Generations of Computer

First Generation: -

    The first generation computer used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drum for memory. Their size was huge and big, and generates lot of heat.  These computers were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity. The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are
examples of first-generation computing devices. They relied on machine language.  Any instruction in this language is given in the form of string of 1s and 0s. Where the symbol 1 stand for the presence of electrical pulse(or True) and 0 stands for the absence of electric pulse(or False).

Second Generation: -

    These computers used transistors. Transistors allow computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors. Second generation computers used Assembly language or Symbolic Programming Languages.

Third Generation: -

    The third generation computer used integrated circuit (IC). An integrated circuit is a small electronic device made out of a semiconductor material. These computers used high level languages such as FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, PASCAL, PL-1 and many others. These languages were nearer to the English language.

Forth Generation: -

    These computers used microprocessor. A microprocessor contain thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. The first microprocessor was Intel 4004. A microprocessor is a single chip, which is used in a computer for any arithmetical or logical functions to be performed in any program. These computers used languages like visual basic, c, c++ etc.

Fifth Generation: -

    Fifth generation computer are based on Artificial Intelligence. These computers are still in development. The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.