5- GENERATION OF COMPUTER

 

The history of computer has been divided into 5 parts. The fundamental principle of each computer generation and a part of it develops in a new form, a new generation begins. The main fundamental principle are given below:

1. Increase in speed of works.
   
2. Shrink in size.
3. be cheaper.
4. Easiness.
5. Increase in storage capacity.
6. Increase in new applications.

Changes in the above fundamental principles, whether it is software or hardware, have also seen a change in the use and design of computers. Keeping all these changes in mind, the generation of computer has been told along with its duration given below:

 

1. First generation of computer (1946 - 1955)
2. Second generation of computer (1956 - 1964)
3. Third generation of computer (1965- 1970)
4. Fourth generation of computer (1971 - 1990)
5. Fifth generation of computer (1991 - till date)

First generation of Computer (1946 - 1955):

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 first generation computer are:

• It was installed in a room.
• The vacuum tube technology was used in this period's computer. 
• Its weight was 30 to 50 tons.
• It was very expensive.
• Air condition was required to keep it cool.
• It was based on the principle of Punch Card.
• Magnetic tape and paper tape were used as internal memory.
• In this generation, computers were used Assembly and Machine language.
• The first generation computer required 140-150 Kilo Watts of Electric power.
  

Some computer of first generation were ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator), EDVAC (Electronic Descrete Variable Automatic Computer), UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer), IBM-701, IBM-705 etc.

Second generation of Computer (1956 - 1964):

The three individual credited with the invention of Transistor were William Shockley, John Bardeen, Walter Britain (December 23, 1947)  at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey. From their creation they replaced the vacuum tubes in the first generation computers. The transistor was more advanced than the vacuum tubes as a result it allowed for second generation computers to be smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy efficient and more reliable than the first generation computers.

 

The main features of second generation computer are:

• Use of Transistors.
  
  
  
• Reliable in comparison to first generation computers.
• Smaller size as compared to first generation computers.
• Generates less heat as compared to first generation computers.
• Consumed less electricity as compared to first generation computers.
• Faster than first generation computers.
• It was also costly.
• AC required.
• Supported Assembly and Machine language.

 

Some computers of second generation were IBM-1620, IBM-7094, CDC-1604, CDC-3600, UNIVAC-1108 etc.

 

Third generation of Computer (1965 - 1970):

The computers of third generation used Integrated Circuits (ICs) in place of transistors. A single IC has many transistors, resistors, and capacitors along with the associated circuitry. The IC was invented by Jack Kilby in 1958. 

The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers.

 

Many programming languages like COBOL, PASCAL, PL/1, FORTRAN-2 to 5, and ALGOL-68 were also used in the 3rd generation computers.

 

The main features of third generation are:

• Use of IC (Integrated Circuit).
  
  
  
• The trend of the computer series are began from this generation.
• With the creation of Operating System program, all the internal works of the computer was automated.
• BASIC language development in High Level Languages which was easy to learn and work.
• Due to small in size, it was named Minicomputer.
• The AC was still in need.
• Consumed lesser electricity than Second generation.
• More reliable in comparison to two previous generations.
• The development and use of Word Processing began in the third generation.
• The speed of computer work increased.
• It is cheaper than previous generations. 

Some computer of third generation are IBM-360 series, Honeywell-6000 series, PDP, IBM-370/168, TDC-316, ICL-2900 etc.

Fourth generation of Computer (1971 - 1990):

Computers of fourth generation used Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 100000 transistors and other circuit elements with their associated circuits on a single chip made it possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation.

 

Marcian “Ted” Hoff is best known as the architect of the first microprocessor 'The Intel 4004'. Released in November 1971, the 'Intel 4004 ' sparked the microprocessor revolution that came to define Silicon Valley. The Intel chip housed thousands of integrated circuits. The year 1981 saw the first ever computer (IBM-PC) specifically designed for home use. Microsoft Corporation was founded by Bill Gates, built operating system like DOS, WINDOWS and today we use it. 

All the high-level languages like C, C+, C++,Java, dBASE etc., were used in this generation.

The main features of fourth generation are:

• VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) technology are used in this generation.
  
  
  
• Very cheap than previous generations.
  
