Generation of Computers

Generation of Computers.

By Uchechukwu

The main features of the first generation

•Vacuum tube technology

•Unreliable

•Supported machine language only

•Very costly

•Generated a lot of heat

•Slow input and output devices

•Huge size

•Need for Air conditioning

•Non-portable

•Consumed a lot of electricity

The computers of first-generation used vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU.

Examples:

1. ENIAC

2. EDVAC

3. UNIVAC

4. IBM-701

5. IBM-650

1st Generation: 1946 - 1959

The main features of the second generation

§Use of transistors

§Reliable compared to first-generation computers

§Smaller size as compared to first-generation computers

§Generated less heat as compared to first-generation computers

§Consumed less electricity as compared to first-generation computers

§Faster than first-generation computers

§Still very costly

§Supported machine and assembly languages

The computers of second-generation used Transistors which replaced vacuum tubes.

Examples:

1. IBM 1620

2. IBM 7094

3. CDC 1604

4. CDC 3600

5. UNIVAC 1108

2nd Generation: 1959 - 1965

The main features of the third generation

§IC used

§More reliable in comparison to the previous two generations

§Smaller size

§Generated less heat

§Faster

§Lesser maintenance

§Costly

§Consumed lesser electricity

§Supported high-level language

The computers of third-generation used Integrated Circuits (ICS) which replaced the transistors of the second generation.

Examples:

1. IBM-360 series

2. Honeywell-6000 series

3. PDP (Personal Data Processor)

4. IBM-370/168

5. TDC-316

3rd Generation: 1965 - 1971

The main features of the fourth generation

§VLSI (very large scale integrated circuit) technology used

§Very cheap

§Portable and reliable

§Use of PCs

§Very small size

§Concept of the internet was introduced

§Great developments in the fields of networks

§Computers became easily available

The computers of fourt-generation used Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) Circuits or Microprocessor which replaced the Integrated Circuits of the third generation.

Examples:

1. DEC 10

2. STAR 1000

3. PDP 11

4. CRAY-1(Super Computer)

5. CRAY-X-MP (Super Computer)

4th Generation: 1971 - 1980

The main features of the fifth generation

§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 multimedia features

§Availability of very powerful and compact computers at cheaper rates.

In the fifth generation, VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large-Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components.

Examples:

1. Desktop

2. Laptop

3. Notebook

4. Ultra-book

5. Chromebook

5th Generation: 1980 - Till date

Multiple Choice

What is technology that used in First Generation?

• Artificial intelligence

• Transistor

• Vaccum Tubes

• Integrated circuit

Multiple Choice

The slide rule was invented by

• Jonh Napier

• Willian Oughtred

• Blaise Pascal

• Gollfred Voleibriz

Multiple Choice

Early People used ______ for counting.

• Fingers

• Stones

• Pebbles

• All of the above

​FIRST GENERATION: VACUUM TUBES (1940-1956)

​The first computer systems used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. These computers were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, the first computers generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.

Multiple Select

Choose Three advantage of fourth generation of computer?

• small in size

• used punch card as input device

• fast processing with less power consumption

• support high level language in different type of computer

Multiple Select

Choose TWO main features of Fifth Generation Computer

• Development of true Integrated circuit

• Development used element of Artificial Intelligence

• Advancement in Parallel Processing

• More powerful processing with miniature size of computers

Multiple Choice

3rd Generation computer used

• Vacuum Tubes

• Transistors

• Integrated Circuits

• None of these

Multiple Choice

Microprocessors were used in

• 1st generation computer

• 4th generation computer

• 5th generation computer

• None of these

Multiple Choice

First generation of Computers used in

• 1940 to 1956

• 1962 to 1970

Multiple Choice

Second generation of Computers used in

• 1980 to 1982

• 1956 to 1963

Multiple Choice

Fourth generation of Computers used in

• 1934 to 1956

• 1971 - 1980

Multiple Choice

Fifth generation computers used in

• 1980 - Till Date

• 1980

Multiple Choice

What was the main electronic component used in the first generation of computers?

• A. Integrated Circuit

• B. Tape

• C. Coaxial Cable

• D. Vacuum Tubes

Multiple Choice

1^st generation computer computers use magnetic drums for memory

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Which one the following is the most suitable answer why the 1st generation of computers usually malfunction

• A. They were too fast for the type of technology used.

• B. The computers were performing too many tasks at once

• C. The cost of maintaining them was too expensive and they generate a lot of heat

• D. They take up a lot of space

Multiple Choice

First generations of computers were based on the Integrated Circuit or chip

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

ENIAC stands for:

• A. Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer

• A. Electric Numerical Integrator and Computer

• C. Electronic Numerical Integrator and Component

• D. Electronic Numeral Interior and Computer

Multiple Choice

All following are all correct about 1st generation of computers Except:

• A. Relied on machine language to perform operations

• B 1^st of generation of computers was difficult to program

• C Lack versatility and speed.

• D. They were small in size & reliable

Open Ended

List 3 Characteristics of First Generation Computers

Open Ended

List 3 Characteristics of Second Generation Computers

Open Ended

List 3 Characteristics of Third Generation Computers

Open Ended

List 3 Characteristics of Fourth Generation Computers

Open Ended

List 3 Characteristics of Fifth Generation Computers

Multiple Choice

How many generations of computers are there?

• 6

• 4

• 8

• 3

• 5

Multiple Choice

Vacuum Tubes Are?

• 1st generation

• 2nd generation

• 3rd generation

• 4th generation

• 5th generation

Multiple Choice

Integrated Circuits Are

• 1st generation

• 2nd generation

• 3rd generation

• 4th generation

• 5th generation

Multiple Choice

Artificial Intelligence Are?

• 1st generation

• 2nd generation

• 3rd generation

• 4th generation

• 5th generation

Multiple Select

Transistors Are?

• 1st generation

• 2nd generation

• 3rd generation

• 4th generation

• 5th generation

Multiple Choice

3rd Generation computer used

• Vacuum Tubes

• Transistors

• Integrated Circuits

• None of these

Multiple Select

Select all that apply to the first generation of computers.

• Cheaper

• Generated a lot of heat

• Much More reliable

• Smaller

• Very Large

Multiple Choice

Microprocessors were used in

• 1st generation computer

• 4th generation computer

• 5th generation computer

• None of these

Multiple Choice

Which generation of computers used Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit (VLSI)?

• 1st generation computer

• 4th generation computer

• 5th generation computer

• None of these

Multiple Choice

It is an integrated circuit that contains the entire central processing unit of a computer on a single silicon chip.

• microprocessor

• integrated circuit

• silicon

• transistor

Multiple Choice

Which generation of computers used Ultra Large Scale Integrated Circuit (ULSI)?

• 1st generation computer

• 4th generation computer

• 5th generation computer

• None of these

Multiple Choice

What technology did 3rd generation computers use?

• transistors

• bio chip/AI

• integrated circuits

• micro chips