of transistors on a single silicon microchip
Computing in the 5th computer generation is versatile made portable, powerful, lightweight, innovative, comfortable with low electricity consumption. Because of the Internet’s advantages, it extended its limits of use to limits never before suspected.
The main objective of the latest fifth-generation computing and effort made by computer researchers is to make them smart by incorporating Artificial Intelligence so as to develop devices that respond to the input of natural language and are capable of learning and self-organizing even in 2021 it is under development.
This new information technology has greatly increased the size and working ability of the microprocessor, which has prompted the use of computers in the various fields of Entertainment, Accounting, Educational institutes, Film-making, Traffic-control, Business applications, and Hospitals, Engineering, Researches, Defense, etc.
That’s why a computer of the 5th generation is also known as the AI (Artificial Intelligence) generation of computers.
Some computers are being intended to do all the work themselves as a human act, behave, and communicate. The best example of this is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based computing machine in the 5th generation of computers “Sophia” a robot.
Characteristics of the 5th Generation of Computer:
The main focus on AI-based computers.
Computers made of microprocessors based on ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology.
The processing speed is quite high can perform billions of calculations in a second.
Computers are portable, cheap, reliable, fast, and available in various forms and sizes like a Desktop, Lapt op, Smartphone, Smartwatches, etc.
Invention of the operating system such as Windows, Macintosh and ChromeOS of Chromebooks
Multimedia has evolved in this generation by combining Sound, Graphics, or Picture and Text.
Development of Internet of Things.
Examples
Computers of the fifth generation are being made to think like us. For which continuous advancement of technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Robotics, etc. Although the examples of AI computing software such as Chatbots, Windows Cortana, Google Assistant, Apple Siri, Speech recognition, that are being used today.
Factors/Reasons for the development of computer generations:
There below are the general factors associated with the development and change in the generations of electronic computers:
Improvement of the element base,
Downsizing,
Technological progress (increased performance, speed, and memory)
Reduced cost,
Development of software,
Changes in architecture, expansion of the range of tasks solved by computers,
Simplification and standardization of hardware.
Changing the way of interaction between the user and the computer.
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A computer system consists of both hardware and software. Computer hardware is a collection
of all physical components such as mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc. Computer software is a set of
instructions, called a program, that tells the hardware what tasks to perform
Computer hardware components are classified as either internal or external. Internal
components are those that are permanently fixed in the System Unit case or cabinet. Examples
of these are Hard Drive, DVD/CD-ROM Drive, Motherboard, etc.
External components are those that are externally connected to the computer system and are
removable. These are also know as peripheral components. Examples of these are flash drive, keyboard, mouse, etc
Categories of Computer by Size
A computer is an electronic device that receive data as input, processes it with the help of the
Central Processing Unit (CPU) and displays the output back to the user in the required format. Computers can calculate and store data. There are various types of computers and they are
classified according to their size, storage capacity, CPU speed, number of processors and
Computers can be classified into five groups based on size and capability: mobile computers, microcomputers, minicomputers,
mainframe computers and supercomputer
1. Mobile computers - Mobile computers as the name suggests, are easy to carry around and
they are the smallest in the market. Examples of mobile computers are laptop, netbook, tablet, e-book reader, smartphone,etc
A Laptop - computer, often called a Notebook, is a small and portable personal computer, which can be easily carried around by users. It come with a touch-pad instead
A Netbook - is smaller than a laptop computer. It is light-weight, energy-efficient and is
suited for wireless communication and Internet access. Generally, it does not have a
CD/DVD drive.
A Tablet - is a wireless, portable personal computer with a touchscreen interface. It comes
with an embedded keyboard and touchscreen. It is generally smaller than a notebook
computer, but larger than a smartphone
An E-book reader - is a handheld device used for making and receiving calls and messages. Smartphones today have many applications and features, such as flashlight, calculator, music and video player, and so o
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) - also known as Palmtop computers, are handheld
computers that are generally used for personal management purposes such as scheduling, saving contacts, doing simple calculations, taking notes, including email and internet
browsing.
Portable Media Players (PMPs) - are handheld devices used for playing back digital media
files such as
What is a computer system?
A COMPUTER SYSTEM is made up of software, data, hardware, communications and
people; each computer system can be divided up into a set of sub-systems. Each sub-system can be further divided into sub-systems and so on until each sub-system just
performs a single action.
Computer systems can be very large or very small or any size in between; most
people interact with many different computer systems during their daily life without
realising it. For example, when I wake up in the morning I use an app on my smart
phone for my alarm, I then check the weather forecast on my computer before I drive
to work. The alarm program is a very small computer system; when I check the
weather forecast I obtain information from one of the largest computer systems in the
world.
Computer 