• Portable and reliable.
• People started to know by the name of Personal Computer (PC).
• Pipeline processing.
• Semiconductor began to be used as internal memory.
• Design support systems involved in this generation.
• Spreadsheets, Applications, Database works, software developed in this generation.

Some computer of this generation are DEC-10, STAR-1000, PDP-11, CRAY-1, CRAY-X-MP etc. 

Fifth generation of Computer (1991-to till date):

The fifth generation of computers is currently running. In the fifth generation, VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology. The ULSI having about ten million of electronic components. The computer size reduced in portable and took it on a table. This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software.Through the AI (Artificial Intelligence), the computer think like human beings and act it.

 

The network started being used by computers of this period. Through the internet, the data exchange was possible by any computer in the world. 

The main features of fifth generation are:

• Use of ULSI technology.
• Development of true artificial intelligence.
• Development of natural language processing.
• The size of computer was changed to Desktop, Laptop, Palmtop and IPad.
• Internet was used in this generation.
• Advancement in parallel processing.
• Advancement in Semiconductor Technology.
• Multimedia began to be used as a combination of sound, visual and picture.
• Availability in cheaper rates.
• More user-friendly interfaces.

Some computers of this generation are Desktop, Laptop, Palmtop, Notebook, Ultra-book, Chromebook etc. 

 

 

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4- EVOLUTION OF COMPUTER

Humans have been trying to develop machines for a long time that can assist them with performing calculations and processing data. As populations grew and societies became more sophisticated over time, the need to process data increased dramatically. 

 

Hundreds of scientists and mathematicians spent their valuable time and money making instruments to get answer to difficult questions. The period of computer evolution, respected people and their instruments are given below:

Abacus:

The abacus is the most ancient and first calculating device known. It is the most primitive form of calculating device, invented somewhere between 300 and 500 BC. Abacus has traveled a long way and had transitions as it traveled through different countries. The Suanpan, one of the modern age Chinese abacus had 2/5 decks, but due to its complexity was replaced by Soroban abacus, a Japanese abacus, that was modified by a famous mathematician Seki Kowa. 

 

 

An abacus consists of a wooden frame, rods, and beads. Each rod represents a different place value—ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on. Each bead represents a number, usually 1 or 5, and can be moved along the rods. Addition and subtraction can easily be performed by moving beads along the wires of the abacus.

 

John Napier's Bone:

John Napier, the inventor of logarithms, also invented this aid to calculation known as 'Napier's Bones' in 1617. The 'bones' consist of a set of rectangular rods, each marked with a counting number at the top, and the multiples of that number down their lengths.

 

 

Set of Napier's bones in boxwood, in a boxwood case. John Napier (1550-1617), discoverer of logarithms, also created this popular calculating tool known as Napier's cylindrical 'rods' or 'bones'. Napier's bones reduced multiplication to a sequence of simple additions and could also be used for division and to calculate square roots.  

 
 

Blaize Pascal's Pascaline:

Blaize Pascal invented the mechanical calculator in 1645 is called Pascaline. This calculating machine could add and subtract two numbers directly and multiply and divide by repetition. The same system works in the speedometer available in cars and scooters even today.

 

 

Samuel Morland's Calculating machine:

The polymath Samuel Morland, was a notable English academic, diplomat, spy, inventor and mathematician of the 17th century, credited with early developments in relation to computing, hydraulics and steam power. He is an important person for this site, because in 1660s he devised a total of three calculating machines—one for trigonometry (1663), one for addition and subtraction (1666) and one for multiplication and division (1662). Morland's calculating machines became rather popular and London instrument-makers were still selling Morland's calculators as late as 1710.

Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz's Reckoner Machine:

In 1671 the German mathematician-philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz designed a calculating machine called the Step Reckoner. (It was first built in 1673.) The Step Reckoner expanded on Pascal's ideas and did multiplication by repeated addition and shifting.

 

Although the stepped reckoner employed the decimal number system (each drum had 10 flutes), Leibniz was the first to advocate use of the binary number system which is fundamental to the operation of modern computers. Leibniz is considered one of the greatest of the philosophers but he died poor and alone. 

 

Joseph Marie Jacquard's Jacquard Loom:

The Jacquard system was developed in 1804–05 by Joseph Marie Jacquard of France, but it soon spread elsewhere. His system improved on the punched-card technology of Jacquard Loom (1745). Jacquard’s loom utilized interchangeable Punch card that controlled the weaving of the cloth so that any desired pattern could be obtained automatically.

