Generations of computers

COMPUTER

GENERATIONS

FIRST GENERATION(1940-56):VACCUM TUBES

SECOND GENERATION (1956-63):TRANSISTORS

• Second generation computer systems took advantage of semiconductor technology which meant that transistors replaced the vaccum tubes. This resulted in reduced physical size, faster computing and greater power. The transistor was initially developed by Bell Laboratories, a large US corporation.

THIRD GENERATION(1964-EARLY1970S): INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

FOURTH GENERATION(EARLY1970S-TILL DATE):MICROPROCESSORS

• From integrated circuits to large scale integration to very large integration; this was the start of the microprocessor age. All the components of a computer (Central Processing Unit, memory, and input and output controls) was located on a minuscule chip. The microprocessor used continued to improve from the 4004, 8086,80286 to the 80486, then Pentium, Pentium2, Pentium3 and now Pentium4.

FIFTH GENERATION(PRESENT AND BEYOND): ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

MICRO COMPUTER

EXPLOSION OF COMPUTERS

The computer technology grows exponentially leading to information and communication technology where computers are interconnected for sharing of information instantaneously over the globe in a very cheap rate. This has led to the presence of computers everywhere at home, offices, schools and shops.