Generations of Computer
- First Generation(1942-1955)
- Second Generation(1955-1964)
- Third Generation(1964-1975)
- Fourth Generation(1975-1989)
- Fifth Generation(1989-present)
Generation
(period)
|
Hardware Technologies
|
Software Technologies
|
Characteristics
|
Some Systems
|
| First (1942-1955) | Vacuum tubes, Electromagnetic relay memory, Punched cards as secondary storage | Machine and assembly languages, Mostly Scientific applications, | Bulky in size, Highly unreliable, Limited Commercial use, Costly Difficult to produce, Difficult to use, | ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC, UNIVAC I, IBM 701 |
| Second (1955-1964) | Transistors, Magnetic core memory, Magnetic tapes and disks as a secondary storage | Scientific and Commercial Applications, Programming Languages(FORTRAN,COBOL) Batch operating Systems | Faster, Production was less difficult, More reliable and easier for programming, Smaller, Less costly | Honeywell 400, IBM 7030, CDC 1640, |
| Third (1964-1975) | IC's with MSI and SSI technologies, Larger magnetic core memory, Larger capacity(Magnetic Disks and Tapes), Minicomputer | Time Sharing OS Standardization of HLL Scientific,Commercial and interactive on-line applications | Faster than previous, Production was less difficult, More reliable, Easier for programming, Less costly | IBM 360/370, PDP-8, PDP-11, CDC 6600 |
| Fourth (1975-1989) | IC's with VLSI technologies, Microprocessor, Larger magnetic core memory, Larger capacity(Hard Disks and Tapes), Personal Computer, Internet | OS for PC's, GUI, Programming languages-C Application based on PC's and Network's | Faster, Reliable, Easy to use, More powerful, Easier to produce for commercial use, LAN's,WAN's | IBM PC's, CRAY-1, CRAY-2, CRAY-X/MP APPLE II, |
| Fifth (1989-Present) | IC's with ULSI technologies, Larger capacity(Hard disk,Optical Disk), Power desktop and workstations, Notebook, Faster Internet | WWW, Multimedia applications, Internet based Apps, Programming languages(C and C++, Java, .Net etc.) Use of Artificial Inteligence | Faster, Most Reliable, Cheaper, General purpose machines, powerful mainframes | Desktop Laptop NoteBook UltraBook ChromeBook |
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