Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 10 - logicode 2609 C5
P. 10

    In this  fast-paced  world, computers  have become  a necessity.  We  are dependent  on
                      computers to a great extent. Their invention has made our lives easier as they help us carry
                      out several tasks, be it making an airline reservation or paying electricity bills, making

                      railway reservations, online bank transactions, etc.
                      In this chapter, we will learn about categories of computers. Let us recall the journey of

                      computers through different generations.

                                EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS

                      The evolution of computers has been classified into generations. Let us learn about them
                      in detail.

                      FIRST GENERATION (VACUUM TUBE-BASED COMPUTERS)

                      The first generation computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums
                      for memory. They were as large in size as the space of a room.

                      SECOND GENERATION (TRANSISTOR-BASED COMPUTERS)

                      In the 1960s, transistor-based computers replaced vacuum tubes, marking them the
                      second generation of computers. The transistors were far superior to vacuum tubes which
                      allowed the computer to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more efficient and reliable.
                      These were also the first computers that stored instructions in their memory which moved

                      from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology.

                      THIRD GENERATION (INTEGRATED CIRCUIT-BASED COMPUTERS)
                      This generation of computers was built using integrated circuits. Small transistors were placed

                      on silicon chips called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency
                      of computers.

                      FOURTH GENERATION (MICROPROCESSOR-BASED COMPUTERS)
                      In this generation, computers used components like the microprocessor, where micro

                      refers to the physical size of the component. A microprocessor is an integrated chip on
                      which the entire CPU (Control Unit and ALU) is fabricated.

                           PURE
                           FACT        The first microprocessor chip, the Intel 4004 was introduced by Intel in 1971.

                       8    Premium Edition-V

| 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 |