Comparison of Computer Generation

There are five computer generation, the following table summarise all main features comparison of related generation as:

Features	First Generation	Second Generation	Third Generation	Fourth Generation	Fifth Generation
Period	1946-1959	1959-1965	1965-1971	1971-1985	1985-now
Electronic Item	Vaccum Tube	Transistor	Integrated Circuit	Microprocessor	VLSIC
Language	Machine	Assembly	High Level Language	High Level Language	High Level Language
Storage	Punch Card	Magnetic Tape	Internal Memory	Internal Memory	Internal Memory
Example	ENIAC	IBM-700, ATLAS	PDP Series's computer, CDC-1700	IBM-PC, ZX-SPECTRUM	Super Computer, Robot

Table: Comparison of Computer Generation with its features

Fifth Computer Generation

The timing of Fifth Computer Generation: 1985 - now

The main characteristic of fifth generation computer is as following:

• Fifth generation computers uses Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit (VLSIC) technique.
• These generation have Artificial Intelligence (AI), hence these computes can take the self decision.
• These generation used in scientist laboratories.
• These computer is too much expensive and processing speed of too much high so these types computers also knows Knowledge Information Process System (KIPS).
• Example of Fifth generation computers: Super Computers, Robot etc.

Fourth Computer Generation

Fourth Generation Computer Timing: 1971-1985

This generation computers are more advanced to other its previous generation computers.
The scientist Ted Haff makes the first microprocessor of the world in 1971.

The main characteristics of fourth generation computers is as following:

• This generation computers used the microprocessor.
• This generation computer used many type high level language like as BASIC, COBOL, PASCAL etc.
• The storage capacity is too much of these generation computers.
• The processing speed is too fast compared to previous generation computers. These computers speed counting in microsecond, nanosecond and picosecond and corresponding lower unit.
• These computer size is small and easy to operator and carry, hence this generation computers are too much famous.
• Example of fourth generation computers: IBM-PC, ZX-SPECTRUM etc.

Third Computer Generation

Third generation of computer was introduced when there were comes IC(Integrated Circuit).
Integrated Circuit is a powerful electronic thing that was makes to merging of many transistor.
The main characteristic of third generation computers as following:

• The third Generation computer used IC that was more powerful to transistor.
• The third Generation computer uses High Level Language (HLL).The first High Level Language is FORTRAN.
• First time, the third Generation computers are used the internal memory for storage the data.
• This generation computers are small, easy to operator, easy to carry and processing speed is more comparison to second generation computer.
• Example of third Generation computers: PDP series's computer, CDC-1700

Second Computer Generation

"A small  but powerful discovery change all the thing of the world."

The above sentence fit in the second computer generation, when transistor comes.
Transistor was invented by William Shockly and his team at the Bell laboratories.
Transistor is an electronic item that was make semi-conductor metal. As compare of working capacity of transistor with Vaccum Tube is too much so its replaced Vaccum Tube and its second generation of computer comes.

The important features of second generation computer as following:

• The second generation computer uses Transistor.
• The second generation computer works on Assembly language i.e. it is mnemonic codes that was easy to write and understand compare to machine language code.
• The second generation computer uses Magnetic Tape for storage the data.
• The second generation computers are small, easy to carry, easy to operator comparison to first generation computer.
• Example of the second generation computers: IBM-700, ATLAS

First Computer Generation

The first computer comes since 1946 named ENIAC. ENIAC stand for Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator. ENIAC invented by J.P.Eckert and J.W.Mauchiy. The characteristic of first computer generation is as following:

• The first generations computers used Vacuum Tube or Diode Valve.
• The first generations computers works on the machine language i.e. all working is done with 0 and 1.
• The first generation computers used magnetic drums or punch card for storage the data.
• The first generation computers is too large in size so too difficult to transport for one palace to another.
• The first generation computers consumes too much electricity.
• Example of first generation computers: UNIVAC, ENIAC

Decrease Character Pyramid

Q. Write a C program to print the following decrease character pyramid as:

EEEEE
DDDD
CCC
BB
A

Ans.

/*c program for decrease number pyramid*/
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{

 char ch,p,r,c;
 printf("Enter any character : ");
 scanf("%c", &ch);
 if(ch>='a' && ch<='z')
    ch=ch-32;
 p=ch;
 for(r='A'; r<=ch; r++,p--)
 {
   for(c='A'; c<=p; c++)
      printf("%c",p);
   printf("\n");
 }
 getch();
 return 0;
}

/**************************************************************

The output of above program would be:

***************************************************************/

Figure: Screen shot for decrease character pyramid C program

Number Decrease to Zero Triangle

Q. Write a C program to print the following number decrease to zero triangle pattern as:

     0
    101
   21012
  3210123
 432101234

Ans.

/*c program for number decrease triangle*/
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
 int num,r,c,sp;
 printf("Enter max number : ");
 scanf("%d", &num);
 for(r=0; r<=num; r++)
 {
   for(sp=r; sp<num; sp++)
       printf(" ");
   for(c=r; c>=0; c--)
       printf("%d",c);
   for(c=1; c<=r; c++)
       printf("%d",c);
   printf("\n");
 }
 getch();
 return 0;
}

/************************************************************

The output of above program would be:

************************************************************/

Figure: Screen shot for Number Decrease to Zero Triangle C program

What is Computer Generation

In last post we read about what is computer. From Abcus to modern computer timing is called to computer generation. Each computer generation have specific features, and these features are more advances then those computer goes to higher computer generation.

There are five computer generation as:

1. First Generation (1946-1959)
2. Second Generation (1959-1965)
3. Third Generation (1965-1971)
4. Fourth Generation (1971-1985)
5. Fifth Generation (1985- now)

We'll discuss each computer generation detailed in next post.

What is Computer

In today's life, computer is essential part of human life. Computer is so powerful system that do the all type works and decrease the human life problem and increase effective, easy and reliable life.

The word "computer" comes from counting i.e. we can divide word computer in 2 words: compute + er

in other word we can say computer is a machine that can compute all countable thing.

But only countable machine, is it computer?

Absolutely not, because in modern era computer do almost all the stuff of world.

So according to Oxford dictionary:

"Computer is an automatic electronic apparatus for making calculations or controlling operations that are expressible in numerical or logical terms."

in other word, we can say:

"Computer is an electronic apparatus that takes data and instruction from user then as input, process them and give the accordingly result as output."

Input -> Process -> Output

The first apparatus that is makes for computing is named: "Abacus"

It is made in Chaina. Abacus perform only addition and subtraction to do all the computing work. It was too interesting that is uses long time in human life, till the modern computer not comes.

From Abacus to modern computer timing, we divided in five parts, that is called "Computer Generation."