Computer’s can be classified in terms of their generation

are as follows

1. First generation (1941-1956)

2. Second Generation Computers (1956-1963)
3. Third Generation Computers (1964-1971)
4. Fourth Generation (1971-Present)
5. Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) 

First Generation (1941-1956) 

World War gave rise to numerous developments and started off 
the computer age. Electronic Numerical Integrator and 
Computer (ENIAC) was produced by a partnership between 
University of Pennsylvannia and the US government. It 
consisted of 18,000 vacuum tubes and 7000 resistors. It was 
developed by John Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly and was 
a general purpose computer. "Von Neumann designed the 
Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) in 
1945 with a memory to hold both a stored program as well as 
data." Von Neumann's computer allowed for all the computer 
functions to be controlled by a single source. 

Then in 1951 came the Universal Automatic Computer(UNIVAC 
I), designed by Remington rand and collectively owned by US 
census bureau and General Electric. UNIVAC amazingly 
predicted the winner of 1952, presidential elections, Dwight 
D. Eisenhower. 

In first generation computers, the operating instructions or 
programs were specifically built for the task for which 
computer was manufactured. The Machine language was the only 
way to tell these machines to perform the operations. There
was great difficulty to program these computers ,and more
when there were some malfunctions. First Generation
computers used Vacuum tubes and magnetic drums(for data
storage).

Second Generation Computers (1956-1963)

The invention of Transistors marked the start of the second

generation. These transistors took place of the vacuum tubes
used in the first generation computers. First large scale
machines were made using these technologies to meet the
requirements of atomic energy laboratories. One of the other
benefits to the programming group was that the second
generation replaced Machine language with the assembly
language. Even though complex in itself Assemly language was
much easier than the binary code.

Second generation computers also started showing the

characteristics of modern day computers with utilities such
as printers, disk storage and operating systems. Many
financial information was processed using these computers.

In Second Generation computers, the instructions(program)

could be stored inside the computer's memory. High-level
languages such as COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language)
and FORTRAN (Formula Translator) were used, and they are
still used for some applications nowdays.

Third Generation Computers (1964-1971)

Although transistors were great deal of improvement over the

vacuum tubes, they generated heat and damaged the sensitive
areas of the computer. The Intergreated Circuit(IC) was
invented in 1958 by Jack Kilby. It combined electronic
components onto a small silicon disc, made from quartz.
More advancement made possible the fitings of even more
components on a small chip or a semi conductor. Also in
third generation computers, the operating systems allowed
the machines to run many different applications. These
applications were monitored and coordinated by the
computer's memory.

Fourth Generation (1971-Present)

Fourth Generation computers are the modern day computers.

The Size started to go down with the improvement in the
integerated circuits. Very Large Scale(VLSI) and Ultra Large
scale(ULSI) ensured that millions of components could be fit
into a small chip. It reduced the size and price of the
computers at the same time increasing power, efficiency and
reliability. "The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, took
the integrated circuit one step further by locating all the
components of a computer (central processing unit, memory,
and input and output controls) on a minuscule chip."

Due to the reduction of cost and the availability of the

computers power at a small place allowed everyday user to
benefit. First came the minicomputers, which offered users
different applications, most famous of these the word
processors and spreadsheets, which could be used by non-
technical users. Video game systems like Atari 2600
generated the interest of general populace in the computers.

In 1981, IBM introduced personal computers for home and

office use. "The number of personal computers in use more
than doubled from 2 million in 1981 to 5.5 million in 1982.
Ten years later, 65 million PCs were being used." Computer
size kept getting reduced during the years. It went down
from Desktop to laptops to Palmtops. Machintosh introduecd
Graphic User Interface in which the users didnt' have to
type instructions but could use Mouse for the purpose.

The continued improvement allowed the networking of

computers for the sharing of data. Local Area Networks(LAN)
and Wide Area Network(WAN), were potential benefits, in that
they could be implemented in corporations and everybody
could share data over it. Soon the internet aand World Wide
Web appeared on the computer scene and formented the Hi-Tech
revolution of 90's.

Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)

Fifth generations computers are only in the minds of advance

research scientiets and being tested out in the
laboratories. These computers will be under Artifical
Intelligence(AI), They will be able to take commands in a
audio visual way and carry out instructions. Many of the
operations which requires low human intelligence will be
perfomed by these computers.

Parallel Processing is coming and showing the possibiliy

that the power of many CPU's can be used side by side, and
computers will be more powerful than thoes under central
processing. Advances in Super Conductor technology will
greatly improve the speed of information traffic. Future
looks bright for the computers.