Fifth Generation Computers (Future)

The microprocessors which are extensively used as memory devices contain very pure form of silicon in crystal form. Attempts are being made by Japan, Germany and USA for the development of memory device and main processors (microprocessors) by using protein or Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), after the use of which, it has been estimated, the capability of computer will increase millions of times. Recently, these are named as Super Conductors. Japan has taken keen interest to win the race of developing super computers by using super conductors. These computers may possibly be very small like microcomputers which should enable us to use all the facilities of super computers at home. The development of super conductors was declared by Japan in 1978.

Attempts have been made for several years fora the development of super conductors using Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) or biochips. These computers will be able to understand natural language and will have thinking power called Artificial Intelligence. Only the experts will be able to use these computers because they will be much more sophisticated than present microcomputers.

Fourth Generation Computers (1974)

Intel Corporation developed Intel 4004 chips in 1971 for the first time as microprocessors. The result of the development of IC is the development of microcomputers. Many American computers started to manufacture microcomputers since 1973. IT System, AST, ALR, Macintosh, IBM PC Agtec, Wang Laser, Letron, Scan and Imex microcomputers (IBM and IBM compatibles) came into market. Microcomputers are highly efficient in data processing, very much reliable, small and elegant. It can accommodate a huge number of data in a small place. Micro computers are as small as a notebook and are capable of communicating with Mini Computers or Mainframe Computers with the help of Modem (Modulator and Demodulator). In urban areas of Kathmandu and Lalitpur only, many computers are used per household. They are used in teaching, offices, campuses, government and non-government organizations. All the computers used at home and in offices are fourth generation microcomputers. The main processors used in these computers are microprocessors.

Fourth Generation Computers have microprocessors which have serial numbers. The serial number indicates the capability of the computer and speed as well.

In Large Scale Integration (LSI) about 20 thousand transistors and resistors are placed in compact form. Later the compact form of LSI was developed, in which 10/20 LSI could be placed, which was called VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration). The VLSIs are called microchips or microprocessors. The development of VLSI leads to the development of Home computers or Personal Computers (PC), which are famous worldwide and are mostly used.

Third Generation Computers (1966-1973)

Manufacture of silicon chips was completed in late 1950s and in 1963, IBM company marketed computers containing IC as memory devices. IBM 360 is an example of this type. From 1964 computers began to be connected with Visual Display Unit (VDU), high speed printers and magnetic tapes as storage media or backing media. All computers after 1965 contain IC in them. Third generation computers are still small in size and they are much faster as they used small chips containing thousands of parts integrated in them. For mass storage, floppy disk, hard disk, tape or card were used in this generation of computers. Multiprocessing and multiprogramming are the two main advantages of this generation of computers. Actual market of computers started from the third generation of computers.

Second Generation Computers (1959-1965)

Transistor was invented by Nobel Prize winners John Burdeen, Walter H. Brattain and William B. Shockley who jointly invented transistor ( short name for transfer resistor) in 1948-1949. Magnetic core of transistor is more capable of storing information than vacuum tube. The computers using transistors as storage media are classified as Second Generation Computers. One transistor could do the task of 1000 vacuum tubes. Due to this reason, it seemed that smaller and faster computers can be manufactured. We can take an example of Mark-I which has 18000 vacuum tubes and can b replaced by 18 transistors. IBM 1401 is an example of this advantage. Second Generation Computers are relatively smaller than the First Generation Computers and they are much faster and reliable.

General purpose computer was first developed by IBM. In 1950, IBM developed IBM 650, a general purpose computer. Similarly, in 1951, Remington Rand developed UNIVAC-I which could be used in business data processing. During this period, many other companies were also involved in developing computers.