Computers Generation

Features of different Computer Generations
First Generation Computers:
The First Generation Computers was marked by the use of vacuum tubes for the electronic components and by the use of electrostatic tubes or mercury delay lines for storage. Examples of first generation computers are EDSAC (1949), EDVAC (1951) etc., this generation lasted until the end of the 1950s and the computers in this era had their basis in wired circuitry and thermion valves. Their outstanding features were:-
1. Very expensive, poor reliability, slow input/output.
2. Quite large, generated lot of heat and required special housing.
3. The medium of internal storage was magnetic drum.
4. Punched cards and paper tapes were used for secondary storage.
5. Continuous maintenance is required; produces lot of heat hence requires special air conditioning.
6. Applications-pay roll and other single applications in large companies.
7. Uses batch processing technology, to process the data.

Block Diagram of Computer and its Explanation?

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Block Diagram of Computer:


A computer can process data, pictures, sound and graphics. They can solve highly complicated problems quickly and accurately.
Input Unit:
Computers need to receive data and instruction in order to solve any problem. Therefore we need to input the data and instructions into the computers. The input unit consists of one or more input devices. Keyboard is the one of the most commonly used input device. Other commonly used input devices are the mouse, floppy disk drive, magnetic tape, etc. All the input devices perform the following functions.

· Accept the data and instructions from the outside world.

· Convert it to a form that the computer can understand.

· Supply the converted data to the computer system for further processing.