First Generation
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. - Vacuum tube based.
The first generation computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. The vacuum tube was developed by Lee DeForest. A vacuum tube is a device generally used to amplify a signal by controlling the movement of electrons in an evacuated space. First generation computers were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.
Computers/Advancements
The first computer, built in 1946 with vacuum tubes, was called ENIAC, or Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. By today's standards, this computer was huge. It used 18,000 vacuum tubes, took up 15,000 square feet of floor space and weighed in at a hefty 30 tons.
In 1949, scientists built a new machine, called EDSAC, or Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator, which added the capability of storing programs on the machine.
UNIVAC, or Universal Automatic Computer, was invented in 1951. UNIVAC is most commonly recognized as the first modern computer. This machine also marked the end of the first generation of computers.
For More Info: tp://latesttechnomanias.blogspot.com/2010/06/first-generation-computers.html
Second Generation
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.
The transistor made the second generationcomputers faster, smaller, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation computers. Even though the transistor used in the computer generated enormous amount of heat which ultimately would lead to the damage of the computers but was far better than vacuum tubes.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) Transistors were used in place of vacuum tubes.
2) Second generation computers were smaller in comparison with the first generation computers.
3) They were faster in comparison with the first generation computers.
4) They generated less heat and were less prone to failure.
5) They took comparatively less computational time.
6) Assembly language was used for programming.
7) Second generation computers has faster input/output devices.
Computers/Advancements
Second generation computers used the low level language. For example, machine level language and assembly language which made the programmers easier to specify the instructions. Later on High level language programming were introduced such as COBOL and FORTRAN. Magnetic core was used as primary storage. Second generation computer has faster input /output devices which thus brought improvement in the computer.
IBM 7000, NCR 304, IBM 650, IBM 1401, ATLAS and Mark III are the examples of secondgeneration computers.
For more info:
http://latesttechnomanias.blogspot.com/2010/06/second-generation-computers.html
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. - Vacuum tube based.
The first generation computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. The vacuum tube was developed by Lee DeForest. A vacuum tube is a device generally used to amplify a signal by controlling the movement of electrons in an evacuated space. First generation computers were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.
Computers/Advancements
The first computer, built in 1946 with vacuum tubes, was called ENIAC, or Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. By today's standards, this computer was huge. It used 18,000 vacuum tubes, took up 15,000 square feet of floor space and weighed in at a hefty 30 tons.
In 1949, scientists built a new machine, called EDSAC, or Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator, which added the capability of storing programs on the machine.
UNIVAC, or Universal Automatic Computer, was invented in 1951. UNIVAC is most commonly recognized as the first modern computer. This machine also marked the end of the first generation of computers.
For More Info: tp://latesttechnomanias.blogspot.com/2010/06/first-generation-computers.html
Second Generation
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.
The transistor made the second generationcomputers faster, smaller, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation computers. Even though the transistor used in the computer generated enormous amount of heat which ultimately would lead to the damage of the computers but was far better than vacuum tubes.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) Transistors were used in place of vacuum tubes.
2) Second generation computers were smaller in comparison with the first generation computers.
3) They were faster in comparison with the first generation computers.
4) They generated less heat and were less prone to failure.
5) They took comparatively less computational time.
6) Assembly language was used for programming.
7) Second generation computers has faster input/output devices.
Computers/Advancements
Second generation computers used the low level language. For example, machine level language and assembly language which made the programmers easier to specify the instructions. Later on High level language programming were introduced such as COBOL and FORTRAN. Magnetic core was used as primary storage. Second generation computer has faster input /output devices which thus brought improvement in the computer.
IBM 7000, NCR 304, IBM 650, IBM 1401, ATLAS and Mark III are the examples of secondgeneration computers.
For more info:
http://latesttechnomanias.blogspot.com/2010/06/second-generation-computers.html