Learn about great History of Computer Generation

This is the era of Digital Disruption where everyone stick with Computers, Tablets, Mobile and using cloud based Computers. We developed Computers process and enhanced the Computer Architecture so that we can process huge data within span of seconds and this capability keeps evolving day by day. But journey of Computers are so interesting and start with electronic switch.

Computers are having gone through many changes over time. The first generation of computers started around 1940 and since then there have been five generations of computers until 2023. Computers evolved over a long period of time, starting from the 16th century, and continuously improved.

Let us now know about the developments in computer technology in different generations.

First Generation of Computer (1946 to 1959)

The first generation of computer used vacuum tube technology and were built between 1946 and 1959. Vacuum tubes were expensive and produced a lot of heat, Machine language was the programming language used for these computers, and they could not multitask.

The first generation computers worked on binary-coded concept (i.e., language of 0-1).

Examples: ENIAC, EDVAC, etc.

Second Generation of Computer ( 1950 to 1960)

The second generation of computers is a term used to describe a group of computers that were developed in the late 1950s and 1960s. These computers replaced vacuum tubes with transistors. 

These transistors were invented in the Bell Labs which made the Second Generation Computer powerful and faster than the previous ones. Transistors made these computers smaller and generated less heat compared to the vacuum tubes they replaced. The Second Generation of Computers also introduced the use of CPU, memory and input/output units.

Third Generation of Computer (1964 to 1971)

The third of computers emerged between 1964 and 1971. This used microchips or integrated circuits, making it possible to create smaller, cheaper, and much faster computers.

The Third Generation of was very fast and reliable. The ICs used in these computers were made from silicon’s and were called silicon chips. A single IC has many transistors, registers, and capacitors built on one thin slice of silicon. This of computers has increased memory space and efficiency.

Fourth generation of computer (Post 1972 till present)

Fourth G,C were more adaptable, had more primary storage capacity, were faster and more reliable than previous generations, and were also portable, small, and required less electricity. Intel was the first company to develop a microprocessor used in fourth generation computer.

Fifth generation of computer

Japan invented the FGCS in 1982, a type of fifth-generation computer with high computing power that uses microelectronic technology.

This technology encourages computers to behave like humans. The speed of the Fifth of is the highest while the sizes are the smallest.

Hope you learnt about Computer History and evolution throughout years. If you have any questions then you may contact us on info@ydrfoundation.in