2. EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS
(7 Stages)
THE EARLY YEARS
FIRST GENERATION COMPUTERS
SECOND GENERATION COMPUTERS
THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS
FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
NEW ERA GENERATION
3. THE EARLY YEAR
Year Invention
200 BC Chinese Abacus (First counting machine)
500 BC Egyptian Abacus
1620 John Napier invented Napier’s Bone (Multiplication table
carves on bones)
1653 Blaise Pascal invented Pascaline
1673 Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz invented Leibniz’s
Rechner (which use first binary mathematics calculating
machine)
1801 Joseph Marie Jacquard invented weaving loom (using
punch card technology)
1823 Charles Babbage invented mechanical calculator machine.
1941 Mark 1 was invented in . The first computer which is slow,
expensive and unreliable. It uses mechanical switches
4. FIRST GENERATION COMPUTER
(1939-1954)
Use Vacuum Tube
Size : Huge
Examples :
MARK 1 (1941)
ENIAC (1946)
UNIVAC (1951)
Problems:
The vacuum tubes generated great deal of heat
causing many problems in temperature regulation
and climate control.
The tubes burnt out frequently.
People operating the computer did not know that
the problem was in the programming machine.
5. SECOND GENERATION COMPUTER
(1954 – 1959)
lots of problem created by vacuum tubes.
The famous computer scientists during the second
generation era were:
1) John Bardeen
2) Walter Houser Brattain
3) William Shockley
The creation of transistor sparks the production of
second generation computers.
Transistor is a small devices use to transfer
electronic signal across a resistor.
6. SECOND GENERATION COMPUTER
(1954 – 1959)
The advantages of transistor:
i. Smaller than vacuum tubes
ii. Need no warm up time
iii. Consumed less energy
iv. Generated much less heat
v. Faster
vi. More reliable
7. THIRD GENERATION COMPUTER
(1959 - 1971)
Examples of computer created :
a) IBM 370 series were introduced in 1964 - used for
business and scientific programs.
b) CDC 7600,
c) BZ 500.
New hardware technology:
Silicone chip were manufactured in 1961 at the silicone
valley.
Integrated circuit technology, which had reduced the
size and cost of computers. It is a complete electronic
circuit or a small chip of silicone which is also known as
semiconductor.
The magnetic core memory was replaced by microchip.(The
first 253 bit RAM, basis for the development of the 1K bit
RAM).
8. THIRD GENERATION COMPUTER
(1959 - 1971)
Advantages:
Silicone chips were reliable, compact and cheaper.
Sold hardware and software separately which created
the software industry.
Customer service industry flourished (reservation and
credit checks)
Software technology:
More sophisticated
Several programs run at the same time
Sharing computer resources
Support interactive processing
9. FOURTH GENERATION
(1971 – 1991)
Many types of computer models such as:
Apple Macintosh
IBM
DELL
ACER
In 1971, Intel created first microprocessor
In 1976, Steve Jobs built the first Apple computer
In 1981, IBM introduced its first personal computer (PC)
Among the famous inventors in fourth generations were:
Bill Gates who invented Microsoft
Michael Dell who invented Dell Computer
10. FOURTH GENERATION
(1971 – 1991)
Hardware technology:
Microprocessor - a specialized chip developed for
computer memory and logic
- it is a large-scale integrated circuit which
contained thousands of transistors.
The transistors on this one chip are capable of
performing all of the functions of a computer’s central
processing unit.
Storage devices (hard disk, diskette)
Advantages:
100 times smaller than ENIAC (the first computer)
Faster
Reliable
Greater storage capacity
Personal and software industry boomed
11. FIFTH GENERATION
(1991 - PRESENT AND BEYOND)
New hardware technology:
Silicone chips
Processor
Robotics
Virtual reality
Intelligent system
Programs which translate languages
12. NEW ERA COMPUTER
(Creation of different types of computer)
Super Computers –
fastest, most powerful, most expensive.
Used in applications such as sending astronauts into
space, testing safety and aerodynamic features on cars and
aircraft, controlling missile guidance systems, and weather
forecasting which required extreme accuracy and immense
speed to perform the complex calculation.
Mainframe computers –
large, expensive, powerful computer that can handle
hundreds or thousands of connected user simultaneously.
use in large organization to handle high volume processing
of business transactions and routine paperwork.
13. NEW ERA COMPUTER
(Creation of different types of computer)
Mini computer –
medium size computer
usually used as servers, with several PCs or other devices
networked to access the midrange computer’s resources.
Personal computers –
small computer system, designed to be used by one
person at a time
widely used in small and large businesses Examples:
tracking merchandise, billing customer, manage company
accounts.
14. NEW ERA COMPUTER
(Creation of different types of computer)
Mobile computers –
personal computer that you can carry from
place to place
Expert system –
teleconferencing, speech recognition system.
