Generations of Computers
Features, Examples & Evolution
Description:
Simple and well-organized notes on the five generations of computers, explaining
their features, technology used, and examples. Perfect for nursing, IT, and general
education students to understand how computers have evolved over time.
Includes:
• Definition of computer generation
• Five generations – vacuum tubes to artificial intelligence
• Main components and technology used in each generation
• Advantages, limitations, and examples
• Comparison between generations
Highlights:
• Easy-to-understand format with clear points
• Ideal for class notes, assignments, and exams
• Great for beginners learning computer history and evolution
Subject: Computer Science / General Education / Nursing Informatics
Best for: Students preparing for exams, practical, or computer
fundamentals courses
, Generations of Computers
Computer Generation
Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was
being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying
hardware technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and
software, which together make up an entire computer system.
There are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been
discussed in detail along with their time period and characteristics. In the following
table, approximate dates against each generation have been mentioned, which are
normally accepted.
Following are the main five generations of computers.
,
, First Generation
The period of first generation was from 1946-1959. The computers of first
generation used vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory and circuitry
for CPU (Central Processing Unit). These tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot
of heat and the installations used to fuse frequently. Therefore, they were very
expensive and only large organizations were able to afford it. In this generation,
mainly batch processing operating system was used. Punch cards, paper tape, and
magnetic tape was used as input and output devices. The computers in this
generation used machine code as the programming language.
The main features of the first generation are:
❖ Vacuum tube technology
❖ Unreliable
❖ Supported machine language only
❖ Very costly
❖ Generates lot of heat
❖ Slow input and output devices
❖ Huge size
❖ Need of AC
❖ Non-portable
❖ Consumes lot of electricity
Some computers of this generation were:
➤ ENIAC
➤ EDVAC
➤UNIVAC
➤ IBM-701
➤IBM-750
, Advantage & Disadvantage of First generation of computer
➤ Advantages:
1. It made use of vacuum tubes which are the only electronic component
available during those days.
2. These computers could calculate in milliseconds.
➤ Disadvantages:
1. These were very big in size; weight was about 30 tones.
2. These computers were based on vacuum tubes.
3. These computers were very costly.
4. It could store only a small amount of information due to the presence of
magnetic drums.
5. As the invention of first-generation computers involves vacuum tubes, so
another disadvantage of these computers was, vacuum tubes require a large
cooling system.
6. Very less work efficiency.
7. Limited programming capabilities and punch cards were used to take inputs.
8. Large amount of energy consumption.
9. Not reliable and constant maintenance is required.
Second Generation Computers
The period of second generation was from 1959-1965. In this generation,
transistors were used that were cheaper, consumed less power, more compact in
size, more reliable and faster than the first-generation machines made of vacuum
tubes. In this generation, magnetic cores were used as the primary memory and
magnetic tape and magnetic disks as secondary storage devices. In this generation,
assembly language and high-level programming languages like FORTRAN,
COBOL were used. The computers used batch processing and multiprogramming
operating system.
Features, Examples & Evolution
Description:
Simple and well-organized notes on the five generations of computers, explaining
their features, technology used, and examples. Perfect for nursing, IT, and general
education students to understand how computers have evolved over time.
Includes:
• Definition of computer generation
• Five generations – vacuum tubes to artificial intelligence
• Main components and technology used in each generation
• Advantages, limitations, and examples
• Comparison between generations
Highlights:
• Easy-to-understand format with clear points
• Ideal for class notes, assignments, and exams
• Great for beginners learning computer history and evolution
Subject: Computer Science / General Education / Nursing Informatics
Best for: Students preparing for exams, practical, or computer
fundamentals courses
, Generations of Computers
Computer Generation
Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was
being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying
hardware technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and
software, which together make up an entire computer system.
There are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been
discussed in detail along with their time period and characteristics. In the following
table, approximate dates against each generation have been mentioned, which are
normally accepted.
Following are the main five generations of computers.
,
, First Generation
The period of first generation was from 1946-1959. The computers of first
generation used vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory and circuitry
for CPU (Central Processing Unit). These tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot
of heat and the installations used to fuse frequently. Therefore, they were very
expensive and only large organizations were able to afford it. In this generation,
mainly batch processing operating system was used. Punch cards, paper tape, and
magnetic tape was used as input and output devices. The computers in this
generation used machine code as the programming language.
The main features of the first generation are:
❖ Vacuum tube technology
❖ Unreliable
❖ Supported machine language only
❖ Very costly
❖ Generates lot of heat
❖ Slow input and output devices
❖ Huge size
❖ Need of AC
❖ Non-portable
❖ Consumes lot of electricity
Some computers of this generation were:
➤ ENIAC
➤ EDVAC
➤UNIVAC
➤ IBM-701
➤IBM-750
, Advantage & Disadvantage of First generation of computer
➤ Advantages:
1. It made use of vacuum tubes which are the only electronic component
available during those days.
2. These computers could calculate in milliseconds.
➤ Disadvantages:
1. These were very big in size; weight was about 30 tones.
2. These computers were based on vacuum tubes.
3. These computers were very costly.
4. It could store only a small amount of information due to the presence of
magnetic drums.
5. As the invention of first-generation computers involves vacuum tubes, so
another disadvantage of these computers was, vacuum tubes require a large
cooling system.
6. Very less work efficiency.
7. Limited programming capabilities and punch cards were used to take inputs.
8. Large amount of energy consumption.
9. Not reliable and constant maintenance is required.
Second Generation Computers
The period of second generation was from 1959-1965. In this generation,
transistors were used that were cheaper, consumed less power, more compact in
size, more reliable and faster than the first-generation machines made of vacuum
tubes. In this generation, magnetic cores were used as the primary memory and
magnetic tape and magnetic disks as secondary storage devices. In this generation,
assembly language and high-level programming languages like FORTRAN,
COBOL were used. The computers used batch processing and multiprogramming
operating system.
