4.GenerationsofComputers

Nowadays, a computer can be used to type documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web. It canalsobeusedtoeditorcreatespreadsheets,presentations,andevenvideos.Buttheevolutionofthiscomplex system started around 1940 with the firstGenerationof Computer andevolving ever since.

There are five generations of computers.

First Generation of computers: 1946-1959 is the period of first-generation computer.J.P.EckertandJ.W.Mauchyinventedthefirstsuccessfulelectronic computer called ENIAC, ENIAC stands for “Electronic Numeric Integrated And Calculator”

Examples: ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC, IBM-701, IBM-650

Features:

 It made use of vacuum tubes which are the only electronic component available during those days.

 These computers could calculate in milliseconds.

Disadvantages:

 These were excessively big in size; weight was about 30 tones.

 These computers were based on vacuum tubes.

 These computers were very costly.

 It could store only a small amount of information due to the presence of magnetic drums.

 As the invention of first-generation computers involves vacuum tubes, so another disadvantage of these computers was, vacuum tubes require a large cooling system.

 Very less work efficiency.

 Limited programming capabilities and punch cards were used to take inputs.

 Large amount of energy consumption.

 Not reliable and constant maintenance is required.

Second Generation of Computers: 1959-1965 is the period of second-generation computer. Second generation computers were based on Transistor instead of vacuumtubes.

Few Examples: Honeywell 400, IBM 7094, CDC1604, CDC 3600, UNIVAC 1108 many more.

Features:

 Due to the presence of transistors instead of vacuum tubes, the size of electron component decreased. This resulted in reducing the size of a computer as compared to first generation computers.

 Less energy and not produce as much heat as the first generation.

 Assembly language and punch cards were used for input.

 Low cost than first generation computers.

 Better speed calculate data in microseconds.

 Better portability as compared to first generation

Disadvantages:

 A cooling system was required.

 Constant maintenance was required.

 Only used for specific purposes.

Third generation of computers: 1965-1971 is the period of third generation computer. These computers were based on Integrated circuits. IC was invented by Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby In 1958-1959.IC was a single component containingnumber oftransistors.

Examples: PDP-8,PDP-11,ICL2900, IBM 360, IBM 370, and many more.

Features:

 These computers were cheaper as compared to second-generation computers.

 They were fast and reliable.

 Use of IC in the computer provides the small size of the computer.

 IC not only reduce the size of the computer, but it also improves the performance of the computer as compared to previous computers.

 This generation of computers has big storage capacity.

 Instead of punch cards, mouse and keyboard are used for input.

 They used an operating system for better resource management and used the concept of time-sharing and multiple programming.

 These computers reduce the computational time from microseconds to nanoseconds.

Disadvantages:

IC chips are difficult to maintain. The highly sophisticated technology required for themanufacturing of IC chips. Air conditioning is required.

Fourth Generation Computers:

The period of Fourth Generation was 1972-1990. The fourthgenerationofcomputersismarkedusingVeryLarge Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements and their associatedcircuitsonasinglechipmadeitpossibletohave microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth Generation computersbecamemore powerful, compact, reliable,and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to personal computer (PC)revolution.Inthis generationTimesharing,Realtime, Networks,Distributed Operating System were used.

The mainfeatures of Fourth Generation are:

 VLSI technology used  Very cheap  Portable and reliable  Use of PC's  Exceedingly small size  Pipeline processing  No A.C. needed  Concept of internetwas introduced  Great developments in the fieldsof networks  Computers became easily available

Some computersof this generationwere:  DEC10  STAR 1000  PDP 11  CRAY-1(Supercomputer)  CRAY-XMP (Supercomputer).

Fifth Generation of computer:

The period of Fifth Generation is 1990-till date. In the fifth generation, the VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large-Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components. This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI(Artificial Intelligence) software.

AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which interprets means and methodofmaking computersthink like humanbeings. AI includes:

 Robotics  Neural networks  Game Playing  Development of expert systems to make decisions in real life situations.  Natural language understanding and generation.

The main features of Fifth Generation are:

ULSI technology  Development of true artificial intelligence  Development of Natural language processing  AdvancementinParallelProcessing  AdvancementinSuperconductortechnology  Moreuserfriendlyinterfaces withmultimedia features  Availabilityofverypowerfulandcompactcomputersatcheaperrates Somecomputer typesofthis generationare:  Desktop  Laptop  NoteBook  UltraBook .

