MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Evolution of Computers

Compiled by Dr. Jennifer W, PhD, PMP® for Online Training

 Objectives
At the end of this section, you should be able to:
• Explain developments in data processing before and after
computer generations.
• Classify the different computer developments according to
generations, size, cost and processing capability.
• Describe the various internal and external components of a
computer system.
• Explain features, components and functions of central
processing’s units.
 Evolution in Computer Technology
Computer evolution refers to the change in computer
technology right from the time computers were first
used to the present
From Mechanical with levers and gears to Electronic
computers.
Mechanical were difficult and expensive to make.
 Before the Generations
• Abacus
– The abacus was probably the first calculating device
– It was used to perform simple calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division

• Napier’s Bones
– In 1616, Sir John Napier made a calculating device called Napier’s Bones.
– It was used for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and to find the square root of a number
– Was using Logarithm to get products of a number

• Pascaline
– In 1641, Blaise Pascal invented the Pascaline, the first mechanical computer
– It consisted of a rectangular box with movable wheels
– It was used for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing numbers up to hundreds and thousands
 Before the Generations
• Difference engine
– In the 19th century, Charles Babbage invented a machine called the difference engine to prepare
mathematical engine

• Analytical Engine
– Charles Babbage also invented the first general purpose computer known as the Analytical Engine.
– It had the basic element of modern computer : Input, Output, Memory devices
 Generations of Computers
• A computer generation is a computer era(period of time)
characterized by development and use of a particular
computer technology that significantly changed the way
computers operated.
• Each new generation resulted in increasingly smaller,
cheaper, more powerful, more efficient and reliable
computing devices.
Generation of Computers
 First Generation Of Computers
The period of first generation was 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 were prone to frequent fusing of the installations, therefore, were very expensive and could be afforded
only by very large organizations. In this generation mainly batch processing operating system were used.
Features:
• Vacuum tube technology
• Unreliable
• Supported machine language only
• Very costly
• Generated lot of heat
• Slow input and output devices
• Huge size
• Need of A.C.
• Non-portable
• Consumed lot of electricity
• Difficult to maintain, tubes could blow
• Used punch cards and paper tapes as output
 Second Generation Of Computers
The period of second generation was 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 primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic
disks as secondary storage devices. In this generation assembly language and high-level programming languages
like FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator), COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) were used to create
business applications. The computers used batch processing and multiprogramming operating system.
Features:
• Use of transistors
• Reliable in comparison to first generation computers
• Smaller size as compared to first generation computers
• Consumed less electricity as compared to first generation computers
• Faster than first generation computers
• Still very costly
• A.C. needed
• Supported machine and assembly languages
• Used for wide variety of tasks
 Third Generation Of Computer
The period of third generation was 1965-1971. The computers of third generation used integrated circuits (IC's) 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 system were used.
Features:
• Integrated Circuits used
• More reliable in comparison to previous two generations
• Smaller size
• Generated less heat
• Faster
• Lesser maintenance
• Still costly
• A.C needed
• Consumed lesser electricity
• Supported high-level language
• Introduced operating system, networking, mini computers.
• Magnetic disk was used for storage
• Visual display and used of peripheral devices like keyboard
 Fourth Generation Of Computers
The period of fourth generation was 1971-1980. The computers of fourth generation used Very Large Scale Integrated
(VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements and their associated circuits on a
single chip made it possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth generation computers became more
powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to personal computer (PC) revolution.
Features:
• VLSI technology used
• Very cheap
• Portable and reliable
• Use of PC’s
• Very small size
• Pipeline processing(Executing in an orderly process)
• No A.C. needed
• Concept of internet was introduced
• Great developments in the fields of networks
• Computers became easily available
• Large memory capacity
• More input and output devices: mouse, keyboard
 Fifth Generation Of Computers
The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth generation, the 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.
Features:
• 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
Summary of Computer generation
 Trends in computers: Moore’s Law
• According to Moore’s Law, the number of transistors on a chip
roughly doubles every two years(18 months). As a result the size of
computers gets smaller and smaller.
• This was an observation made by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore
in 1965. He noticed that the number of transistors per square inch
on integrated circuits had doubled every year since their invention.
• Moore’s law predicts that this trend will continue into the
foreseeable future, making computers smaller and cheaper.
• Computers are continuing to be faster, intelligent.
Classification of computers
 Classification of computers: Purpose
General Purpose Computers
• General purpose computers are the computers that can be used for all general needs of all environments and
users.
• These are the versatile computers that can perform a variety of jobs for all types of environments.
• The programs or instructions are fed to them and at the time of execution these computers process these
instructions and produce meaningful results.
– For example, a personal computer that is capable of calculating accounts data, preparing students result,
designing broachers, writing letters, accessing Internet or playing games is a general purpose computer.
Special purpose computers:
• Special purpose computers are the computers that are specially designed to perform a specific environment.
• These are designed for performing a particular task and cannot perform other tasks.
• These computers are not versatile.
• The instructions used by these computers are generally embedded in various automatic devices.
– For example, a computer designed to display the path and trajectory of a missile can be only used for this
purpose and we cannot use it for playing games. A computer that has been designed to count the
