Generations of Computers - First Generation, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Generation

First Generation of Computer

Year	1946-1959
Technology	Vacuum tube
Language	Machine language (0 and 1)
Input Device	Punched cards
Output Device	Punched cards and paper tape
Size	Very bulky, large in size
Storage	Magnetic tapes and magnetic drums for external storage
Important Features	Difficult to handle. Emitted large amount of heat and hence maintained in air conditioning. Limited commercial use. Operating system was not known.

Second Generation of Computer

Year	1959-1965
Technology	Transistor
Language	Assembly language Emergence of high level programming language
Input Device	Punched cards
Output Device	Line printer
Size	Smaller in size
Storage	Magnetic cores, Magnetic tape and Magnetic disk
Important Features	Consumed less power. Smaller, efficient and more reliable than first generation computers. Used the concepts of stored programs. Costlier than first generation.

Third Generation of Computer

Year	1965-1971
Technology	Integrated Chip
Language	High level language (FORTRAN, COBOL, PASCAL, PL/1)
Input Device	Keyboard
Output Device	Monitor
Size	Compact in size
Storage	Magnetic tape, magnetic drums and magnetic cores
Important Features	Weight and power consumption decreased. Increased speed of the computer. Executed million of instructions per second. Used commercially. Cost effective. Concepts of multiprogramming was introduced. Designed more Operating systems. Important given to the software development.

Fourth Generation of Computer

Year	1971-1980
Technology	Very large scale integrated chip, Microprocessor
Language	High level language (like C, C++, Java, PHP, Visual Basic etc.)
Input Device	Keyboard and Mouse
Output Device	Monitor and printer
Size	Smaller and portable
Storage	Semiconductor memory
Important Features	Used object-oriented programming. More reliable and portable. Very small in size. Air Conditioning not needed. Vast development in the field of computer network. Time sharing, Real-time and Distributed operating systems were used. Cost of the computer is very cheap. Concept of internet was introduced. First personal computer was developed. Used by home user.

Fifth Generation of Computer

Year	1980-now
Technology	ULSI(Ultra large scale integrated), contains million of electronics components in a single microprocessor chip
Language	All High level language (like C, C++, Java, PHP, Visual Basic, .Net)
Input Device	Keyboard and Mouse
Output Device	Monitor and printer
Size	Very small and portable, palm size and handheld device
Storage	RAM (Random Access Memory) for primary storage and Hard drive for Secondary storage
Important Features	Works with Artificial Intelligence. Based on parallel processing. Able to recognize natural language as input. Use nanotechnology and quantum technology. Capable to solve complex problem. Today's desktop, laptop and mobiles are in fifth generation devices. Very fast, more powerful and cheaper than all previous generations. Always getting improved.

First Generation of Computer

Year	1946-1959
Technology	Vacuum tube
Language	Machine language (0 and 1)
Input Device	Punched cards
Output Device	Punched cards and paper tape
Size	Very bulky, large in size
Storage	Magnetic tapes and magnetic drums for external storage
Important Features	Difficult to handle. Emitted large amount of heat and hence maintained in air conditioning. Limited commercial use. Operating system was not known.

Second Generation of Computer

Year	1959-1965
Technology	Transistor
Language	Assembly language Emergence of high level programming language
Input Device	Punched cards
Output Device	Line printer
Size	Smaller in size
Storage	Magnetic cores, Magnetic tape and Magnetic disk
Important Features	Consumed less power. Smaller, efficient and more reliable than first generation computers. Used the concepts of stored programs. Costlier than first generation.

Third Generation of Computer

Year	1965-1971
Technology	Integrated Chip
Language	High level language (FORTRAN, COBOL, PASCAL, PL/1)
Input Device	Keyboard
Output Device	Monitor
Size	Compact in size
Storage	Magnetic tape, magnetic drums and magnetic cores
Important Features	Weight and power consumption decreased. Increased speed of the computer. Executed million of instructions per second. Used commercially. Cost effective. Concepts of multiprogramming was introduced. Designed more Operating systems. Important given to the software development.

Fourth Generation of Computer

Year	1971-1980
Technology	Very large scale integrated chip, Microprocessor
Language	High level language (like C, C++, Java, PHP, Visual Basic etc.)
Input Device	Keyboard and Mouse
Output Device	Monitor and printer
Size	Smaller and portable
Storage	Semiconductor memory
Important Features	Used object-oriented programming. More reliable and portable. Very small in size. Air Conditioning not needed. Vast development in the field of computer network. Time sharing, Real-time and Distributed operating systems were used. Cost of the computer is very cheap. Concept of internet was introduced. First personal computer was developed. Used by home user.

Fifth Generation of Computer

Year	1980-now
Technology	ULSI(Ultra large scale integrated), contains million of electronics components in a single microprocessor chip
Language	All High level language (like C, C++, Java, PHP, Visual Basic, .Net)
Input Device	Keyboard and Mouse
Output Device	Monitor and printer
Size	Very small and portable, palm size and handheld device
Storage	RAM (Random Access Memory) for primary storage and Hard drive for Secondary storage
Important Features	Works with Artificial Intelligence. Based on parallel processing. Able to recognize natural language as input. Use nanotechnology and quantum technology. Capable to solve complex problem. Today's desktop, laptop and mobiles are in fifth generation devices. Very fast, more powerful and cheaper than all previous generations. Always getting improved.