first generation electronic computers

7/27/2019 First Generation Electronic Computers

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THIRD GENERATION OFCOMPUTERS

During the period of 1964 to 1971 Third generation computers were developed.The third generation computers emerged with the development of IC (IntegratedCircuits). The invention of the IC was the greatest achievement done in the periodof third generation of computers. IC was invented by Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby in1958-59. IC is a single component containing a number of transistors. Transistorswereminiaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drasticallyincreased the speed and efficiency of computers.Keyboards and monitors developed during the period of third generation of computers.The third generation computers interfaced with an operating system, which allowed thedevice to run many different applications at one time with a central program thatmonitored the memory.

CHARACTERISTICS1) IC was used instead of transistors in the third generation computers.2) Third generation computers were smaller in size and cheaper as compare to thesecond generation computers.3) They were fast and more reliable.4) High level language was developed.5) Magnetic core and solid states as main storage.6) They were able to reduce computational time and had low maintenance cost.

7) Input/Output devices became more sophisticate .

Fourth Generation of Computers (1972-1984)

In this generation, there were developments of large-scale integration or LSI(1000 devices per chip) and very large-scale integration or VLSI (10000

devices per chip). These developments enabled the entire processor to fitinto a single chip and in fact, for simple systems, the entire computer with

processor; main memory and I/O controllers could fit on a single chip.

Core memories now were replaced by semiconductor memories and high-

speed vectors dominated the scenario. Names of few such vectors were

Cray1, Cray X-MP and Cyber205. A variety of parallel architecturesdeveloped too, but they were mostly in the experimental stage.

As far as programming languages are concerned, there were development ofhigh-level languages like FP or functional programming and PROLOG

(programming in logic). Declarative programming style was the basis ofthese languages where a programmer could leave many details to thecompiler or runtime system. Alternatively languages like PASCAL, C used


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imperative style. Two other conspicuous developments of this era were the C

programming language and UNIX operating system. Ritchie, the writer of Cand Thompson together used C to write a particular type of UNIX for DEC

PDP 11. This C based UNIX was then widely used in many computers.

Another event that is mention worthy was the publication of the report byPeter D. Lax in 1982, which was sponsored by the US department and

National Scientific Foundation. The Lax report, as it was called, emphasizedon the need of initiatives and coordinated national attention in the arena of

high performing computing in the US. The immediate response to the Laxreport was the establishment of NSF Supercomputing Centers. Other centers

that came up later were San Diego Supercomputing Center, National Center

for Supercomputing Applications, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Johnvon Neumann Center and Cornell Theory Center. These institutes had really

been instrumental in providing computing time on super computers to thestudents, training them and also helping in the development of software

packages.

first generation electronic computers

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