First Generation Computer

Introduction
Although the development of computers began around 1940,
the first generation computer is considered from 1946 to 1959.
During the time period, computer were developed using
vacuum tubes as the main component. First generation
computers took up a lot of space in one room, even a whole
room for some computers. First generation computers relied on
machine language, which is called the lowest level programing
language and can be easily understood by computers. Although
it helped computers perform a variety of tasks , it allowed them
to solve one operation at a time, computers took days or even
weeks to complete them. They were large and limited to basic
calculations.

Vacuum tube
An electron tube could be a vacuum tube or valve is a device
that controls the flow of electrical current during a high vacuum
between electrodes to that an electrical potential has been
applied. (OR)
A vacuum tube is a device that helps amplify singles by
controlling the motion of electrons in an evacuated space.
Invented by Lee de Forest.
Example
 ENIAC (Electronic Numeric Integrated and Calculated)
It was first successful electronic computer, developed by
J.Presper Eckert and J. W. Mauchly.
 UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer)
This was first commercial computer invented by them. In
1951, UNIVAC was given to the US Census Bureau.

Structure of UNIVAC
The ENIAC pc was terribly serious and huge. Its size was a 50-
foot-long basement area and its weight was thirty tons. It had
over seventeen, 000 vacuum tubes. Vacuum Tube Computers
used tons of electricity. ENIAC consumed a hundred and fifty
kilowatts of power, during which eighty kilowatts were used for
heating tubes, forty-five kilowatts for DC power provides
twenty kilowatts for ventilation blowers, and five kilowatts for
punched-card electronic equipment.

 Calculation
The first use of ENIAC was to hold out arithmetic calculations.
ENIAC was capable of doing 5000 additions per second. The
ENIAC was decimal instead of a binary machine. Therefore,
numbers were pictured in decimal kind, and arithmetic was
performed within the decimal numeration system. Its
memory consisted of twenty accumulators, every capable of
 holding a 10-digit decimal range. Every digit was pictured by
a hoop of ten vacuum tubes.
Drawback of ENIAC
The major downside of ENIAC was that its programming was
advanced and time-wasting. It absolutely was not a general-use
laptop. To different its program implied essentially reworking it,
with punch cards and switches in wiring plug boards. It might
take a team 2 days to reprogram the machine.

UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer)

It was the world’s 1st commercially electronic computing
device. it absolutely was created by Eckert and Mauchly in
1947. It absolutely was delivered to the North American
country Bureau of a census in 1951.

Characteristics
 Use vacuum tube
 Based on machine language
 Use of punch cards as an input device
 Use of magnetic tapes as memory device
 Use of paper tape as an output device

Advantages
  The first generation computers used vacuum tubes as
basic components, the only electronic component
available in that period.
 Vacuum tube technology made it possible for the advent
of electronic computers .
 The use of machine language made first generation
computers relatively faster in the beginning.

Disadvantages
 First generation computers large in size.
 The storage capacity of computers was very low due to the
use of magnetic tape.
 First generation computers produced too much heat,
which required a large cooling system.
 The function of input and output devices was slow.
 Not transportable.
 Costly business production.
 Very less work potency.
 Limited programming capabilities.