The document discusses the four generations of computers from 1946 to present. The first generation used vacuum tubes and were enormous in size. They were slow, expensive and produced a lot of heat. The second generation used transistors, were smaller and faster but still produced heat. The third generation used integrated circuits, making computers much smaller with higher speeds. The fourth generation used microprocessors on a single chip, making computers small enough to fit on a desk and leading to networks and more powerful computers today. Each generation brought improvements in size, speed and cost due to new electronic components.

1. GENERATION OF
COMPUTER

2. Generation refer to the state of
improvement in the product development
process. Similarly, we can say generation
of computer refers to the state of
improvement of computer technlogy.

3. Programmable machine that can store, retrieve, and process
data.
Today's computers have at least one CPU that performs most
calculations and includes a main memory, a control unit, and
an arithmetic logic unit. Increasingly, personal computers
contain specialized graphic processors, with dedicated
memory, for handling the computations needed to display
complex graphics, such as for three-dimensional simulations
and games. Auxiliary data storage is usually provided by an
internal hard disk and may be supplemented by other media
such as floppy disks or CD-ROMs. Peripheral equipment
includes input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse) and output
devices (e.g., monitor, printer), as well as the circuitry and
cabling that connect all the components

4. i. The First Generation : 1946-1958 ( The Vacuum
Tube Years)
ii. The Second Generation of Computer : 1959- 1964 (The
Era Of The Transistor)
iii. The Third Generation of Computer : 1965- 1970
(Integrated Circuits – Miniaturizing the Computer)
iv. The Fourth Generation of Computer : 1971- Today (The
Microprocessor)

5.  The First Generation Computer period starts from 1946
with ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And
Computer) and UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer)
developed by Presper Eckert and John Mauchly.
 Language used in first generation computer was the
Machine Language.
 They were very large and prodeced a large amount of heat
and they had to be cooled down by air conditioners.
However even with these huge coolers, vacuum tubes still
overheated regularly. It was time for something new.
 First-generation digital computers, developed mostly in the
U.S. after World War II, used vacuum tubes and were
enormous

6. Electron tube consisting of a sealed glass or metal
enclosure from which the air has been withdrawn.
It was used in early electronic circuitry to control a flow of
electrons. In the first half of the 20th century, vacuum
tubes allowed the development of radio broadcasting,
long-distance telephone service, television, and the
first electronic digital computers, which were the
largest vacuum-tube systems ever built. Transistors
have replaced them in virtually all applications, but
they are still occasionally used in display devices for
television sets and computers (cathode-ray tubes), in
microwave ovens, and as high-frequency transmitters
on space satellites.

7. Features of The First Generation :
i. It is very slow.
ii. It is very expensive.
iii. It is very huge(as big as the size of the
room).
Limitation of The First Generation :
i. Produce lot of heat.
ii. Not Reliable.
iii. Programming capacity was very slow.
iv. Used machine language only.

8.  The second generation, introduced c. 1960, used transistors and were
the first successful commercial computers.
 The language used in the second generation computer was assembly
language.
 The second generation computers also produced a large amount of
heat and they too had to be cooled down by air conditioners
 They were smaller, faster and more efficient than the first generation
computers.
 The operating speed was comparatively high.
 Examples of second generation computer were IBM140, MARK III,
LEO, etc.

9. Features of The Second Generation:
i. Electronic component used Transistor.
ii. The size became smaller than first
generation computer.
iii. The operating speed became higher.
iv. The cost became low.
Limitation of The Second Generation :
i. It produce heat.
ii. Its speed was still low.
iii. Memory was less.

10. The Third Generation of Computer : 1965- 1970
(Integrated Circuits – Miniaturizing the
Computer)
 Third-generation computers (late 1960s and 1970s) were
characterized by miniaturization of components and use of
integrated circuits.
 Due to the use of ICs, the size of the computer became very
small.
 Transistor were miniaturized and placed on silicon chip
called semiconductor.
 High level languages like FORTRAN and COBOL were used.
 Example of third generation computer are ICL, CDC, IBM360,
ICL 1900, etc.

11. Features of The Third Generation :
i. The Electron component used integrated
circuits
ii. The size became much smaller.
iii. The operating spedd became faster.
iv. The cost became cheaper than their
predecessors.

12.  The microprocessor chip, introduced in 1974, defines
fourth-generation computers.
 The size of computer became too small as thousands
of integrated circuits were built onto a single chip.
 The Fourth Generation of Computer could fit on a
small desk or in the palm of the hand.
 The Fourth Generation of Computer became more
powerful and they could be linked together to form a
network, which led the development of internet.
 Today’s Fourth Generation Computer are still getting
smaller and more powerful. Example of fourth
generation computer are Intel 4004, Apple, IBM 370,
etc.

13. Features of The Fourth Generation of
Computer :
i. The Electron component used
Microprocessor.
ii. The size became much smaller than ever.
iii. The operating spedd became very faster.
iv. They are completely reliable.

14. Miniature electronic device that contains the arithmetic,
logic, and control circuitry needed to function as a
digital computer's CPU.
Microprocessors are integrated circuits that can interpret
and execute program instructions as well as handle
arithmetic operations. Their development in the late
1970s enabled computer engineers to develop
microcomputers. Microprocessors led to “intelligent”
terminals, such as bank ATMs and point-of-sale
devices, and to automatic control of much industrial
instrumentation and hospital equipment,
programmable microwave ovens, and electronic
games. Many automobiles use microprocessor-controlled
ignition and fuel systems.

15. Fourth-generation computer programming
language. 4GLs are closer to human language
than other high-level languages and are
accessible to people without formal training as
programmers.
They allow multiple common operations to be
performed with a single programmer-entered
command. They are intended to be easier for
users than machine languages (first-generation),
assembly languages (second-generation), and
older high-level languages (third-generation).

16. Thank you
Name : Mukul
Class : XIth