1. Generations of the Computer

2. First Generation

3. First Generation (1946 – 1959) Key Component – Vacuum Tubes
Very large and bulky
No memory
Programmed in Machine Language
Very expensive to run
Used great amounts of power
In constant repair
Not reliable
Input – Punch cards

4. Vacuum Tubes
Vacuum tubes are sealed glass used in electronic circuitry to control the electrons sealed inside the tubes.
They are used for: the amplification of weak currents, rectification of an altering current to direct current (AC to DC), generating of oscillating radio-frequency power for radio, radar, and more.
Some of the earliest forms of a vacuum tube were recorded in the late 17th century but it wasn’t until 1850 when they created sophisticated versions of vacuum tubes.
Some of the first computers were made out of vacuum tubes. (1946)

5. Second Generation

6. Second Generation (1959 – 1965) Key Component – Transistors
Getting smaller & faster
Built for “Specific” purposes
Has memory
Magnetic tape replaces Punch cards
High-level computer languages (people-oriented such as BASIC & COBOL)
First commercial computers
Can only do 1 program at time

7. Transistor Created by Julius Edgar Lilienfeld.
The transistor is a semiconductor used to amplify a switches electronic signals.
Transistors are made with a semiconductor material with at least three terminals.
They can be built very compact, more than 1,000,000 per square centimeter on a silicon chip.
Replaced vacuum tubes.
Transistors are what we use to make the computer code of 1’s and 0’s much faster. They can be switched on and off very rapidly by switching every Seconds.
By:Chris Woof
Patented-1925
Used on the telephone-1947
Used on computers late 1950’s through 1960’s.

8. Third Generation

9. Third Generation (1965 – 1971)
Key Component – Integrated or Etched Circuitry
Mini-computers
Operating speeds measured in billionth of a second
Multi-processing
Keyboards
‘Computer Literacy’ begins

10. Fourth Generation

11. Fourth Generation ( )
Key Component – Microprocessors (Micro Chips)
Micro-computers (Personal computers)
Can be mass-produced
Data communication networks (Internet)

12. Microprocessor
The microprocessor is also known as the CPU (or the brain of the computer).
It is connected to the circuit board.