Computer Fundamental

Computer Generation

Development of is known as Generation of Computer. Development of computers is categorized into five Generation depending upon size, technology used, storage capacity , computing capacity etc.

Which is first computing Device?

The computing device you will be surprised to know that it was built 2600 years ago in China and is known as Abacus. In 1623 Wilhelm Schickard built the first mechanical calculator. Since his machine used techniques such as cogs and gears first developed for clocks, it was also called a 'calculating clock'. In 1642 Blaise Pascal created Pascaline and after 30 years of Pascaline Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz created another mechanical computing device in 1671.In the early 1820's , Charles Xavier Thomas created the first successful, mass-produced mechanical calculator, known as Arithmometer, that could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. In 1822's Charles Babbage designed a calculating machine called Difference engine. In 1835 planned to design first programmable calculating machine named Analytical Engine .This machine was incomplete until his death in 1871. In 1880-90 Herman Hollerith invented a tabulating machine using punch cards and formed his company for manufacturing tabulating machine that is known as IBM now days.

All this development of computing devices is known as zeroth Generation of Computer.

Generation : First Generation Technology Used : Vacuum Tubes. Duration : 1944-1955

Description

First Generation of computer was big on size with less computing power. Computer of this generation consume a lot of power produces a lot of heat, very big in size and weight in range of tons and there computing capacity was less then today's calculators and they can only store a few hundred words.

Generation : Second Generation Technology Used : Transistor Duration : 1956-1965

Description

Computer of this generation can actually be called computers. Computers of this generation were small in size (ie small as Refrigerator). They consume less electricity in comparison to 1st generation computers and there computing capacity was far better then 1st generation computers.

Generation : Third Generation Technology Used : IC(Integrated Circuit) Duration : 1966-1977

Description

A major breakthrough was achieved in mid 60's by migrating thousand of circuit on a single chip. This made computer small in size, increased their computing capacity decreased power consumption and thus resulted in enhanced computing experience. Computers of this generation were less expensive in comparison to 1st and 2nd generation computers and accessible for a common man.

Generation : Fourth Generation. Technology Used : VLSI & ULSI. Duration : 1978-1995.

Description

Computers of this generation are very small in size, you can even put it on your desktop. Computers of this generation are designed to suite a small piece of space. They are less expensive and there computing and storage capacity is much more then other generation computer. They can process million of instruction per second and store billions of word in there memory. Its mode of operation was based on silicon of very large silicon integrated circuit (VLSI) and ultra large silicon integrated circuit.(ULSI).

Generation : Fifth Generation. Duration : 1995- running

Description:

So how about a computer controlled house that doesn't wait for your instruction to control the fire that occur in any part of house. Yes that is what fifth generation computers are going to have there own intelligence. Fifth generation is about Robots and more Intelligent Computers. Its about Artificial Intelligence. When practically implemented these computers will have there own intelligence, ability to make decision without any human interaction. Like ASIMO from Sony.