The development of computers has gone through different generations, each generation marked by significant advancements in terms of technology and architecture. These generations are classified as follows:

• First generation
• Second generation
• Third generation
• Fourth generation
• Fifth generation

First Generation

• The timeline for the first generation computers was 1940 to 1956.

• The first generation computers were developed using vacuum tube or thermionic valve machine.

• Punched cards and paper tape were used as input/output.

• Magnetic drums and magnetic tapes were used as a memory device to save the data.

• These computers were consuming lot of electricity because of vacuum tubes and other electronic devices and generate lot of heat.

• These were bigger in size and more expensive.

• These computers were worked on binary-coded concept (i.e., language of 0-1).

• Examples − ENIAC, EDVAC, etc.

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Second Generation

• The timeline for the second generation computers was 1956 to 1963.

• Transistors were used to develop.

• In comparison to the first generation, second generation computers were small in size.

• Punched cards and magnetic tape were used for input /output.

• Electricity consumption was low and produces less heat.

• Magnetic core memory was used.

• Fast computing and were used in business, scientific research, and government applications.

• Examples − UNIVAC, IBM 1401, IBM 7090.

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Third Generation

• The timeline for the third generation computers was 1963 to 1971.

• Integrated Circuit (IC) was used to develop.

• In comparison to the second generation, third generation computers were small in size.

• Magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer devices were used as input and output.

• Computation power was higher as compare to second generation computers.

• The third generation computer consumed less power and also generated less heat.

• The maintenance cost of the computers in the third generation was also low as these were consuming less power and generated less heat.

• These were most widely used in commercial purposes.

• Examples − UNIVAC, IBM 360, IBM 370.

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Fourth Generation

• The timeline for the fourth generation computers was 1972 to 2010.

• Microprocessor technology was used to develop.

• These were surprising in terms of size and computing power.

• Portable computers.

• Very less power consuming and affordable.

• Semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM were used which makes computation faster.

• Keyboard, pointing devices, optical scanning, monitor, printer devices were used for input and output.

• It became available for the common people as well.

• Examples − IBM PC, STAR 1000, Apple.

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Fifth Generation

• The timeline for the fifth generation computers is form 2010 to till date.

• These computers are based on artificial intelligence, Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI), Quantum computation, Nanotechnology, Parallel processing technology.

• Very fast and multiple tasks could be performed simultaneously.

• These are smaller in size as compare to fourth generation computers.

• Consumes very low power.

• Keyboard, monitor, mouse, touchscreen, scanner, printer are used as an input output devices.

• Examples − Laptops, tablets, smartphones are most popular examples of fifth generation computers.

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