An Internet service provider (ISP) is anorganisationthat providesservices for accessing,using, or participating in the Internet. Internet service providers can be organised in various forms, such as commercial,communityowned, non-profit,or otherwise privately owned.

The following tableshowsthetop 10 ISPsin India by total subscriber baseas of 30 September 2019.

A web server issoftware and hardware thatusesHTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) andother protocols to respond to client requestsmade over the WorldWide Web. The main job ofa web serveris to displaywebsite content through storing, processing, and delivering webpagesto users.

Asymmetric digital subscriber line is a type of digital subscriber line technology, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over coppertelephonelinesthanaconventionalvoicebandmodemcanprovide.ADSL differs from the less common symmetric digital subscriber line.

An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two main functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.

A domain name is your website name. A domain name is the address where Internet users can access your website. A domain name is used for findingand identifyingcomputers on the Internet.

The Domain Name System is a hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internetora private network.

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language is the standard markup language for documents designed to be displayed in a web browser.

The capacity of an electronic line, such as a communications network or computer channel, to transmit bits per second (bps).

CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - a specification for transferring information between a Web server and a CGI program,designed to receive and return data.

DPI

DPI- (dots per inch) the way the resolution ofdisplay and printingis measured.

Modem

A modem – a portmanteau of "modulator-demodulator" – is ahardware device that converts data into a format suitable for a transmissionmedium so that it can be transmitted from one computer to another (historically along telephone wires). Amodem modulates one ormore carrier wave signalsto encode digital information for transmission and demodulates signals to decode the transmitted information.

6. Computer Science Questionnaire

 What differencedoes the 5th generationcomputer havefrom other generation computers? Ans: Technological advancement

 A technique used by codes to convert an analog signal into a digital bit stream is known as Pulse code modulation

 An optical input device that interprets pencil marks on papermedia is Optical Mark Reader.

 Which among the following period is known as the era of third generation computer? 1965-71

 Which among the following is the shortcut key to refresh the active window in your computer system?

 The information stored in a computer is known as data.

 MS-Office is an application software

 Which one controls all parts of the computer and known as the brain of computer:

 Which among the following is the shortcut key to Zoom in window? WIN and

 Which among the following is the shortcut key to close the active window?

 Software is a set of computer programs used on a computer to help perform tasks.

 The CPU and memory are located on the mother board

 The chip, used in computers, is made of silicon

 A string of eight 0s and 1s is called a byte

 Artificial intelligence [AI] It is the science that attempts to produce machines that display the same type of intelligence that humans do.

 Data mining process is used by large retailers to study trends

Sans Ms” is example of font face. Com

USB flash drive

A USBflashdrive isadatastoragedevicethatincludes flashmemory withan integrated USBinterface. It is typically removable, rewritable and much smaller than anopticaldisc.

Optical Disk

In computing and opticaldisc recording technologies, an opticaldisc is a flat, usually circular disc thatencodes binary data in the form of pits and lands ona specialmaterial on one ofits flat surfaces.

Barcode

A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is an optical scanner that can read printed barcodes, decode the data contained in the barcode and send the data to a computer. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and alight sensor translating for opticalimpulsesinto electrical signals.

Stylus reader

In computing, astylus (orstylus pen) is a small pen-shaped instrument whose tip position on a touchscreen can be detected by the screen. ... The stylus (or fingertip) has the same function as a mouse or trackpad as a pointing device; its use is commonly called pen computing.

Fingerprint Scanners are used for recognizing and authenticating the fingerprint of an individual. Fingerprint readers and the scanners are safe and reliable devicesfor any security authentication.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office is a collectionof office-related applications. Each application serves a unique purpose andoffers a specific service to its users. For example, Microsoft Word is used to create documents. Microsoft PowerPoint is used to create presentations. Microsoft Outlook isused to manage emailand calendars.

Applications included in the Microsoft office Here is a short descriptionof the apps andtheir purpose:

Word – to create documents, flyers, publications

PowerPoint – tocreate presentations

Excel – to store,organize, and manipulate data

OneDrive – to store data online

OneNote – to organize data you collect including handwritten notes,drawings, screencaptures, audio clips, andmore

Publisher –tocreateextensivepublications,posters,flyers,menus

Outlook - to manage emailand calendars, to do lists,and contacts

Access – to capture and analyse datafrom computersor networks