1.     First Generation (1939-1954) – vacuum tube

2.     Second Generation Computers (1954-1959) – transistor

3.     Third Generation Computers (1959-1971) – IC

4.     Fourth Generation (1971-1990) – microprocessor

5.      Fifth Generation (from 1991 )

 

 

Technical Evolution of Computers

•        Increase in speed

•          Increase in storage capacity

•          Increase in reliability

•          Reduction in system cost

 

Period	Circuitry	Input	Output	Storage	Language	Typical computers
1951-1959	Vacuum Tubes	Punched cards & magnetic tapes	Punched cards	Magnetic Tapes	Assembly	UNIVAC-1
1959-1965	Transistors	Punched cards & magnetic tapes	Punched cards	Magnetic Tapes	High level languages FORTRAN	IBM 1400
1965-1971	Integrated Circuits	Keyboards	Monitors	Magnetic disks	PASCAL	IBM System/360