Lecture 2
Computer Generations and
Classifications
Abdisalam Issa-Salwe
Computer Organization and Architecture
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Information Science and Technology
East Africa University
Generations of a Computer
Generation in computer terminology is a change in
technology a computer is/was being used. Initially, the
generation term was used to distinguish between varying
hardware technologies.
But nowadays, generation includes both hardware and
software, which together make up an entire computer
system.
There are totally five computer generations known till date.
Each generation has been discussed in detail along with
their time period and characteristics.
Here approximate dates against each generations have
been mentioned which are normally accepted.
Following are the main five generations of computers
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, East Africa University
Generations of a Computer: Generation &
Description
First Generation:
The period of first generation: 1946-1959.
Vacuum tube based.
Second Generation
The period of second generation: 1959-1965.
Transistor based.
Third Generation
The period of third generation: 1965-1971.
Integrated Circuit based.
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Generations of a Computer: Generation &
Description (cont…)
Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980.
VLSI microprocessor based.
Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards.
ULSI microprocessor based
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Computers has two kinds of components:
Hardware:
Consisting of its physical devices (CPU,
memory, bus, storage devices, ...)
Software: Consisting of the programs it has
(Operating system, applications, utilities, ...)
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First generation: 1946-1959
The computers of first generation used vacuum tubes as
the basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU
(Central Processing Unit).
These tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot of heat and
were prone to frequent fusing of the installations,
therefore, were very expensive and could be afforded only
by very large organizations.
In this generation mainly batch processing operating
system were used. Punched cards, paper tape, and
magnetic tape were used as input and output devices.
The computers in this generation used machine code as
programming language.
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First generation: 1946-1959
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, East Africa University
Second generation: 1959-1965
Transistors were used that were cheaper,
consumed less power, more compact in size,
more reliable and faster than the first generation
machines made of vacuum tubes.
Magnetic cores were used as primary memory
and magnetic tape and magnetic disks as
secondary storage devices.
Assembly language and high-level programming
languages like FORTRAN, COBOL were used.
The computers used batch processing and
multiprogramming operating system.
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Second generation
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Second generation (cont…)
The main features of second generation are:
Use of transistors
Reliable in comparison to first generation computers
Smaller size as compared to first generation computers
Generated less heat as compared to first generation
computers
Consumed less electricity as compared to first
generation computers
Faster than first generation computers
Still very costly
A.C. needed
Supported machine and assembly languages
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, East Africa University
Third Generation: 1965-1971
The computers of third generation used integrated circuits
(IC's) in place of transistors.
A single IC has many transistors, resistors and capacitors
along with the associated circuitry.
The IC was invented by Jack Kilby.
This development made computers smaller in size,
reliable and efficient. In this generation remote processing,
time-sharing, multi-programming operating system were
used.
High- level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL,
PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during
this generation.
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Third Generation: 1965-1971
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Third Generation (cont…)
The main features of third generation are:
IC used
More reliable in comparison to previous two
generations
Smaller size
Generated less heat
Faster
Lesser maintenance
Still costly
A.C needed
Consumed lesser electricity
Supported high-level language
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Fourth generation: 1971-1980
The computers of fourth generation used Very
Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits.
VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and
other circuit elements and their associated circuits
on a single chip made it possible to have
microcomputers of fourth generation.
Fourth generation computers became more
powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a
result, it gave rise to personal computer (PC)
revolution.
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Fourth generation: 1971-1980 (cont…)
Fourth generation computers became more
powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable.
As a result, it gave rise to personal computer (PC)
revolution. In this generation time sharing, real
time, networks, distributed operating system were
used.
All the high-level languages like C, C++, DBASE
etc., were used in this generation.
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Fourth generation: 1971-1980
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Fourth generation: 1971-1980 (cont…)
The main features of fourth generation are:
VLSI technology used
Very cheap
Portable and reliable
Use of PC's
Very small size
Pipeline processing
No A.C. needed
Concept of internet was introduced
Great developments in the fields of networks
Computers became easily available
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Fifth generation: 1980-till date
The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the
fifth generation, the VLSI technology became ULSI
(Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, resulting in
the production of microprocessor chips having ten
million electronic components.
This generation is based on parallel processing
hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software.
AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which
interprets means and method of making computers
think like human beings.
