Topic : Computer generations
Basic Terms
Vacuum tube – an electronic device that controls the flow of electrons in a vacuum. It used as a
switch, amplifier, or display screen in many older model radios, televisions, computers, etc.
Transistor – an electronic component that can be used as an amplifier or as a switch. It is used to
control the flow of electricity in radios, televisions, computers, etc.
Integrated circuit (IC) – a small electronic circuit printed on a chip (usually made of silicon) that
contains many its own circuit elements (e.g. transistors, diodes, resistors, etc.).
Microprocessor – an electronic component held on an integrated circuit that contains a
computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and other associated circuits.
CPU (central processing unit) – It is often referred to as the brain or engine of a computer where
most of the processing and operations take place (CPU is part of a microprocessor).
Magnetic drum – a cylinder coated with magnetic material, on which data and programs can be
stored.
Magnetic core – uses arrays of small rings of magnetized material called cores to store
information.
Machine language – a low-level programming language comprised of a collection of binary
digits (ones and zeros) that the computer can read and understand.
Assembly language is like the machine language that a computer can understand, except that
assembly language uses abbreviated words (e.g. ADD, SUB, DIV…) in place of numbers (0s and
1s).
Memory – a physical device that is used to store data, information and
program in a computer.
Artificial intelligence (AI) – an area of computer science that deals with the simulation and
creation of intelligent machines or intelligent behave in computers (they think, learn, work, and
react like humans).
First Generation of Computers
Classification of generations of computers
The evolution of computer technology is often divided into five generations.
Five Generations of Computers
Generations of computers Generations timeline Evolving hardware
First generation 1946s-1959s Vacuum tube based
Second generation 1959s-1965s Transistor based
Third generation 1965s-1971s Integrated circuit based
Fourth generation 1971s-1980s Microprocessor based
Fifth generation The present and the future Artificial intelligence based
The main characteristics of first generation of computers (1946s-1959s)
Main electronic component – vacuum tube
Main memory – magnetic drums and magnetic tapes
Programming language – machine language
Power – consume a lot of electricity and generate a lot of heat.
Speed and size – very slow and very large in size (often taking up entire room).
Input/output devices – punched cards and paper tape.
Examples – ENIAC, UNIVAC1, IBM 650, IBM 701, etc.
Quantity – there were about 100 different vacuum tube computers produced between 1942
and1963.
Second Generation of Computers
The main characteristics of second generation of computers (1956s-1965s)
Main electronic component – transistor
Memory – magnetic core and magnetic tape / disk
Programming language – assembly language
Power and size – low power consumption, generated less heat, and smaller in size (in
comparison with the first generation computers).
Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the first generation
computers).
Input/output devices – punched cards and magnetic tape.
Examples – IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107, etc.
Third Generation of Computers
The main characteristics of third generation of computers (1965s-1971s)
Main electronic component – integrated circuits (ICs)
Memory – large magnetic core, magnetic tape / disk
Programming language – high level language (FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, C, etc.)
Size – smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than second generation computers (they were called
minicomputers).
Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the second generation
computers).
Input / output devices – magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.
Examples – IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC 1108, etc.
Fourth Generation of Computers
The main characteristics of fourth generation of computers (1971s-1980s)
Main electronic component – very large-scale integration (VLSI) and microprocessor.
VLSI– thousands of transistors on a single microchip.
Memory – semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.)
o RAM (random-access memory) – a type of data storage (memory element) used in computers
that temporary stores of programs and data (volatile: its contents are lost when the computer is
turned off).
o ROM (read-only memory) – a type of data storage used in
computers that permanently stores data and programs (non-volatile: its contents are retained even
when the computer is turned off).
Programming language – high level language (Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust, Kotlin, etc.).
o A mix of both third- and fourth-generation languages
Size – smaller, cheaper and more efficient than third generation computers.
Speed – improvement of speed, accuracy, and reliability (in comparison with the third generation
computers).
Input / output devices – keyboard, pointing devices, optical
scanning, monitor, printer, etc.
Network – a group of two or more computer systems linked together.
Examples – IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh, etc.
Fifth Generation of Computers
The main characteristics of fifth generation of computers (the present and the
future)
Main electronic component: based on artificial intelligence, uses
the Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI) technology and parallel processing method.
o ULSI – millions of transistors on a single microchip
o Parallel processing method – use two or more microprocessors to run tasks simultaneously.
Language – understand natural language (human language).
Power – consume less power and generate less heat.
Speed – remarkable improvement of speed, accuracy and reliability (in comparison with the
fourth generation computers).
Size – portable and small in size, and have a huge storage capacity.
Input / output device – keyboard, monitor, mouse, trackpad (or
touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognise voice / speech), light scanner, printer, etc.
Example – desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.
The computer – this amazing technology went from a government/business-only technology to
being everywhere from people’s homes, work places, to people’s pockets in less than 100 years.