 

 The Jacquard Loom is important to computer history because it is the first machine to use interchangeable punch cards to instruct a machine to perform automated tasks. Having a machine that could perform various tasks is similar to today's computer program that can be programmed to perform different tasks. 

Charles Babbage's Difference & Analytical Engine:

Charles Babbage, English mathematician and inventor who is credited with having conceived the first automatic Digital Computer. In 1812 Babbage helped found the Analytical Society, whose object was to introduce developments from the European continent into English Mathematics. The idea of mechanically calculating mathematical tables first came to Babbage in 1812 or 1813. Later he made a small calculator that could perform certain mathematical computations to eight decimals. Then in 1823 he obtained government support for the design of a projected machine, the Difference Engine, with a 20-decimal capacity.

 

 

During the mid-1830s Babbage developed plans for the Analytical Engine, the forerunner of the modern Digital Computer. In that device he envisioned the capability of performing any arithmetical operation on the basis of instructions from punched cards, a memory unit in which to store numbers, sequential control, and most of the other basic elements of the present-day computer.

Charles Babbage is considered the “father of the computer” and is given credit for devising the first ever mechanical computer. His design served as the blue print for other, more complex machines.

 

 

Herman Hollerith's Census Tabulator:

In 1896, Herman Hollerith built a machine powered by electricity, which was called Census Tabulator. In the same year, the Hollerith established a company named 'Tabulating Machine Company' for making punch card. In 1911 TMC merged with two other companies (Computing Scale Company of America and International Time Recording Company) to become the Calculating-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR). It would merge with several other firms in 1924 and was renamed International Business Machine (IBM).

 

 

Dr. Howard Hathaway Aiken's Mark-I:

Howard Aiken, in full Howard Hathaway Aiken, mathematician who invented the Harvard Mark-1 in 1944, forerunner of the modern Electronic Digital Computer. It was the first Electric Mechanical Computer.

The IBM ASCC(Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator) named the Harvard Mark I, was the first of a series of four computers associated with Howard Aiken. Mark I and Mark II were electromagnetic, using relays, but Mark III and Mark IV had a variety of electronic components, including vacuum tubes and solid-state transistors.

 

 

John Vincent Atanasoff's ABC: 

John Vincent Atanasoff hired a particularly bright electrical engineering student, Cliford E. Berry, to help him accomplish his goal. With his background in electronics and mechanical construction skills, the brilliant and inventive Berry was the ideal partner for Atanasoff. They worked at developing and improving the ABC or Atanasoff-Berry Computer, as it was later named, from 1939 until 1945. It was the first Electronic Digital Computer.

 

The final product was the size of a desk, weighed 700 pounds, had over 300 vacuum tubes, and contained a mile of wire. It could calculate about one operation every 15 seconds.  

 

When World War II interrupted work on the ABC, Atanasoff and Berry moved on to other jobs and projects. J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, developers of the ENIAC machine at the University of Pennsylvania, were the first to patent an electronic digital computer. 

 

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3- INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTER

The basic need of human beings are energy, elements and information. The human beings constantly researched about energy and elements for many years and have been consuming it. For this no need work hard, just by spending some money and get it. But information is a resource that is constantly on the path of development. Scientist are constantly doing new research and making information easier. The human have developed the computers to complex calculations and information processing easy to use daily life. 

 

A computer is a device that collects information and present them in a planned manner when it is needed. The computer is a fast and an accurate electronic device, which processes data and gives us correct results. With the invention of computer, the life of man has become more comfortable and easy. 

 

The computer word 'COMPUTE' originated from the Latin word, its meaning CALCULATE. So, we can say logically, any device that can calculate data, is called computer.

 

computer is an electronic device that control by a set of instructions (called programme), processes the data and generate the information.

 

However, Computer is an electronic device that accept data from the input device, processes  them by processor and send to output device as information.

 

Computer is not only an electronic device, it can do thousands of tasks like word processing, accounting, drawing, draw graph, photo editing, animation, designing, playing game, entertainment, listen audio songs and watch videos etc.

