Five Generations of Computer and their Characteristics

When talking about the generations of computer, we come to know that the first commercial computer i.e. UNIVAC (Universal Automated Computer) has begun the tradition of the successional inventions of electronic computers. From that onward, technology has taken the world by storm giving astonishing inventions one after another. Until now, the information about invention of computer have lead us towards its 5 generations. Let’s have a look on them:

•    First Generation Computers

These computers were used from the year 1942 to 1955. First generation computers used vacuum tubes. Vacuum tubes; being the first electronic component used for the invention of computers, have made it possible to invent further more advanced computer technology. First generation computers could calculate the data in milliseconds but still very slow in speed. Owing to their large sizes and the utilization of vacuum tubes, they required excessive air conditioning. Furthermore, these computers were not very reliable and accurate in working. Thus, there was a need to make necessary changes in the first generation computers that gave birth to a new generation of computers.

• Second Generation Computers

Second Generation Computers were used from the year of 1955 to that of 1964. There was a considerable alteration made in these generation computers that proved quite fortunate as the new computers were quite favorable in comparison with the previous ones. Second generation computers replaced vacuum tubes with Transistors. Thus the computers were smaller in size, more reliable and produced less heat than that of first generation computers. However, still these computers were not smart enough to meet the requirements of today’s fast growing world. Thus, there was a need of the invention of third generation computers.

• Third Generation Computers

Third Generation Computers have failed the second Generation computers because of their small sizes and reliability. The basic change that was adopted for the invention of these computers was that the transistors that were used in the previous generation computers were replaced with Integrated Circuits. Each IC chip consisted of hundreds of transistors. These computers produced less heat and hence required less air conditioning in comparison with second generation computers. Third generation computers were used from 1964 to 1975. These computers were more accurate in providing results because of the use of IC chips. However, man always wants better than he has. In other words, we can say that man is habitually conscious of being a perfectionist. So there felt a need to make further changes in these generation computers to enhance their speed and reliability.

• Fourth Generation Computers

World have been taking advantage of Fourth Generation Computers since 1975. These computers use Microprocessors that are composed of thousands of IC chips. As a result, fourth generation computers are remarkably fast and efficient to match the standards of today’s technological world. Owing to the use of microprocessors, these computers are smaller in sizes as far as we desire. Today, fourth generation computers are available to us in various formats such as desktop PCs, Portable android tablets as well as Laptop Computers. These computers use user friendly operating systems like Apple Macintosh, Windows etc. Similarly Latest smart phones, that are the small formations of these fourth generation computers, use Android operating systems that are actually an astonishing revolution in technological world.

• Fifth Generation computers

Scientists have been working on the invention of fifth generation computers that would be a great achievement. They have been striving and in fact have developed computers based on the Artificial Intelligence technologies that can translate the foreign languages, and even understand human words. Today world is moving ahead towards cloud computing, in which users can be provided virtual computing resources to work with. It might be possible that there would be other successive generations of computers after the fifth generation computers as the world is flying higher and higher in the invention of technological equipment and gadgets.