generation of computers: a survey
DESCRIPTION
Nothing epitomizes modern life better than the computer. Computers are such an integral part of our everyday life now most people take them and what they have added to life totally for granted. Even more so the generation who have grown from infancy within the global desktop and laptop revolution since the 1980s. The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices. A generation refers to the state of improvement in the product development process. This term is also used in the different advancements of new computer technology. As new technology was emerging, it was being used in the making of computer. With each new generation, the circuitry has gotten smaller and more advanced than the previous generation before it. As a result of the miniaturization, speed, power, and com- puter memory has proportionally increased. New discoveries are constantly being developed that affect the way we live, work and play.TRANSCRIPT
Generation of Computers: A SurveyNithin Prince John
Department of Computer Science and EngineeringSree Buddha College Of Engineering, Pattoor, Kerala - 690529
Abstract—Nothing epitomizes modern life better than thecomputer. Computers are such an integral part of our everydaylife now most people take them and what they have added to lifetotally for granted. Even more so the generation who have grownfrom infancy within the global desktop and laptop revolutionsince the 1980s. The history of computer development is oftenreferred to in reference to the different generations of computingdevices. A generation refers to the state of improvement in theproduct development process. This term is also used in thedifferent advancements of new computer technology. As newtechnology was emerging, it was being used in the making ofcomputer. With each new generation, the circuitry has gottensmaller and more advanced than the previous generation beforeit. As a result of the miniaturization, speed, power, and com-puter memory has proportionally increased. New discoveries areconstantly being developed that affect the way we live, work andplay.
Index Terms—Vacuum tubes, transistors, IC, VLSI, ULSI.
I. INTRODUCTION
The first use word "computer" was recorded in 1613, refer-ring to a person who carried out calculations, or computations,and the word continued to be used in that sense until themiddle of the 20th century. From the end of the 19th centuryonwards, though, the word began to take on its more familiarmeaning, describing a machine that carries out computations.The history of the computer goes back several decades how-ever there are totally five computer generations known till date.Generation in computer is a step in technology. It provides aframework for the growth of the computer industry. Initially,the generation term was used to distinguish between varyinghardware technologies. But nowadays, generation includesboth hardware and software, which together make up an entirecomputer system.
Each generation of computers is characterized by majortechnological development that fundamentally changed theway computers operate, resulting in increasingly smaller,cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable com-puting devices. Therefore, computers can be divided into fivegenerations depending upon the technologies used. These are:
• First Generation (1945 - 1954)• Second Generation (1955 - 1964)• Third Generation (1965 - 1974)• Fourth Generation (1975 - 1990)• Fifth Generation (1991 - present)We’ve used approximate dates against each generations
which are normally accepted.
A. First Generation (1945-1954)
First generation of computer started with using vacuumtubes as the basic components for memory and circuitry forCPU(Central Processing Unit)and were often enormous, takingup entire rooms. These tubes like electric bulbs produced a lotof heat and were prone to frequent fusing of the installations,therefore, were very expensive and could be afforded only byvery large organisations.
In this generation mainly batch processing operating systemwere used. First generation computers relied on machinelanguage, the lowest-level programming language understoodby computers, to perform operations, and they could only solveone problem at a time. Input was based on punched cards andpaper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.
Figure 1. UNIVAC - First Generation
The main features of First Generation are:• Vacuum tube technology• Unreliable• Supported Machine language only• Very costly• Generate lot of heat• Slow Input/Output device• Huge size• Need of A.C.• Non portable• Consumed lot of electricity
Some computer of this generation were:• ENIAC• EDVAC• UNIVAC• IBM-701• IBM-650
B. Second Generation (1955-1964)
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the sec-ond generation of computers. The transistor was invented in1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until thelate 1950s. The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube,allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, moreenergy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generationpredecessors. Though the transistor still generated a greatdeal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it wasa vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generationcomputers still relied on punched cards for input and printoutsfor output.
Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binarymachine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, whichallowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level programming languages were also being developed at thistime, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN. Thesewere also the first computers that stored their instructionsin their memory, which moved from a magnetic drum tomagnetic core technology. There were Batch processing andMultiprogramming Operating system used.The first computersof this generation were developed for the atomic energyindustry.