 

Data processing, manipulation of data by a computer. It includes the conversion of raw data to machine-readable form, flow of data through the memory and processor to output devices, and formatting or transformation of output. Any use of computers to perform defined operations on data can be included under data processing.

 

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Utilities of Computer

A computer is a general purpose tools, which can do a variety of jobs. You can use a computer for different application by changing various kind of software packages. Some common uses of computer are shown in figure given below:

 

Scientific Research:

Computer was first used in scientific research. The speed and the accuracy of a computer enabled scientific analysis carrier out vary fast.

 

Computer controlled robots are used in the areas where there in danger to human life. For example, computer is used in nuclear research and deep sea investigations.

 

Computer are now an integral part of teaching technique in Universities and research institutes, without computer researches find it very difficult to carry out  their studies.

Business Application:

Computer are used even by small or broad traders or industries to keep their accounts and inventory etc. all over the world. A computer gives updated information about the business position to the management in text and graphic form such charts, graphs etc.

 

Hence, managers can take decision concerning the business correctly and without any delay. Using the computer, managers can also do simulation or what if analysis to know the impact of their decision on the business at a future date.

 
When tax time arrives, you can be prepared by accessing financial records that you've kept during the year on a computer. Accounting software helps people manage money, create budgets, track sales and monitor resource usage.

 

 

Medical & Medicine:

In the medical field, computers are used from the simple job of keeping the records of patients to the complex job such as helping surgeons in controlling robots during surgery. Computer can be made to monitor heart beat, blood pressure etc. and maintain patient's history.

 

The computer help the scientists to access the internet, which has become a main source of medical information in today’s society, the computer store can serve as the best ways of housing medicine information, Medical journals, research and diagnosis papers, grand medical documents and quotation books can be stored in the electronic format.

 

 

Computers in pharmacy are used for the information of drug data, records and files, drug management (creating, modifying, adding and deleting data in patient files to generate reports), business details. The field of pharmacy is awe fully benefited by use of computers getting and comparing the information to yield an accurate study. In field of operation like new drug discovery, drug design analysis, and manufacturing of drugs and in hospital pharmacy computers are widely used. The drug discovery, designing, manufacturing and analysis have become virtually possible only through the development of upcoming various hard wares and soft wares. Receiving the details, storing it and processing it and its dissemination is the main role of computers and this continuous flow of information shows effective functioning of any system. 

 

Engineering design:

One of the major uses of computer technology in engineering is with CAD software. Computer aided design software is the application of computer technology for the purposes of design. This industrial art is now widely used in many traditional industries, such as automobile manufacturing, shipbuilding, aerospace, architectural projects and even special effects in movies.  

 

All cars manufactured used a computer today. It is in charge of monitoring engine emissions and adjusting the engine to keep emissions as low as possible. They used computer to receives information from a many different sensors, including:

• The oxygen sensor
  
  
  
• The air pressure sensor
• The air temperature sensor
• The engine temperature sensor
• The throttle position sensor
• The knock sensor
• The oxygen sensor

Using the information from these sensors, the computer can control things like the fuel injectors, spark plugs and the idle speed to get the best performance possible from the engine while keeping emissions low. The computer can also sense when something has gone wrong and can inform the driver with the "Check Engine" light. A mechanic can read a diagnostic code from the computer and fix the problem.

 

Banking service:

Banks are major users of a computer. Complete book keeping of the bank accounts is done by the computers. Information about deposit, withdrawal, interest calculation, Loans etc. are managed by computers.

 

When different branches of a bank are connected through the internet network, inter branch transaction such as cheque clearing, can also be done by computers immediately. Also one can deposit and withdrawal money from any branch of the same bank if branches of the bank are interconnected.

 

One can use the ATM (Automated Teller Machines) to deposit and withdraw cash 24 hours. 

 

Railway and Aviation:

A computer reservation system is a computerized system used to store and retrieve information. Services such as ticket reservation systems, or capability such as online help, available directly through a computer system or under its direct control. In the other hand we find the train live, available seat, train schedule. The railway also used to control the signal, track by the computerized controller. 

 

 

Computers have become crucial to the airline industry. They are used to book tickets, plan flights, schedule aircraft and crew, oversee maintenance, and set fares. From ticket reservations to aircraft design and manufacture, computers have helped airline operations become more efficient and flexible. 

