Computer Generations

1. First Generation Computer
2. Second Generation Computer
3. Third Generation Computer
4. Fourth Generation Computer
5. Fifth Generation Computer

First Generation Computer: (1940-1956)

Vacuum tube technology was a major component of the first generation of computers, which were developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

• In the early to mid-1950s, the first generation of computers was created.
• based on technology using vacuum tubes.
• large and costly.
• It consumed a lot of energy to run.
• programming and maintenance are challenges.
• Because these computers were programmed using machine language—a string of binary code that the computer can understand—it was a hard process.
• UNIVAC and IBM 701 are two examples.

Second Generation Computer: (1956-1963)

Computers created between 1956 and 1963 are referred to as second generation computers. These computers were more smaller, faster, and more reliable because they used transistors rather than vacuum tubes. A transistor is a semiconductor device that switches or amplifies electronic signals. It is made of a small piece of  semiconductor chip, usually silicon, with impurities added to produce positive and negative charge areas.

• It was built between 1956 and 1963.
• Transistors were used instead of vacuum tubes.
• Better than first-generation computers in size, speed, and reliability
• Used magnetic core memory, which is an advance over electrostatic storage from the first generation.
• IBM 1401 and UNIVAC 1108 are two examples.

Third Generation Computer: (1964-1971)

Computers created between 1964 and 1971 are referred to as third generation computers. These computers were more smaller, faster, and more reliable because they used integrated circuits (ICs) rather than vacuum tubes. 

• It was built between 1964and 1971.
• ICs were used instead of vacuum tubes.
• Better than second-generation computers in size, speed, and reliability
• They had more storage space and more advanced programming languages.
• Virtual memory was also introduced for the first time in third-generation computers.
• IBM System/360 and UNIVAC 1108. are two examples.

Four Generation Computer: (1971-Present)

Fourth generation computers are those invented in the 1970s and 1980s. They used microprocessors, which are small integrated circuits that contain the entire central processing unit (CPU) of a computer on a single chip. This enabled the development of smaller, more powerful, and efficient computers. Fourth-generation computers also included os, making them more user-friendly and enabling for the development of more advanced software.

• During the 1970s and 1980s, fourth generation computers were developed.
• In this generation microprocessors are used, which are small integrated circuits that contain the entire central processing unit (CPU) of a computer on a single chip.
• This enabled the development of smaller, more powerful, and more efficient computers.
• Fourth-generation computers also included operating systems, making them more user-friendly and allowing for the development of more advanced software.
• The IBM PC and Apple Macintosh are two examples of fourth generation computers.
• Fourth-generation computers acclaimed the start of the personal computer revolution and the rise of the Internet.

Fifth Generation Computer: (Present-beyond)

 There own ability to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as face detection, decision making, and understanding of natural language.

Fifth generation computers, also known as "artificial intelligence" computers, are the most recent gen. of computers developed in the early twenty-first century.

The following are some of the core technologies that have enabled the creation of 5th generation computers:

• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
• Machine Learning
• Robotics
• Neural Networks

To create intelligent agents and virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, they are also used.

Fifth generation computer are capable to analyze large amounts of data quickly and accurately.

Criteria	First Gen. computer	Second Gen. computer	Third Gen. computer	Fourth Gen. computer	Fifth Gen. computer
Period	1940-1956	1956-1963	1964-1971	1971-Present	Present and Beyond
Technology	Vaccum Tube	Transistor	Integrated Circuit	Microprocessor	Artificial Intelligent
Speed	Slowest	Slow	Medium	Faster	Fastest
Size	Largest	Large	Medium	Smaller	Smallest
Reliability	Unreliable	Less Reliable	More Reliable	More Reliable	More Reliable
Language	Machine	Assembly	High Level	High Level	High Level