Evolution of the Computer

Computers have technically been in use since the ‘Abacus’ approximately 5000 years ago.

The computer was born in the attempt to make an adding machine.

Adding machine (1642) - Blaise Pascal [1st Mathematical machine]
Mechanical loom with punch card system  (1801) – Joseph Jacquard

Analytical engine using punch card concept (1837) – Charles Babbage
This was based on

• input
• process
• output
• storage

So ‘Charles Babbage’ is the ‘Father of Computing’ 

Writes programs for the Analytical engine - Madam Ada Augusta Lovelace [The 1st Programmer]
Automatic Sequence Control Calculator (1944) - Howard Aiken [MARK 1]

Before 1944, all the versions of earlier computers were ‘Mechanical’ in nature.

Since 1944, the automated versions of the computers were categorized into various generations

First Generation Computers

First Generation Computers

Period	: 1940 – 1956
Major hardware technology	: Vacuum tubes
Input device	: Punch cards
Processing device	: Punch cards
Output device	: Punch cards
Storage device	: Punch cards
Main features	: Machine language & Assembly language were used
	Stored Program concept
Characteristics	: High heat generation
	Slow in processing
	Huge in size
	Not portable
	Consume a lot of electricity
	Expensive
Example Models	: ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC, UNIVAC, IBM 701
Size	: Mainframe

Vacuum tubes

Second Generation Computers

Second Generation Computers

Period	: 1956 - 1963
Major hardware technology	: Transistors
Input device	: Punch cards
Memory device	: RAM , ROM
Processing device	: Punch cards
Output device	: Punch cards
Storage device	: Magnetic tape and Floppy disks
Main features	: High level programming language & Assembly language
Characteristics	: Less heat generation, Perform operations in micro sec
	Smaller in size
	Low power consumption
	Comparatively faster than 1st generation
	Expensive, Air conditioning required
Example Models	: Honey well 400, IBM 7030, CDC 1604, UNIVAC LARC
Size	: Mainframe

Transistors

Third Generation Computers

Third Generation Computers

Period	: 1964 - 1975
Major hardware technology	: Integrated Circuit (IC)
Input device	: Keyboard, Mouse
Processing device	: Processor
Memory device	: DRAM , PROM
Output device	: Monitor screen
Storage device	: Hard disk drive, Magnetic tape and Floppy disks
Main features	: Birth of Operating Systems (OS)
	Well developed programming languages
	High level computer languages for coding
Characteristics	: Smaller in size, More reliable
	Less heat generation
	Comparatively faster than 2nd generation
	Expensive, Good storage
	Lower power consumption
Example Models	: IBM 360/370, PDP-8, PDP-11, CDC-6600
Size	: Minicomputer

Integrated Circuit (IC)

Fourth  Generation Computers

Period	: 1975 - 1989
Major hardware technology	: Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits (VLSIC)
Input device	: Keyboard, Mouse, Joy stick, Trackball
Memory device	: SRAM, EPROM
Processing device	: Micro Processor
Output device	: Monitor, Printer
Storage device	: IDE Hard disk, CD, Floppy disk
Main features	: Birth of Operating Systems with GUI
	UNIX OS
Characteristics	: Very small in size, General purpose
	Portable, No air conditioning required
	Upgradable, Low maintenance cost
	Calculations in Picoseconds
Example Models	: IBM PC, Apple II
Size	: Micro computers

Fifth Generation Computers

Period	: 1990 - Present
Major hardware technology	: Ultra Large Scale Integrated Circuits (ULSIC)
Input device	: All present day input devices
Memory device	: EEPROM,DIMM, SIMM
Processing device	: Intel Core i3 or higher
Output device	: Monitor, Printer & Projector
Storage device	: SATA Hard disk, CD, DVD, Flash drive, SD card
Main features	: Operating Systems with GUI
	Internet and multi – media applications
	Voice recognition based on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
	Character recognition
	Hand – writing recognition system
Characteristics	: Portable
	Less Expensive
	Smaller in size
	Easy operation
	High reliability
	High efficiency
Example Models	: IBM notebooks, Pentium PCs, Sun workstations,
	Digital diary, Palm top