Module 1 ComputerGenerations

Key Points

History of computer from abacus to the latestcomputers

The five generations of computer Different technologies of computer The computers which we are using today are

developed over a years

The First Computers:

One of the earliest machines designed to assist people in calculationswas the abacus which is still being used some 5000 years after itsinvention.

1 Early Abacus

Pascaline Calculator:

In 1642 Blaise Pascal (a famous French mathematician) invented anadding machine based on mechanical gears in which numbers wererepresented by the cogs on the wheels.

Babbage’s Difference Engine:

Englishman, Charles Babbage, invented in the 1830's a "DifferenceEngine" made out of brass and pewter rods and gears, and alsodesigned a further device which he called an "Analytical Engine". Hisdesign contained the five key characteristics of modern computers:-

1. An input device

2. Storage for numbers waiting to be processed

3. A processor or number calculator

4. A unit to control the task and the sequence of its calculations

5. An output device

Augusta Ada Byron (later Countess of Lovelace) was an associate ofBabbage who has become known as the first computer programmer.

At about the same time (the late 1930's) John Atanasoff of Iowa StateUniversity and his assistant Clifford Berry built the first digitalcomputer that worked electronically, the ABC (Atanasoff-BerryComputer). This machine was basically a small calculator.

In 1943, as part of the British war effort, a series of vacuum tubebased computers (named Colossus) were developed to crack Germansecret codes. The Colossus Mark 2 series (pictured) consisted of 240vacuum tubes.

John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert of the University of Pennsylvaniadeveloped these ideas further by proposing a huge machine consistingof 18,000 vacuum tubes. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical IntegratorAnd Computer) was born in 1946.

It was a huge machine with a huge power requirement and two majordisadvantages. Maintenance was extremely difficult as the tubesbroke down regularly and had to be replaced, and also there was a bigproblem with overheating. The most important limitation, however,was that every time a new task needed to be performed the machineneed to be rewired. In other words programming was carried out witha soldering iron.

In the late 1940's John von Neumann (at the time a special consultantto the ENIAC team) developed the EDVAC(Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) which pioneeredthe "stored program concept". This allowed programs to be read intothe computer and so gave birth to the age of general-purpose computers.

Tubes from a 1950s comupter (source -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ibm-tube.jpg)

The Generations of Computers

It used to be quite popular to refer to computers as belonging to oneof several "generations" of computer. These generations are:-

The First Generation (1943-1958): This generation is oftendescribed as starting with the delivery of thefirst commercial computer to a business client. This happened in 1951with the delivery of the UNIVAC to the US Bureau of the Census.This generation lasted until about the end of the 1950's (althoughsome stayed in operation much longer than that). The main definingfeature of the first generation of computers was that vacuumtubes were used as internal computer components. Vacuum tubes aregenerally about 5-10 centimeters in length and the large numbers ofthem required in computers resulted in huge and extremely expensivemachines that often broke down (as tubes failed).

The Second Generation (1959-1964):

In this generation, transistors were usedthat were cheaper, consumed less power, morecompact in size, more reliable and faster than the firstgeneration machines made of vacuum tubes. In thisgeneration, magnetic cores were used as the primarymemory and magnetic tape and magnetic disks assecondary storage devices.In this generation, assembly language and high-levelprogramming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL wereused. The computers used batch processing andmultiprogramming operating system.

The main features of second generation are −

Use of transistorsReliable in comparison to first generation computersSmaller size as compared to first generation computersGenerated less heat as compared to first generationcomputersConsumed less electricity as compared to firstgeneration computersFaster than first generation computersStill very costlyAC required

Supported machine and assembly languages

Some computers of this generation were −IBM 1620IBM 7094CDC 1604CDC 3600UNIVAC 1108

The Third Generation (1965-1970):

The period of third generation was from 1965-1971. The computers of third generation usedIntegrated Circuits (ICs) in place of transistors. A singleIC has many transistors, resistors, and capacitors alongwith the associated circuitry.

The IC was invented by Jack Kilby. This developmentmade computers smaller in size, reliable, and efficient.were used during this generation.Another feature of this period is that computer softwarebecame much more powerful and flexible and for thefirst time more than one program could share thecomputer's resources at the same time (multi-tasking).The majority of programming languages used today areoften referred to as 3GL's (3rd generation languages)even though some of them originated during the 2ndgeneration.

