ICT IV (Lecture III) 2012

Genealogy of Computer

First Generation

          The first Generation Computers such as the UNIVAC I were a vacuum tubes machine. The machine user in the first generation was not commercial instead the Universities and some Research Institution use them. First Generation computers were bulky, expensive and not reliable. The only programming language that this computer use was a machine language, which is difficult to use. Machines that are categorized in the first generation are ENIAC, UNIVAC, EDVAC, ASCC, this machine uses a vacuum tubes technology. The fault of the vacuum tubes are it was not a long live component, it requires to much electricity, it was bulky, and it was so very expensive.

Second Generation

          The second generation computers is a transistorized base. They develop the transistor because it is much cheaper than the vacuum tubes, smaller in size, dissipated less heat, and had a relatively longer life expectancy and thus more reliable.  This time the interest in computers picked up in commercial establishment. It was in 1946 when IBM introduced the first small electronic computer. High level language was developed in the second generation. Programming language such as FORTRAN, ALGOL, COBOL was being developed. Operating system was also introduced during this period.

Third Generation

          Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby conceived a monolithic circuit concept, an idea of using a germanium or silicon to build an entire circuit known as Integrated Circuit. IC’s has the following characteristics:

a.    It is highly reliable

b.    It is compact

c.    It is expensive

d.    It reduce the power requirement of using computers.

With the use of the IC’s, arithmetic and logical operation could now be performed in microsecond or less.

Fourth Generation

          The fourth generation was known as age of microprocessor which utilized the used of microprocessor. It was developed by Intel and became commercially available in 1971, the Intel 4004.

          The effect of the IC on the computer industry has been tremendous. The Microprocessor of this generation have been used not  just in microcomputer like the Apple and IBM PC but also in cars, appliances and computer peripherals. Its programmable nature resulted of their being used in a lot of application where specialized control circuits used to be employed.

Fifth Generation

          The fifth generation was characterized by even greater speed. The trend at the  present is toward computer based data communication, networks, and multimedia. Now every single person will be able to link with the rest of the world via a computer.

Virtual Reality

          Refers to a computer          attempting to alter the way a person perceives reality by simulating a reality of its own.  It is often used for games, entertainment, architecture, medicine and training for its realistic simulation capabilities.

Multimedia

          It is the computers ability to merge sound, video text, music animation, chart  into a colorful, interactive presentations.

World Wide Web (Internet)

          By the use of a Modem it is a device which connects a computer to a telephone line, which enables you to communicate quickly and easily, and sending memos in the e-mail.

Artificial Intelligence

          John McCarthy explores the idea on how computer will behave like humans with intelligence, intuition, and imagination. At present it is applied in the following , games, expert system, natural language, neutral networks, robotics and a lot more. Today industrial robots are very much a reality.