Computer Generation

While it would not be wrong to say that the evolution of the computer began with the man’s need to count. The actual growth of this field happened in a short span of thirty years. This rapid development was characterized by phase of growth, which have to be called computer generations. Major technological developments in each generation led to smaller, cheaper, more powerful and efficient and reliable computers. Depending on device technology, system architecture, processing mode and languages used the computers are categorized into the following generations.

First generation (1940-1956)
The first generation computers used vacuum tubes. It is very huge in size and expensive. The examples of first generation computing devices are UNIVAC and ENIAC. The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.S census Bureau in 1951.

Second generation(1956-1963)
It used transistors. In a span of ten years, transistors that were more efficient and cheaper replaced vacuum tubes.

Third generation (1964-1971)
It used integrated circuits(IC). In the early sixties, a major breakthrough was achieved when hundreds of transistors could be replaced on a single silicon chip. This integrated circuit(IC) became the basis of the third generation.

Fourth generation (1971-present)
It uses microprocessor. With the introduction of VLSI(very large scale integration) IC was replaced by it.
In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home uses and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of graphical user interfaces(GUI), the mouse and hand held devices.

Fifth generation (present and beyond)
Artificial intelligence. This generation tries to infuse intelligence into computers. The development of those computers is still in its infancy but examples can be cited of various recognition system and robots.