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First Generation: (1951 - 1958) : Vacuum Tube, Electronic Tube About The Size of Disadvantages

The first generation of computers used vacuum tubes and were characterized by being slow, unreliable, and expensive. The second generation introduced transistors, which were more reliable and faster than vacuum tubes. Magnetic core memory was also introduced. The third generation saw the rise of integrated circuits, which were more reliable and cheaper than previous technologies. Microprocessors characterized the fourth generation, leading to further miniaturization and the development of personal computers.

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439 views14 pages

First Generation: (1951 - 1958) : Vacuum Tube, Electronic Tube About The Size of Disadvantages

The first generation of computers used vacuum tubes and were characterized by being slow, unreliable, and expensive. The second generation introduced transistors, which were more reliable and faster than vacuum tubes. Magnetic core memory was also introduced. The third generation saw the rise of integrated circuits, which were more reliable and cheaper than previous technologies. Microprocessors characterized the fourth generation, leading to further miniaturization and the development of personal computers.

Uploaded by

Fafa Mavy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

First Generation: (1951 – 1958)

 The first generation of computers is


characterized by using vacuum tubes as
electronic switches.
 Vacuum tube, electronic tube about the size of
light bulbs
 Disadvantages:
 They generate more heat

 Tubes burn out easily

 UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer)


 The first commercial computer.
 Developed by J. Presper Eckert and John
Mauchly
First Generation: (1951 – 1958)
 Programmed in machine language
 Often programmed by physical
connection (hardwiring)
 Slow, unreliable, expensive
Vacuum Tubes
Second Generation: 1959 – 1964
 Transistors characterized the second
generation of computers
 Transistor, is a three-legged component
which occupied only 1/100th of the space
occupied by the vacuum tube
 Advantages:
 More reliable, greater computational speed
and consumed less electricity
Second Generation: 1959 – 1964
 Magnetic core memory introduced
 Because these units were smaller, they
were closer together providing a
speedup over vacuum tubes
 Various programming languages
introduced (assembly, high-level)
 Rudimentary OS developed
 The first supercomputer was
introduced, CDC 6600 ($10 million)
 Other noteworthy computers were the
IBM 7094 and DEC PDP-1
mainframes An array of magnetic core
memory – very
expensive – $1 million for 1
Mbyte!
Transistors
Second Generation Computer

DEC PDP-1
Third Generation: 1965 – 1970
 The third generation of computers used integrated circuit
or IC.
 IC, a square silicon chip containing circuitry that can
perform the functions of hundred transistors.
 Advantages:
 Reliability, it will not break down easily

 Low cost, relatively cheap and consumes less

electricity
 Computer families introduced
 Minicomputers introduced
 More sophisticated programming languages and OS
developed
 Popular computers included PDP-8, PDP-11, IBM 360
and Cray produced their first supercomputer, Cray-1
Integrated Circuits
Integrated Circuits
Third Generation Computer

PDP-8
Fourth Generation
 Marked by the use of microprocessors
 Microprocessor, is a silicon chip that
contains the CPU
 Miniaturization took over
 From SSI (10-100 components per chip) to
 MSI (100-1000), LSI (1,000-10,000), VLSI
(10,000+)
 4004 chip, the first microprocessor
developed by Intel
Fourth Generation Computers
COMPUTERS TODAY

PERSONAL COMPUTER

LAPTOP COMPUTER
NOTEBOOK COMPUTER

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