what is third Generation Computers
February 10, 2019
Third Generation
Computers
The third generation computers used the integrated
circuits (IC).
The third generation computers used the integrated
circuits (IC). Jack Kilby developed the concept of
integrated circuit in 1958. It was an invention in
computer field. The first IC was invented and used in
1961. The size of an IC is about 1/4 square inch. A single
IC
chip may contain thousands of transistors. The computer
smaller in size, faster, more reliable and less
expensive. The examples of third-generation computers
are IBM 370, IBM System/360, UNIVAC 1108 and
UNIVAC 9000 etc.
Advantages
- • Smaller in size as compared to previous generation
- • More reliable
- • Used less energy.
- •Produced less heat as compared to previous generation computers,
- • Better speed and could calculate in nanoseconds.
- • Used fan for heat discharge to prevent damage.
- • Maintenance cost was low because hardware failure is rare
- • Totally general purpose
- •Could be used for high-level languages
- •Good storage
- • Versatile to an extent
- • Less expensive
- •Better accuracy
- • Commercial production increased
- • Used mouse and keyboard for input
Disadvantages
- •Air condition was required.
- • Highly sophisticated required for the manufacturing of IC Chips.
Fourth Generation
Computers
The fourth generation computers started with the invention
of microprocessor. The
microprocessor contains thousands of ICs. Ted Hoff produced
the first microprocessor in
1971 for Intel. It was known as Intel 4004. The technology
of integrated circuit improved
rapidly. The LSI (Large Scale Integration) circuit and VLSI
(Very Large Scale Integration)
circuit were designed. It greatly reduced the size of
computer. The size of modem
microprocessors is usually one square inch. It can contain
millions of electronic circuit. The
examples of fourth generation computers are Apple Macintosh
and IBM PC.
Advantages
- •More powerful and reliable than previous generations
- •Very small in size
- •Less power consumption and less heat generated
- •Fan for heat discharging and thus to keep cold
- •No air conditioning is required
- •Best speed to read instruction i.e. one billionth per second
- •Totally general purpose
- •Commercial production
- •Less need of repairing
- •Cheapest among all generations
- •All types of high-level languages can be used in this type of computers
Disadvantages
- •The latest technology is required for manufacturing microprocessors.
Fifth Generation (Present)
Scientists are now working on the 5th generation computers
using recent engineering
advances. It is based on the technique of artificial
intelligence (Al). Computers can
understand spoken words and imitate human reasoning. The
ability to translate a foreign
language is also moderately possible with fifth generation
computers.
Scientists are working to increase the speed of the
computer. They are trying to create a
computer with real IQ with the help of advanced programming
and technologies.