Figure 2. IBM 1620 - Second Generation
The main features of Second Generation are:• Use of transistors• Reliable as compared to First generation computers• Smaller size as compared to First generation computers• Generate less heat as compared to First generation com-
puters• Consumed less electricity as compared to First generation
computers• Faster than first generation computers• Still very costly• A.C. needed• Support machine and assmebly languages
Some computer of this generation were:• IBM 1620• IBM 7094• CDC 1604• CDC 3600• UNIVAC 1108
C. Third Generation (1965-1974)
The development of the integrated circuit was the hall-mark of the third generation of computers. Transistors wereminiaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semicon-ductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiencyof computers.Instead of punched cards and printouts, usersinteracted with third generation computers through keyboardsand monitors and interfaced with an operating system, whichallowed the device to run many different applications at onetime with a central program that monitored the memory.
Computers for the first time became accessible to amass audience because they were smaller and cheaper thantheir predecessors. In this generation Remote processing,Time-sharing, Real-time, Multi-programming Operating Sys-tem were used.High level language (FORTRAN-II TO IV,COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were usedduring this generation.
Figure 3. IBM 370/168 - Third Generation
The main features of Third Generation are:• IC used• More reliable• Smaller size• Generate less heat• Faster• Lesser maintenance• Still costly• A.C needed• Consumed lesser electricity• Support high level language
Some computer of this generation were:• IBM-360 series• Honeywell-6000 series• PDP(Personal Data Processor)• IBM-370/168• TDC-316
D. Fourth Generation (1975-1990)
The fourth generation of computers is marked by the useof Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits.VLSI circuitshaving about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements andtheir associated circuits on a single chip made it possible tohave microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth Generationcomputers became more powerful, compact, reliable, and
affordable. As a result, it gave rise to personal computer(PC) revolution. In this generation Time sharing, Real time,Networks, Distributed Operating System were used.All theHigher level languages like C and C++, DBASE etc. wereused in this generation.
The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all thecomponents of the computerfrom the central processing unitand memory to input/output controlson a single chip. In 1981IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors alsomoved out of the realm of desktop computers and into manyareas of life as more and more everyday products began touse microprocessors. Fourth generation computers also sawthe development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.
Figure 4. CRAY-1 - Fourth Generation
The main features of Fourth Generation are:• VLSI technology used• Very cheap• Portable and reliable• Use of PC’s• Very small size• Pipeline processing• No A.C. needed• Concept of internet was introduced• Great developments in the fields of networks• Computers became easily available
Some computer of this generation were:• DEC 10• STAR 1000• PDP 11• CRAY-1(Super Computer)• CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)
E. Fifth Generation (1991-present)
Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial in-telligence, are still in development, though there are someapplications, such as voice recognition, that are being usedtoday. The use of parallel processing and superconductorsis helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. AI is anemerging branch in computer science, which interprets meansand method of making computers think like human beings. AIincludes:
• Robotics
• Neural networks• Game Playing• Development of expert systems to make decisions in real
life situations• Natural language understanding and generation
All the Higher level languages like C and C++, Java, .Netetc. are used in this generation.Quantum computation andmolecular and nanotechnology will radically change the faceof computers in years to come. The goal of fifth-generationcomputing is to develop devices that respond to natural lan-guage input and are capable of learning and self-organization.
Figure 5. Laptop - Fifth Generation
The main features of Fifth Generation are:
• ULSI technology• Development of true artificial intelligence• Development of Natural language processing• Advancement in Parallel Processing• Advancement in Superconductor technology• More user friendly interfaces with multimedia features• Availability of very powerful and compact computers at
cheaper rates
Some computer of this generation were:
• Desktop• Laptop• NoteBook• UltraBook• ChromeBook
II. CONCLUSION
Researching, studying and writing on History of the Com-puter has indeed been a fulfilling, but challenging task andhas brought about greater appreciation of several work doneby scientists of old, great developmental research carried outby more recent scientists and of course the impact all suchinnovations have made on the development of the human race.It has generated greater awareness of the need to study historyof the computer as a means of knowing how to develop orimprove on existing computer technology. The saying thatthere is nothing absolutely new under the sun is indeed realbecause the same world resources but fresh ideas have beenused over the years to improve on existing technologies.
REFERENCES
[1] Kai Hwang and Faye A. Briggs, Computer Architecture and ParallelProcessing, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1984.
[2] Kai Hwang and Naresh Jotwani, Advanced Computer Architecture, 2nded. McGraw-Hill Book Company, 2011.
[3] Carl Hamacher, Zvonko Vranesic and Safwat Zaky, Computer Organiza-tion, 5th ed. McGraw-Hill Book Company, 2002.