GENERATION OF COMPUTER

First Generation Computer

1. Eckert & Mauchly developed the first electronic computer ENIAC in 1946 in the USA.
2. Vacuum Tube was the core element of first generation of computer.
3. The time period of first generation of computer was from 1946-1959.
4. Punched Card & Paper Tapes are used as secondary storage.
5. Input/Output operations are slow.
6. It has limited storage capacity.
7. It consumes lot of electricity.
8. Machine Code was used as a programming language.
Ex- ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC and UNIVAC-I

Second Generation Computer

1. The second generation of computers are IBM-700, ATLAS & ICL-1901.

2. Transistors was the core element of second generation of computer.
3. The time period of second generation of computer was from 1959-1965.
4. Magnetic Disks & Tapes are used as secondary storage.
5. High level procedural languages FORTRAN & COBOL were used.
6. It required less power to operate.
7. Smaller, reliable and faster than first generation of computers.
8. Magnetic Core was used for primary storage.

Third Generation Computer

1. The third generation of computers are IBM-360, NCR-395, TDC-316 developed by Jack
Kilby.
2. Integrated Circuits (ICs) was the core element in third generation of computer.
3. The time period of third generation of computer was from 1965-1971.
4. Magnetic Disk was used as secondary storage.
5. Development of Mini-Computers.
6. In this generation Operating System (OS) was developed.
7. Smaller than second generation of computer.
8. High level programming languages like FORTRAN-II to IV, COBOL, PASCAL PL1, ALGO-68
etc.

Fourth Generation Computer

1. The fourth generation of computers are DEC 10, STAR 1000 etc.
2. Large Scale Integrated Circuits (LSICs) & (VLSICs) was the core element in fourth
generation of computers.
3. The time period of fourth generation of computer was from 1971-1985.
4. Semi-Conductor was used as primary storage.
5. In this generation Micro-Processor was used.
6. Development of Micro-Computer or PC.
7. High level language like C, C++ & DBMS was used in this generation.
8. Application development by uses with user friendly.

Fifth Generation Computer

1. The fifth generation of computers are Desktop, Laptop & Palmtop.

2. Ultra Large -Scale Integration (ULSI) is the core element in fifth generation of computer.
3. The time period of fifth generation of computer was from 1985-till date.
4. RAM & ROM is used as primary memory.
5. HDD & SDD is used as secondary memory.
6. All high level - programming languages like C, C++, Java, Python, .NET etc. included.
 SUMMARY

GENERATION OF CORE ELEMENT TIME PERIOD EXAMPLE

COMPUTERS

FIRST GENERATION VACCUM TUBE 1946-1959 ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC,

COMPUTER UNIVAC-I

SECOND GENERATION TRANSISTORS 1959-1965 IBM-700, ATLAS, ICL-

COMPUTER 1901

THIRD GENERATION INTEGRATED CIRCUITS 1965-1971 IBM-360, NCR 395,

COMPUTER TDC-316

FOURTH GENERATION LSICs & VLSICs 1971-1985 DEC 10, STAR 1000
COMPUTER (LARGE SCALE
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)

FIFTH GENERATION ULSI 1985-TILL DATE DESKTOP, PALMTOP,

COMPUTER (ULTRA LARGE- SCALE LAPTOP
INTEGRATION)