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Second Generation (1950s)

After 1955, the use of transistors and magnetic tapes
changed the image of the electronic computer.

During this period, the major computer manufacturers
began to offer a range of accessories such as: Page Printers,
Cathode Ray-Tube display, Card Feeders, etc. They were Magnetic tape

smaller, faster, more reliable and more energy-efficient.

Features of Second Generation Computer

Made up of transistors.

Magnetic tapes were used to store data.
Small in size and less expensive than the first generation computer.

Faster and reliable.
Transistor

Third Generation (1960s)

In the third generation, the invention of Integrated Circuits
(IC) led to smaller-sized computers with better functioning and
more storage. They were smaller, cheaper and more efficient
than the previous two generations and were sometimes called
minicomputers. Integrated Circuits

Features of Third Generation Computer

These computers were made of ICs.
The use of the ICs reduced the size and increased the speed of the
computers.
They were more affordable and dependable.

Fourth Generation (1970s)

In the 1970s, Very Large Scale Integration
(VLSI) came into existence in which thousands
of transistors were placed on a single chip called Microprocessor
a microprocessor. They were sometimes

called microcomputers.

IBM PC

Computer Timeline 25