The Five Computer Generations

First Generation(1940-1956)

• Vaccum tubes were used.

• They were very expensive and used a lot of electricity.

• The Vaccum tubes generated a lot of heat.

• The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples

of first generation computing devices.

.

First Generation(1940-1956)

• The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer.

• In 1937 John V Atanasoff designed the world’s

first digital electronic computer.

Left- Bendix G-15

of 1956

Right- IBM 650

that "became the

most popular

medium-sized

computer in America

in the 1950's

Second Generations (1956-

1963)• Transistors replaced Vaccum tubes

• The Transistor was invented in 1947.

• The Transistor was smaller,faster,cheaper and more

energy efficient than Vaccum tubes.

Tom Watson jr.

transistor

radios, from

Smithsonian

NMAH

Second Generations (1956-

1963)• High level language developed at this time.

• COBOL and FORTRAN are examples of this

generation.

Regency transistor radio 1954, from

Smithsonian NMAH

Third Generation(1964-1971)

• Integrated circuits replaced transistors.

• Integrated circuits were invented by Jack Kilby.

• These circuits were the highlight of this

generation.

• Computer for the first time became accessible to a

mass audience.

• Integrated circuits were smaller and cheaper than

other generations before.

Fourth Generation (

1971- 1991)• BASIC was a popular programming

language

• Bill Gates and Paul Allen were the

co-founders of the software giant

Microsoft

• Osbrone 1 was the world’s first

portable computer. It was invented by

Adam Osbrone

.

•.

.

Fourth Generation( 1971- 1991)

• The Intel 4004 chip was developed in 1971.

• In 1948 Apple introduced the Macintosh.

• This generation computers also saw the

development of GUIs,the handheld devices.

Fourth Generation( 1971- 1991)

• Microprocessors replaced integrated circuits.

• Thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single

silicon chip.

MITS Altair 8800A

1975MITS

Altair 8800A

1975 from

SDCM - cufrom SDCM – cu

Fifth Generation (1991-beyond)

• These devices are based on artificial intelligence.

• Quantum computers and nanotechnology will change the face of computers.

• In 1991 Tim Burners-lee developed the WWW.

• In 1993 the first web browser Mosaic was created by Marc Andreesen.

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