Computer Generations

I. 1951-1957

Hardware: Vacuum tubes for calculation, control and memory

Magnetic drums and some tape also used for storage

Punched cards for Input/Output

Centralized computing

UNIVAC-1951, first commercially available computer

Software: Machine language, FORTRAN (1957)

Bulky, expensive, used a lot of energy, unreliable, and slow (milliseconds).

II. 1958-1963

Hardware: Transistors replaced vacuum tubes

Magnetic core memory

Magnetic tape and disks for auxiliary storage

Software: Assembly Language, simple operating systems , COBOL (1960)

Smaller, cheaper, more reliable, faster (microseconds)

III. 1964-1969

Hardware: Integrated circuits replaced transistors

Terminals became common I/O device , IBM System 360 (Centralized processing)

Minicomputers

Software: Higher level languages - BASIC (1965)

Complex multiprogramming and timesharing operating systems

Smaller, cheaper, more reliable, faster (nanoseconds)

IV. 1970 - 1990

Hardware: Large scale integrated circuits (LSIC)

Microprocessors, Microcomputers (PCs) with Windows, embedded computers

Distributed, networked computing

Apple PCs

Software: Word processors, spreadsheets, databases, user friendly programs,

Object oriented programming, natural languages

Smaller, cheaper, more reliable, faster (nanoseconds)

V. 1991-2012 and Beyond :

Connectivity (WWW), Browsers, Google, Weblogs, VHSIC, UHSIC

Artificial Intelligence techniques

Extensive use of high speed computer networks such as the World Wide Web

Internet access and integration between the internet and application software

Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) connections

Self service on the internet for consumers (Amazon, iTunes)

Processors that identify each user on the network

Serious issues involving privacy and security of computer networks

Computer viruses, International sabatoge

Smaller, cheaper, more reliable, faster (picoseconds)

Cloud computing