Main features of third generation are −IC usedMore reliable in comparison to previous twogenerationsSmaller sizeGenerated less heatFasterLesser maintenanceCostlyAC required

Consumed lesser electricitySupported high-level language

Some computers of this generation were −IBM-360 seriesHoneywell-6000 seriesPDP (Personal Data Processor)IBM-370/168TDC-316

The Fourth Generation (1971-present):

The period of fourth generation wasfrom 1971-1980. Computers of fourth generation usedVery Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuitshaving about 5000 transistors and other circuitelements with their associated circuits on a single chipmade it possible to have microcomputers of fourthgeneration.Fourth generation computers became more powerful,compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gaverise to Personal Computer (PC) revolution. In thisgeneration, time sharing, real time networks,distributed operating system were used. All the high-level languages like C, C++ etc., were used in thisgeneration.

The main features of fourth generation are −

VLSI technology used

Very cheap

Portable and reliable

Use of PCs

Very small size

Pipeline processing

No AC required

Concept of internet was introduced

Great developments in the fields of networks

Computers became easily available

Some computers of this generation were −

DEC 10

STAR 1000

PDP 11

CRAY-1(Super Computer)

CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)

The Fifth Generation (the future):

The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth generation, VLSI technologybecame ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration)technology, resulting in the production ofmicroprocessor chips having ten million electroniccomponents.This generation is based on parallel processinghardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software. AI isan emerging branch in computer science, whichinterprets the means and method of making computersthink like human beings. All the high-level languageslike C and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used in thisgeneration.

AI includes −

Robotics

Neural Networks

Game Playing

Development of expert systems to make decisionsin real-life situations

Natural language understanding and 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 multimediafeatures

Availability of very powerful and compactcomputers at cheaper rates

Some computer types of this generation are −

Desktop

Laptop

NoteBook

UltraBook

ChromeBook

Question/Answers:

Write the features of first generation computer?

Differentiate between transistor and Integrated circuit?

Write uses of personal computers?

What is the basic aim of fifth generation computer?

Activities:My Graphics

Activity 1

Eating can be a real pleasure. But how about health?Let’s try to make a diet program with things that youeat during the day. Try to think how many times you eat per day and howmany times you should eat. Generally you need to have3 main courses with some small snacks between them;breakfast, which is the most important meal of the day,a good lunch and a light dinner. Add a brunch and anafternoon snack between and you are ready. Try towrite down not only things that you would like to eatbut also things that you should eat.Add some pictures to make your diet schedule moreappealing.Don’t forget that the best way to present this type ofinformation is through a graph. On the next page you can see an example of what yourdiet program should look like.Create a WORD file with the name «MyDiet_YOUR_TEAM" in the folder My DocumentsScan a picture of yourself, or find a clip-art picture andnext to it insert a shape which will incorporate in text atitle for your diet.Insert a SmartArt with five figures, each of whichcontains:

• Picture

• Names of meals• Some components of this meal.

Some of the suitable SmartArt supporting theserequirements are the following:

Picture Accent Process Picture Accent List Bending Picture Accent List Vertical Picture List Title Picture Lineup Title Picture Blocks Captioned Pictures Snapshot Picture List

After selecting SmartArt, add a text about any foodsthat you like (or prefer) in each shape. Look for animage from the Internet which will be suitable for eachmeal on the Internet and save it to your disk or paste itin SmartArt.Open "My Diet - Final" file to investigate thecharacteristics of the graphics that have beenimplemented.Read your Student’s Book to help you make the formatsyou want.Remember to ask for help from your teacher if you donot understand something or something is amiss.Once you have finished, print it, write your name on thetop of your flyer and give it to your teacher.Do not forget to save your file!Now devote some time to filling in your self-assessmentpage.

BreakfastJuiceMilkFruitsCereals

BreakfastJuiceMilkFruitsCereals

BrunchToastSandwichDonutsCheese pie

BrunchToastSandwichDonutsCheese pie

LunchVegetablesPulsesPastaPoultry

LunchVegetablesPulsesPastaPoultry

Afternoon snackSnackFruitsCookiesTea

Afternoon snackSnackFruitsCookiesTea

DinnerSaladSoupYogurtToast

DinnerSaladSoupYogurtToast