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Anupam Maurya

Anupam Maurya

Computer Generation - all about in sort!

3 min readJun 10, 2024

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Computer generations refer to the evolution of computing technology, marked by significant technological advancements and shifts in hardware and software.

The abacus is the first computer, as I learned in school, and this is true. This simple counting tool, which looks like a little toy, was used to perform basic calculations long before modern computers existed. I don’t know how it works, but it was used in ancient times.

After the evolution of electrons and protons, we got a light bulb!
And then the real tech starts.

The whole purpose of electronics studies is based on discrete mathematics

earlier in electronics tech, we were using breadboards and jumpers for performing logic gates and circuited operations like

  • Boolean Algebra: Fundamental for designing and simplifying digital circuits. Logical operations (AND, OR, NOT) and logical expressions are used to create and optimize circuits.
  • Logic Gates: Basic building blocks of digital circuits, such as AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR, and XNOR gates, are designed and analyzed using Boolean algebra.
  • Combinational and Sequential Circuits: Concepts like multiplexers, demultiplexers, encoders, decoders, and flip-flops rely on discrete mathematics for their design and function.

With practice and interest in such we convert this evolution to a digital transistor and display lights

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Our first computer comes in a picture with 300 tons of lightweight!
Vacuum Tubes!!
Yes, Vacuum Tubes are basically a bulb with an electron tube, valve, or tube,which control electric current flow in a high vacuum between electrodes to which an electric potential difference has been applied.

How It Works

  1. Heating Up: When the cathode gets hot, it releases electrons, which are tiny parts of atoms that carry electricity.
  2. Moving Electrons: The anode, which is positively charged, attracts the electrons, making them move from the cathode to the anode.
  3. Controlling Flow: The control grid can control the number of electrons that move between the cathode and the anode by changing its charge. This helps control the electric current.

Why Vacuum Tubes Were Important in Early Computers

  1. Switching and Logic: Vacuum tubes acted like switches that could turn on and off, helping the computer make decisions and perform calculations.
  2. Amplifying Signals: They made weak electric signals stronger, which was important for processing information.
  3. Storing Information: They were used to remember bits of information, like how a computer’s memory works today.

Second Generation Computer — TransistorsA transistor is like a tiny switch that can turn electricity on and off.
In time assembly languages and high-level programming languages come to fame like COBOL. and FORTRAN.

Third generation — Integrated Circuits
As we all know, Integrated Circuits (ICs) were when all transistors came in small sizes known as semiconductor materials, primarily silicon.
Again it was all about discrete boolean true-false logic making, doing something worth for life, and we achieved that.

Fourth Generations is something Microprocessors and Chips
like VLSI, basically termed as the motherboard in 1990s

We inhabit the fifth generation, characterized by Artificial Intelligence and advancements in Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI), Quantum Computing, and Nanotechnology.

Summary :
In summary, the evolution of computer generations has transformed data storage and processing, shifting from manual processes to sophisticated technologies, and shaping our world for the better.

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