All the high-level languages like C and C++, Java,
.Net etc., are used in this generation.
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Fifth generation: 1980-till date
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The main features of fifth generation:
ULSI technology
Development of true artificial intelligence
Development of Natural language processing
Advancement in Parallel Processing
Advancement in Superconductor technology
More user friendly interfaces with multimedia
features
Availability of very powerful and compact
computers at cheaper rates
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Computer Types
Classification based on Operating Principles
Based on the operating principles, computers can
be classified into one of the following types:
1) Digital Computers
2) Analog Computers
3) Hybrid Computers
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Digital Computers
Operate essentially by
counting.
All quantities are expressed
as discrete or numbers.
Digital computers are useful
for evaluating arithmetic
expressions and
manipulations of data (such
as preparation of bills,
ledgers, solution of
simultaneous equations etc).
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Analog Computers
An analog computer is a form of
computer that uses the
continuously changeable
aspects of physical phenomena
such as electrical, mechanical,
or hydraulic quantities to model
the problem being solved.
In contrast, digital computers
represent varying quantities
symbolically, as their numerical
values change.
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Hybrid Computers
They are computers that
exhibit features of analog
computers and digital
computers.
The digital component
normally serves as the
controller and provides logical
operations, while the analog
component normally serves
as a solver of differential
equations.
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Classification Digital Computer
Classification digital Computer based on size and
capability based on size and capability, computers
are broadly classified into Micro Computers
(Personal Computer)
A microcomputer is the smallest general purpose
processing system.
The older pc started 8 bit processor with speed of
3.7MB and current pc 64 bit processor with speed
of 4.66 GB.
Examples: BM PCs, Apple computers
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Classification of Digital Computer
Microcomputer can be
classified into 2 types:
1. Desktops
2. Portables
The difference is
portables can be used
while travelling
whereas desktops
computers cannot be
carried around.
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Classification of Digital Computer (cont…)
Laptop:
This computer is similar to a
desktop computers but the size is
smaller.
They are expensive than desktop
Notebook:
These computers are as powerful
as desktop but size of these
computers are comparatively
smaller than laptop and desktop.
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Classification of Digital Computer (cont…)
Wearable Computer
The size of this computer is
very small so that it can be
worn on the body. It has
smaller processing power.
It is used in the field of
medicine.
For example pace maker to
correct the heart beats.
Insulin meter to find the
levels of insulin in the blood.
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Classification of Digital Computer (cont…)
Workstations:
It is used in large, high-resolution graphics screen
built in network support, Engineering
applications(CAD/CAM), software development
desktop publishing
Minicomputer:
A minicomputer is a medium-sized computer. That
is more powerful than a microcomputer. These
computers are usually designed to serve multiple
users simultaneously (Parallel Processing).
Examples: Digital Alpha, Sun Ultra.
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Classification of Digital Computer (cont…)
Mainframe (Enterprise) Computers
Computers with large storage
capacities and very high speed of
processing (compared to mini- or
microcomputers) are known as
mainframe computers.
They support a large number of
terminals for simultaneous use by a
number of users like ATM
transactions.
They are also used as central host
computers in distributed data
processing system.
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Classification of Digital Computer (cont…)
Supercomputer
Supercomputers have extremely
large storage capacity and
computing speeds which are many
times faster than other computers.
A supercomputer is measured in
terms of tens of millions Instructions
per second (mips), an operation is
made up of numerous instructions.
The supercomputer is mainly used
for large scale numerical problems
in scientific and engineering
disciplines such as Weather
analysis.
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Classification based on number of
microprocessors
Based on the number of microprocessors,
computers can be classified into
Sequential computers and
Parallel computers
1. Sequential computers:
Any task complete in sequential computers is
with one microcomputer only.
Most of the computers (today) we see are
sequential computers where in any task is
completed sequentially instruction after
instruction from the beginning to the end.
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Classification based on number of
microprocessors (cont…)
2. Parallel computers:
The parallel computer is relatively fast.
New types of computers that use a large
number of processors.
The processors perform different tasks
independently and simultaneously thus
improving the speed of execution of complex
programs dramatically.
Parallel computers match the speed of
supercomputers at a fraction of the cost.
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Group discussion
Group 1:
Discuss history of computer
generations
Group 2:
Discuss portable computers and their
use
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