telephone call pulses and the amount to be paid can only serve this purpose. We cannot use it for
designing and word processing.
 Classification of computers: Technology Used
Digital Computers:
• Digital computers are mainly general purpose computers that represent and store data in discrete quantities
or numbers.
• All processing is done in terms of numeric representation (binary digits) of data and information.
• Although the user enters the data in decimal or character form, it is converted into binary digits (0s and 1s).
– Example: PC, Laptop, PDA etc.
Analog Computers:
• Analog computers are special purpose computers that represent and store data in continuously varying
physical quantities such as current, voltage or frequency.
• These computers are programmed for measuring physical quantities like pressure, temperature, speed, etc.,
and to perform computations on these measurements.
• Analog computers are mainly used for scientific and engineering applications.
– Examples : Thermometer, Speedometer
 Classification of computers: Technology Used
Hybrid computers:
• Hybrid computers incorporate the technology of both analog and
digital computers.
• These computers store and process analog signals which have been
converted into discrete numbers using analog to digital converters.
• They can also convert the digital numbers into analog signals or
physical properties using digital to analog converters.
• Hybrid computers are mainly used in artificial intelligence (robotics)
and computer aided manufacturing (e.g., process control).
– Examples: money counting machine and Automated Teller
Machine (ATM).
Classification of computers: size and capacity
Classification of computers on the basis of memory size, cost and processing capabilities
 Classification of computers: size and capacity
• Microcomputers:
• Microcomputers are also called personal computers (PCs) and use
microprocessor as its CPU, a memory unit, and input device and an
output device.
• They are small in size and some do not have large storage capacities.
• The word length of a microcomputer lies in the range 8-32. They can
perform difficult task. They are used for general purpose calculations,
industrial control, home appliances, desktop publishing, graphics
designing and project management.
• These are of two types- Desktops and Portables.
– Examples: IBM PC, PS/2, Apple II and Macintosh.
 Classification of computers: size and capacity
• Minicomputers
• Minicomputers are faster and more powerful than microcomputers.
• Their word length is 32 bits (word length means number of bits in a
computer word).
• These computers can perform more complex tasks and cost more than
microcomputers.
• They are larger in size and their storage capacity is small to medium.
They are used for payroll preparation, accounting and scientific
computation, controlling and monitoring production processes.
– Examples: VAX 11, PDP11/42 and WIPRO LANDMARK 860 etc.
 Classification of computers: size and capacity
• Mainframes:
• These are more powerful than minicomputers. Their word
length may be 48, 60 or 64 bits.
• They have high processing speeds and can store large
amounts of data.
• They are used in research organizations, large industries, large
business and government organizations, banks and airline
reservations where large database is needed. However, these
computers consume more electricity.
– Examples: IBM 2000 series and UNIVAC 1180.
 Classification of computers: size and capacity
• Super Computers:
• These are the largest and fastest computers. Their word length is 64-96
bit.
• They are also the costliest. A super computer has a number of CPUs
which operate in parallel to make it faster.
• They are used for massive data processing and solving very sophisticated
problems i.e., in the fields of science and defense, designing and
launching missiles, weather forecasting, biomedical research, aircraft
design and automobile design.
– Examples: CRAZY 3, HITAC S-300 etc. India has a series of super
computers called PARAM developed by C-DAC and ANURAG. Wipro
InfoTech has developed Supernova computers
 Computer System
A computer is a system of hardware components and
functions. It consists of the following components: -
• Input devices
• Central Processing Unit
• Secondary storage devices
• Output devices
 Computer System
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
• The CU and ALU are jointly known as CPU.
• Brain of the computer.
• Perform data processing operations and also Control the working of the entire system
• Composed of Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) & Control Unit(CU)
– Arithmetic and Logic Unit ( ALU )
• Place where the actual execution of the instructions take place during the processing operations. Does all the
calculations.
• It consists of circuits that perform arithmetic as well as logical operations
– Control Unit
• It act as a central nervous system for the other components of the computer, manages and coordinates the
entire computer system.
• It get information from the main memory and issues signal to control every other units of the system.
 Computer System: Primary Storage
Primary Storage
– A group of chips that resides in the motherboard of the computer.
• Primary storage device consists of two types of memory chips:
– Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Hold data and instructions (programs) temporarily while processing is taking place.
• It also holds the data that results from processing
• Programs and data stored in secondary storage must therefore first be loaded into the RAM before they can be processed.
• RAM is volatile: it is temporary and changeable.
• RAM are limited in storage capacity.
• RAM are expensive and are a major determinant of the final price of a computer.
– Read Only Memory (ROM)
• ROM chips holds data and instructions necessary for starting up the computer when it is switched on.
• It is commonly used to store system-level programs such as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) program.
• Contains instructions that are fixed at the time of manufacture
• Instructions stored in ROM are always there, whether the power is on or not.
• ROM is therefore non-volatile: it cannot easily be changed, because it is read only.
– Programmable read - only memory (PROM) - program instructions can be written once, and cannot be erased
– Erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) - allow writing and erasing.
– Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory EPROM - allow erasing electrically
– Cache
• Very fast memory that the processor can access much more quickly than main memory or RAM.
• There two levels of cache called L1 and L2.
• Cache memory works by attempting to predict which memory the processor is going to need next, loading that memory before the processor
needs it and saving the results after the processor is done with it.
 Summary
• Computers continue to Evolve in size, speed, power
through generations.
• More functionality and peripheral devices
• Advancement in Software and hardware
 Exercise
• Read more about computer generation especially the
current fifth Generation.
• Understanding the processing capabilities of a
computer.
• Would you buy a 3rd generation computer if a friend is
selling one to you?
• What factor would you consider when buying a
computer?