 

Accounting:

A computer helps accountants store and access financial records, make changes and alleviate the need to keep paper files. Computer programmers and operators are the creators and managers of computerized accounting systems. The systems make it easier for staff to perform tasks usually entrusted to accountants. The storage capacity of a computer helps reduce costs and makes financial information more readily accessible. Financial files that require storage can be transferred to CDs, flash drives or other storage devices.

 

Education:

With the use of computers, a student’s life has been made very convenient. By just using this device, students can write and research their school works online. Including computers as one of the learning tools in school is essential. With the use of computers, students are more likely to enjoying studies, resulting in better performance.

 

The Computer Based Test (CBT), Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) program are available, using which, you can take test & learn from the basic to advanced subjects such as maths, physics, chemistry, biology, botany etc.

 

Computer Games:

We can  play games on computer. It can be entertainment or educational. Playing games is an important part of our social and mental development. The research was initiated to identify the game type most suitable to our teaching environment and to identify game elements that students found interesting or useful within the different game types. Action games put you in the position of fighting your way through difficult situation. You can simulate to be a space pilot fighting off space invaders or you may act to be a pudgy little fellow being chased by ghosts.

Internet:

Computers are most commonly used in internet. Internet is not possible without a computer. Because of this, the whole world is confined in one village today. 

 

 

Internet is a world wide, distributed information stored on computer and collaboration between different computer users and there is a medium of contact, in which it is possible to exchange information without any region, country or discrimination.  

A part of these, there is more use of computer area but it is not possible to discuss about of all. These are like Personal use, Book Publishing, Insurance, Entertainment, Communication, Multimedia, E-commerce, Weather, Sports, Defence etc.

 

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Characteristics of Computer

The characteristics of the computer have made so powerful and universally useful. There are various characteristics of computer system depending on their size, capacity and specification. Here some major characteristics are:

• Speed
• Storage
• Accuracy
• Diligence
• Reliability
• Automation
  

Speed:

The computer works extremely fast. A normal computer works in a millionth part of a second. Any powerful computer can multiply two different 18 digit numbers in a few nano seconds. A chart of a computer speed are given below:

 

        1 Micro second = 1/1,000,000 = One million part of a second.

        1 Nano second  = 1/1,000,000,000 = One billion part of a second.

        1 Pico second   = 1/1,000,000,000,000 = One trillion part of a second.

 

Storage:

The data storage capacity of a computer is very high. A computer can store billions of words in a very little space. Computer stores all types of data such as images, texts, sounds, videos, programmes, games etc. and make its available in a few nano seconds. 

 

The smallest units of its collection is the byte which consists of 8 bits. 1 bytes is equal to 8 bits. 1 byte is equal to a character as 'A', 'B', '1' or '2' etc. 'A' is a character equal to a byte. The storage capacity of a computer can thus be understood:

 

Accuracy:

Computer does its work without any fault. If we multiply 2 different numbers of 10 digits, we make mistake many times. But computers can multiply 2 different numbers of 38 digits without any mistake. If we gives wrong data or program then the result is obtained incorrectly, the computer itself does not make a mistake.

 

Diligence:

 Computer is an electronic machine. Therefore, it can do any work for hours without any exhaustion. Human beings gets tired and bored while any one task but computer maintains its balance and constantly finishes the work as efficiently as it is fresh and pure at the time of initiation.

 

Reliability:

The power of reliability is very high. Provides data kept for many years without any hassle. Today every major industry and companies in the world have full confidence in their computers, and their entire business is running from computers. Data place to another place is transported through a computer in a very short time. The computer does all its work very honestly. Night or day, the computer continues its work without being tired. Today this is the reason why big e-commerce companies and industries blindly trust computers.

 

Automation:

A computer is an automatic machine because once started on a job they carry on until the job is finished without any human assistance. 

 
Once a program is in the computer's memory, the individual instructions are then transferred, one after the other, to the control unit for execution. The CPU follows these instructions until it meets a last instruction which says 'stop program execution'.  It means that once the process had begun, it would continue without the need for human intervention until completion.

 

The characteristics of computer are cannot be counted in finger. A part from the above, there are many other characteristics, which are as Versatility, Quick Decision, Multitasking, No feeling, Power of remembering, No IQ etc.

 

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