Generation of Computer

First Generation:

Period: 1940-1956

Technology: Vacuum Tubes
Language: Low level language

-Machine Language(which only read binary value 0/1)

Size: Huge size(Occupied one whole room)

Advantage/Disadvantage:

-Vacuum tubes create a great amount of heat, thus easily burnt out.
-Very expensive to operate

-Use a great deal of electricity

Example: UNIVAC & ENIAC

Vacuum Tube

ENIAC

Second Generation:

Period: 1956-1963: 

Technology: Transistors
Language: Low level language

-Assembly language (instructions in words)
Size: Large size
Advantage/Disadvantage:

-Transistor generate heat too but not as much as vacuum tube

-Transistor cost cheaper, smaller size, energy efficient and more reliable than vacuum tube

Example: -

Transistor

Third Generation:

Period: 1964-1971

Technology: Integrated Circuits
Language: High level language

-3GL(programming language designed to be easier for a human to understand)
Size: Smaller size than 1st Gen. and 2nd Gen.
Advantage/Disadvantage: 

-An IC consist of thousands of transistor

-Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors
-smaller and cheaper than their predecessors

Example: Language used -Fortran, COBOL

Integrated Circuit

Fourth Generation:

Period: 1971- Present

Technology: Microprocessors
Language: High level language

-4GL(typically non-procedural and designed so that end users can specify what they want without having to know how computer processing is to be accomplished)
Size: Able to fit in the palm of the hand
Advantage/Disadvantage: 

-Thousands of IC combined into a microprocessor

-Development of Graphic User Interface(GUI), mouse and handheld devices

-PC can form network(development of Internet)

Example: 

-Language used - Borland C++, Visual Basic

-IBM & Macintosh

Microprocessor

IBM first Microcomputer

Fifth Generation:

Period: Present and Beyond

Technology: Artificial Intelligence

Language: Advanced level language
Size: Mini size

Example: ASIMO by Honda

Asimo