Computers: Then and Now

Changes are the phenomenal process in the universe since its evolution. Remember the animated series of Mickey Mouse! The cartoon was a two dimensional series. But today, the technology has turned its head high. We are going to experience the four dimensional movies. And this is made possible by the ever enhancing technology and improving innovation techniques in "Computers". Ever since Charles Babbage invented computer, it has undergone several changes. Now is the time for Tablets.

Let us have a look on the five generations of computer and what it looks today.

The First Generation (1940-1956)

UNIVAC I was the first computer of the first generation. The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory and took an entire room. They were very expensive to operate and used great deal of electricity and generated a lot of heat.

The Second Generation (1956-1963)

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. It was more superior than the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, energy-efficient and more reliable than the first generation computers.

The Third Generation (1964-1971)

The third generation of computers saw the miniature form of transistors which was placed on silicon chips called semiconductors, which increased the speed and efficiency of computers. Users interacted with the computers through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run different applications at one time with a central program monitoring the memory.

The Fourth Generation (1971-present)

The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers. Thousands of integrated circuits we rebuilt onto a single silicon chip. In 1981, IBM introduced its first computer for the home user and in 1984 Apple introduced Macintosh.

The Fifth Generation (Present and Future)

The artificial intelligence-based fifth generation computers are still under the development phase. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.