Computer Notes For Competitive exams -Fundamentals of computer chapter 1

by

Chapter 1 – Fundamentals of computer

Generations of computer

There are five generations of computer which are following –

First Generation (1940-1956)

  • Computers were huge in size .
  • Electricity consumption was very high.
  • Not capable of multitasking.
  • Vacuum tubes used .
  • Machine language used.
  • Examples – ENIAC, UNIVAC

Second Generation ( 1956-1965)

  • Assembly language used
  • Electricity consumption reduced.
  • Transistors were used in place of Vacuum tubes.
  • Less expensive as compare to first generation.
  • Examples – IBM 1401

Third Generation (1965-1971)

  • High level language used.
  • Multitasking could be done.
  • IC Chips used in place of transistors.
  • Example – IBM 360

Fourth Generation (1972-2010)

  • Microprocessor was used.
  • Very less electricity consumption.
  • VLSI ( Very Large Scale Integration) used.
  • Graphical user interface was developed.
  • Storage and speed also improved.
  • Example – Apple II 

Fifth Generation (2010-till now)

  • Aritificial intelligence is used. Father of A.I – John McCarthy
  • Devices are Faster , cost effective, easily portable , less consumption of electricity .
  • ULSI (Ultra Large Scale integration) used.
  • Example – Windows 8 , Windows 10

Classification of computers-

Based on size-

1. SUPER COMPUTER-

  • These are largest,fastest and most expensive.
  • These are used for massive data processing and solving very complicated problems like weather forecasting, weapon research and development, rocketing, atomic, nuclear and plasma physics.
  • The performance of supercomputer is measured in FLOPS

Leave a Comment