COMPUTER GENERATION
The First Generation Computers were Characterized by:
• Vacuum Tubes
• They used magnetic drums as their main memory.
• Dissipated a lot of heat.
• These first generation Computers were invented in the mid 1940s to the 1950s e.g. ENIAC, UNIVAC I, II.
2nd Generation Computer were:
• Making use of the transistors which means they were advanced.
• Used magnetic cores.
• Smaller than the 1st generation Computers in size.
• Introduced between 1950 – 1960s e.g. IBM 7,000 series.
3rd Generation Computers
• Were characterized by integrated circuits i.e. in the middle 1960s to 1973?
• Smaller in size than 1st and 2nd generation Computers.
• Uses magnetic tape and disks.
4th Generations Computer
• Started in 1973 up till today
• Users very large scale integrated circuit – micro-processor.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What developments and equipment led to the emergence of the Computer machine?
2. What are characteristics of the Third and Fourth generation Computers?
3. Name TWO prominent contributors to the evolution of the Computer system and state the significance of their work.