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First Generation(1942-1960)

The computer of this generation was developed in 1946 by Sir J.P. Eckert and J.W.Mauchly.This computer was named as Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC). It was

completed in a time period of 4 years. This machine contained 18000 vacuum tubes and 70,000

resistors and there were 60,000 button and switches in this calculator. The weight of thismachine was 28 tonnes and the consumption of electricity was 150 KW. After use it got heatedand had to be cooled by water. It took only 200 millisecond to perform one addition. This

calculator became very famous due to its speed.

Other computers of first generation are:UNIVAC-1, IBM-701 and IBM-650, Datamatrix-1000, EDSAC, MARK II, MARK III.

Limitations of First Generation Computers

y These computers contained vacuum tubes and were costly.y The consumption of electricity was much more and heating effect was more. Cooling was

necessary during and after use.

y The speed of these computers was very slow.y They were very large in size.y The life span of these computers was short and were not very reliable.y The level of accuracy was low.y Fault-detection was very difficult.

Second Generation (1960-1965)

The computers of second generation are based on the invention of transistor (1948). Transistors

were very small components as compared to vacuum tubes and the consumption of electricitywas negligible as compared to first generation computers. The heating effect was low and size

was comparatively small.

Computers of Second Generation:CDC-3600, IB-700, IBM-1401, ICL-1901, UNIVAC-1108, IBM-7094, RCA-501, CDC-1604

Third Generation (1965-1975)

The computers of this generation could be developed after the development of Integrated Circuit.

Integrated circuits were made of silicon. A single 1C could hold a number of transistors andresistors. This was also called Chip. The computers of this generation were 1000 times fast as

compared to first generation computers and their cost was comparatively low. The memory ofthese computers was much more and data processing became very easy.

Computers of Third Generation:

CDC-1700, ICL-2903, PDP-11/45

Fourth Generation (1975 To date)

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The further development of 1C opened the doors for development of this generation. 1C couldhold thousands of transistors on a single component. This technique is known as Large Scale

Integrated Circuits. The computers using these circuits are called micro computers. Thesecomputers were manufactured by an American Company-Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry

Co. In 1981 IBM manufactured a Personal Computer and after that computers were installed

almost at all commercial organizations, schools, colleges, factories and offices.

Computers of Fourth Generation:

Intel-4004, Apples I & II, DCM-Spectrum

Features of computers of Fourth Generation

y Size is very small and speed is very high.y Perform job for a very long duration.y Cheap as compared to previous generations.y Memory and data processing capacity is very large.y

Minimum energy (electricity) consumption.y Heating effect very low.

Fifth Generation

The computers of this generation are still to come. The scientists are making their full efforts todevelop such computers which are capable of taking decisions itself. In this way computers will

supercede human in terms of calculations, thinking and decision making. The Japanese havethought to name this generation as Knowledge Information Processing System (KIPS). They are

inventing such languages which could fulfill their dream.