History of Computer

A computer is an electronic device that takes input from the user, processes it in its
processing unit and gives accurate output back to the users with the means of output
device. It also stores the data for future reference.

The computer that we know has a long history and generations of improvement.

The computer as we know it today had its beginning with a 19th century English
mathematics professor name Charles Babbage. He is considered as the father of
computer. He designed the Analytical Engine and it was this design that the basic
framework of the computers of today are based on.

Generally speaking, a computer can be classified into five generations. Each

generation lasted for a certain period of time and each gave us either a new or
improved computer or an improvement to the existing computer.

The five generation of computer include;

 First Generation Computers (1940-1956)

 Second Generation Computers (1956-1963)
 Third Generation Computers (1964-1971)
 Fourth Generation Computers (1971-Present)
 Fifth Generation Computers (Present and Beyond)

First Generation Computer: The period of first generation was from 1946-1959. The
computers of first generation used vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory
and circuitry for CPU. These tubes 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 it.

In this generation, mainly batch processing operating system was used. Punch cards,
paper tape, and magnetic tape were used as input and output devices. The computers in
this generation used machine code as the programming language. Example of first
generation of computers include; ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC etc.
Second Generations Computer: The period of 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 was used. The computers used
batch processing and multiprogramming operating system. Example of second generation
of computer include; IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 16004 etc.

Third Generations Computer: The period of third generation was from 1965-1971.
The computers of third generation used Integrated Circuits (ICs) in place of transistors. A
single IC has many transistors, resistors, and capacitors along with the associated
circuitry. This development made computers smaller in size, reliable, and efficient. High-
level languages were used during this generation. Example of third generation of third
generation of computer; IBM 370, PDP-11, IBM System/360, UNIVAC 1108 etc.

Fourth Generations Computer: The period of fourth generation was from 1971-1980.
Computers of fourth generation used Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. 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 system were used. All the high-level languages
were used in this generation.

Fifth Generations Computer: The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth
generation, VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large-Scale Integration) technology.
This generation is based on 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.

Digital Computer and Analog Computer

Digital computer: A digital computer is machine that stores data in a numerical format
and performs operations on that data using mathematical manipulation. This type of
computer typically includes some sort of device to store information, some method for
input and output of data, and components that allow mathematical operations to be
performed on stored data. Some features of digital computer include;

 They work with discrete values i.e.; they process discrete data.
 The speed of digital computers is more in comparison to analog computers.
 It has more memory space, hence stores large amounts of data.
 It has two steps: On and Off.
 It is more reliable.
 It provides great performance.
 Its processing speed is high.
 It doesn’t depend on physical variations.
 They are easy to use.
 The results are more accurate.

Analog Computer: An analog computer is a computer which is used to process analog

data. Analog computers store data in a continuous form of physical quantities and
perform calculations with the help of measures. It is quite different from the digital
computer, which makes use of symbolic numbers to represent results.

 It works with continuous values, i.e., they process continuous data.

 The speed of such computers is less than that of digital computers.
 It has very less memory, and can store limited amount of data.
 They are not as reliable as digital computers.
 It doesn’t provide performance as good as digital computers.
 It depends on physical variations.
 The results given by analog computers have very less accuracy.
 They are not easy to use.

Classification Of Computer

Computers are classified into mainly three types based on their different size, their work
purpose and how they work.

Classification of computer on the basis of work;

There are three types of computers on the basis of work. They are analog, digital and
hybrid computer.

 Analog Computer; An analog computer is a computer which is used to process

analog data. Analog computers store data in a continuous form of physical
quantities and perform calculations with the help of measures. It is quite different
from the digital computer, which makes use of symbolic numbers to represent
results.
 Digital Computer; A digital computer is machine that stores data in a numerical
format and performs operations on that data using mathematical manipulation.
This type of computer typically includes some sort of device to store information,
some method for input and output of data, and components that allow
mathematical operations to be performed on stored data.
 Hybrid Computer; Hybrid computers are computers that exhibit features of
analog computers and digital computers. The digital component normally serves as
the controller and provides logical and numerical operations, while the analog
component often serves as a solver of differential equations and other
mathematically complex equations.

Classifications of computers on the basis of size;

On the basis of sizes there are four types of computers i.e. micro, mini, mainframe, and
supercomputer computers.

 Micro Computer: Micro computers are the least powerful, yet the most widely
used and fastest growing type of computers and are also called portable computers,
Microcomputer consists of three basic categories of physical equipment, i.e.,
system unit, input/output unit and memory unit.
 Mini Computer: Mini computers are smaller in size, faster, cost lower than
mainframe computers. Initially, the minicomputer Was designed to carry out some
specific tasks, like engineering and Computer Aided design (cad) calculation. they
are used as central computer, which is called as server.
 Mainframe Computer: Mainframe computer these are the computers having
large internal memory storage and comprehensive range of software. These
computers are bigger in size comparatively to mini computers but smaller than
 supercomputers. Some example of mainframe computers are IBM-370,
IBM-S/390, UNIVAC-1110
 Super Computer: Super computer are the fastest and most expensive machines.
They have high processing speed compared to other computers. Supercomputers
are used for highly calculation intensive tasks, such as weather forecasting, nuclear
research, military agencies and scientific research laboratories. Supercomputers
contain tens of thousands of processors and can perform billions and trillions of
calculations or computations per second.

Classification of computer based on its purpose

There are two types of computers on the basis of the work performed by them and they
are, general purpose and special purpose.

 Special Purpose: Special purpose computers are those computers which are used
to solve a single and dedicated type of problem for example automatic aircraft
landing, multimedia computer etc. They are also known as dedicated computers
because they have been dedicated to performing a single task over and over again.
Example; ATM, traffic lights control systems, navigational systems in an aircraft,
weather forecasting, satellite launch/tracking, oil exploration, and in automotive
industries.
 General Purpose: A general-purpose computer is a description of a computer
capable of performing many different tasks rather than a specific one like a
special-purpose computer. For example, PC, desktop and laptop. In addition to
browsing the Internet, you can play a game, write a letter in a word processor, and
other tasks.