The Computer Age Generation

    Within the span of 40 years,we leap-frog through five generations of computer technology.The subsequent generations are defined here brieflly:

• First Generation Computer(1951-1958)


• Second Generation Computer(1959-1964)


• Third Generation Computer(1965-1970)


• Fourth Generation Computer(1971-present)


• Fifth Generation (Onward)
  
  The Age of Vacuum Tube
  

     The vacuum tubes were used as the internal components for the first generation of computers begun with the introduction of the first commercially viable electronic computer:the UNIVAC I.The short term for the Universal automatic Computer.The UNIVAC I was designed and patterned after the ENIAC(an acronym for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Caculator).

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  The Age of Transistor
  

     The transistor were used as the internal components of the second generation computers.Transistors ewre much smaller,faster,and reliable that vacuum tubes.They consumed less electrical energy and needed no warm-up time.

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  The Age of Integrated CIrcuit(IC)
  
     In 1965,integrated circuits began to replace transistors as the internal components used to construct the computer.Even the entire circuit board of transistors can be replaced completely with one chip (Integrated Circuit).This chip can be much smaller than one transistor.Integrated circuits are made of silicon chip.A silicon is semiconductory crystalline substance that can be conduct electronic current.Back
  
  The Age of Microprocessor
  

     The fourth generation is just an extension of the third-geneation technology.This next technological development is to put more power and capabilities in one chip called microprocessor.Microprocessr considered as the brain of the coputer.It is where almost all computations and operations of the computer circuitry are being dene and coordinated.The application of microprocessor technology is not limited to computer alone.It can be used and applied for digital watches,pocket calculators,copy machines,television sets, cars,audio and video applications.

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  Information Superhighway
  

     The Japanese comed the term generation computer to describe their plan to build a powerfulcomputer by mid-1990's.Later the term evolved to encompass computer intelligence:artificial,intelligence,natural language,and expert system.However,the fifth generation's focus is more on connectivities.This is to permit computer users to connect their computer to other computers.Like the way that happened with the internet.

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  History of Computer at a Glance