history of computers

Question 1

what is the history of computers

Answer 1

The history of the computer goes back several decades however and there are five definable generations of computers.
Each generation is defined by a significant technological development that changes fundamentally how computers operate – leading to more compact, less expensive, but more powerful, efficient and robust machines.

Question 2

first generation

Answer 2

First Generation (1940-1956)
Basic component – Vacuum Tubes
Vacuum Tube consumed huge amount of electricity.
Processing Speed – Slow & Unreliable Machine
Heat Generation – Huge amount of Heat generated
Size – Bulky & Non – Portable Machine.
∙ Frequently hardware failure.
Instructions – Only Machine Language was used
User Friendly – Very Difficult to operate
Cost – Production & Maintenance costs was very High Example – ENIAC, UNIVAC, EDVAC, EDSAC, IBM-701

Question 3

second generation

Answer 3

Basic component – Transistors & Diodes
Processing Speed – More reliable than 1st one
Heat Generation – Less amount of Heat generated
Size – Reduced size but still Bulky
Instructions – High level Language was used (Like COBOL, ALGOL, SNOBOL)
COBOL – Common Business Oriented Language
ALGOL – ALGOrithmic Language
SNOBOL – StriNg Oriented Symbolic Language
User Friendly – Easy to operate from 1st one
Cost – Production & Maintenance costs was less than 1st Generation Example – IBM 7090, NCR 304

Question 4

third generation

Answer 4

Third Generation (1964-1971)
Basic component – IC (Integrated Circuits)
IC is called micro-electronics technology integrate a large number of circuit components in to a very small surface of silicon known as chip.
Processing Speed – More reliable than 1st & 2nd Machine Heat Generation – Lesser amount of Heat generated Size – Smaller than older computer
Instructions –Expansive use of High level Language
User Friendly – General purpose Machine used in commercial Application
Cost – Production & Maintenance costs was Cheaper than older one Example – IBM 360, CDC 7600

Question 5

fourth generation

Answer 5

Fourth Generation (1971-Present)
Basic component –: Microprocessors
It integrates thousands of electronics components in to a single chip and with VLSI (Very large scale integration)
Thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single chip. Processing Speed – Most reliable than older computer
Heat Generation – Virtually no Heat generated
Size – Smallest in size making them easily portable
Instructions –Very sophisticated programs & Languages use User Friendly –Easiest to operate
Cost – Production & Maintenance costs was Cheapest than older one Example – IBM 3090, VAX
During this period, high speed computer networking (LAN, WAN) and C programming language became popular.
LAN – Local Area Network
WAN – Wide Area Network

Question 6

fifth generation

Answer 6

Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)
∙ Main electronic component: based on artificial intelligence, uses the Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI) technology and parallel processing method.
o ULSI – millions of transistors on a single microchip
o Parallel processing method – use two or more microprocessors to run tasks simultaneously.
∙ Language – understand natural language (human language). ∙ Power – consume less power and generate less heat.
∙ Speed – remarkable improvement of speed, accuracy and reliability (in comparison with the fourth generation computers).
∙ Size – portable and small in size, and have a huge storage capacity.
∙ Input / output device – keyboard, monitor, mouse, trackpad (or touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognise voice / speech), light scanner, printer, etc.
∙ This generation computer take decision based on information and logic stored in them and process non- numerical information such as graphical representations and pictures.
∙ Example – desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.