Chapter 2 Flashcards
What does the term ‘computer generations’ refer to?
Stages of computer development associated with technological innovations
Each generation reflects advancements in hardware and software since the mid-nineteen forties.
What was the main innovation that led to the first generation of computers?
Stored program concept
This concept was proposed during the construction of the ENIAC.
What characterized first generation computers?
- Use of vacuum tubes
- Large physical size
- Slow operation
- Low internal storage capacity
- High heat dissipation
- Reliability issues
Examples include UNIVAC 1, UNIVAC 1103, IBM 700 series.
When did the first generation of computers span?
Mid-forties to mid-fifties
What significant invention revolutionized the second generation of computers?
Transistor
Invented in 1946 at Bell Telephone Laboratories.
What were the key features of second generation computers?
- Use of transistors
- Smaller size
- Lower power consumption
- Higher internal storage capacity
- Microsecond speed range
Examples include Whirlwind, IBM 7030, UNIVAC 1107.
What technological innovation marked the third generation of computers?
Integrated Circuit (IC)
This allowed for complex circuits on a single chip.
What were some characteristics of third generation computers?
- Smaller and faster
- Operated at nanosecond speed
- Used metal-oxide semiconductor for memory
- Advanced operating systems
Companies involved included IBM, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC).
What significant development occurred in the fourth generation of computers?
Introduction of microprocessors
This led to the creation of microcomputers.
What types of software tools emerged during the fourth generation?
- Database management systems
- Word processing packages
- Spreadsheet packages
- Graphics packages
- Computer games packages
What was expected of fifth generation computers?
- Speed and power
- Different architecture from Von Neumann’s model
- Leading role of artificial intelligence
Expected to be data-driven rather than control-driven.
What are the two main types of data computers can process?
- Discrete data
- Continuous data
What is an analog computer?
Computers that operate on continuous variable values
Examples include slide rules and differential analyzers.
What is the purpose of hybrid computers?
To combine the speed of analog computers with the flexibility of digital computers
What defines digital computers?
They process data represented in discrete values
Examples include counting on fingers.
What are supercomputers known for?
Largest, fastest, and most expensive computers
Considered improvements on mainframe computers.
What are mainframe computers typically used for?
Handling multiple simultaneous functions in large organizations
Examples include banks and commercial organizations.
What distinguishes minicomputers from mainframes?
- Smaller size
- Lower cost
- Easier installation
Introduced by DEC with the PDP-8.
What is a microcomputer?
A small computer with a processor on a single silicon chip
Commonly known as desktop or personal computers.
What are portable computers?
Microcomputers designed for mobility
Includes laptops, tablet PCs, and PDAs.
What are the two major classes of computers based on purpose?
Special-purpose computers and general-purpose computers
Special-purpose computers are designed for specific tasks, while general-purpose computers can perform a variety of tasks based on the software loaded.
What is a special-purpose computer?
A computer designed to carry out specific tasks with in-built programs stored in Read-Only Memory (ROM)
Examples include computers in digital watches and word processors.
What type of memory do general-purpose computers typically use?
Random-Access Memory (RAM)
General-purpose computers can solve various problems depending on the software loaded into them.
List three examples of special-purpose computers.
- Computers in digital watches
- Word processors
- Devices with in-built programs
These computers cannot have their ROM modified by users.
