History of Computer

History of Computer

The word "Computer" has become a very familiar word to you by now. You can also identify a computer easily. However, it took a long time to develop the computers which we use today. Moreover, many people have contributed to produce this.

An Englishman called Charles Babbage designed the first model required for a mechanical computer in 1822. It was called the ‘Difference Engine’

Figure 1 Charles Babbage ‘s ‘Difference Engine’

The basic foundation for the creation of the 'Analytical Engine' by Charles Babbage was the Punch Card Concept in 1833. However, he was unable to produce the analytical engine as he wished with the technology available at that time. an implementation of the analytical engine based on Babbage's idea.

When looking at the functionality of this analytical machine, we can see that the necessary components required for data input, storage, processing, and output had been in-built. Computers were designed later by these concepts of Babbage and that’s why Babbage is considered to be the ‘Father of the computer’.

Generation of Computers

Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which together make up an entire computer system. There are five computer generations known to date.

First Generation Computers

The period of the first generation was from 1946-1959. The computers of first-generation used vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU (Central Processing Unit). These tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot of heat, and the installations used to fuse frequently. Therefore, they were very expensive and only large organizations were able to afford them.

In this generation, mainly batch processing operating system was used. Punch cards, paper tape, and the magnetic tape was used as input and output devices. The computers in this generation used machine code as the programming language.

The main features of the first generation are −

Vacuum tube technology

Unreliable

Supported machine language only

Very costly

Generated a lot of heat

Slow input and output devices

Huge size

Need of AC

Non-portable

Consumed a lot of electricity

Some computers of this generation were −

ENIAC

EDVAC

UNIVAC

IBM-701

IBM-650

Second Generation Computers

The period of the second generation was from 1959-1965. In this generation, transistors were used that were cheaper, consumed less power, more compact in size, more reliable, and faster than the first generation machines made of vacuum tubes. In this generation, magnetic cores were used as the primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic disks as secondary storage devices.

In this generation, assembly language and high-level programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL were used. The computers used batch processing and a multiprogramming operating system.

The main features of the second generation are −

Use of transistors

Reliable in comparison 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

AC required

Supported machine and assembly languages

Some computers of this generation were −

IBM 1620

IBM 7094

CDC 1604

CDC 3600

UNIVAC 1108

Third Generation Computers

The period of the third generation was from 1965-1971. The computers of the third generation used Integrated Circuits (ICs) in place of transistors. A single IC has many transistors, resistors, and capacitors along with the associated circuitry.

The IC was invented by Jack Kilby. This development made computers smaller in size, reliable, and efficient. In this generation, remote processing, time-sharing, multiprogramming operating systems were used. High-level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68, etc.) were used during this generation.

The main features of third-generation are −

IC used

More reliable in comparison to previous two generations

Smaller size

Generated less heat

Faster

Lesser maintenance

Costly

AC required

Consumed lesser electricity

Supported high-level language

Some computers of this generation were −

IBM-360 series

Honeywell-6000 series

PDP (Personal Data Processor)

IBM-370/168

TDC-316

Fourth Generation Computers

The period of the fourth generation was from 1971-1980. Computers of fourth-generation used Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements with their associated circuits on a single chip made it possible to have microcomputers of the fourth generation.

Fourth-generation computers became more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to Personal Computer (PC) revolution. In this generation, time-sharing, real-time networks, distributed operating systems were used. All the high-level languages like C, C++, DBASE, etc., were used in this generation.

The main features of fourth-generation are −

VLSI technology used

Very cheap

Portable and reliable

Use of PCs

Very small size

Pipeline processing

No AC required

The concept of the internet was introduced

Great developments in the fields of networks

Computers became easily available

Some computers of this generation were −

DEC 10

STAR 1000

PDP 11

CRAY-1(Super Computer)

CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)

Fifth Generation Computers

The period of fifth-generation is the 1980-till date. 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.

This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software. AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which interprets the means and method of making computers think like human beings. All the high-level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used in this generation.

AI includes −

Robotics

Neural Networks

Game Playing

Development of expert systems to make decisions in real-life situations

Natural language understanding and generation

The main features of fifth-generation are −

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

Some computer types of this generation are −

Desktop

Laptop

NoteBook

UltraBook

Chromebook

Questions:

Write your answers as comments including your registration number.

1. IBM stands for
2. _____ is used in fourth-generation computer.
3. _____ is used in third-generation computers.
4. _____ is used in second-generation computer.
5. Some computer types of fourth-generation
6. Some computer types of second-generation
7. In which generation is VLSI technology used.
8. Use of transistors in which generation
9. Desktop and laptops are under the which generation
10. Father of the computer is.