A Short Outline of Computer History
This page summarizes the content in Reed chapter 6.
- Generation 0: Mechanical Computers (1642 - 1945)
- Special purpose (adding, subtracting)
- May use electro-mechanical switches
- Generation 1: Vacuum Tubes (1945 - 1954)
- Electronic switches
- Large
- Partially programmable
- Prone to failure
- Produces a lot of heat
- Generation 2: Transistors (1954 - 1963)
- Electronic switches
- Much smaller than vacuum tubes
- Fully programmable
- Reliable
- Generation 3: Integrated Circuits (1963 - 1973)
- Many transistors fit on one chip
- Mass produced
- Eventually whole computer fits on a chip (1971)
- Generation 4: Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) (1973 - 1985)
- Smaller, faster, less expensive
- Consumers buy personal computers
- Generation 5: Parallel processing and Networking (1985 - ??)
- Value increased with internet and web connectivity
- Chips contain muliple processors
- Embedded processors in consumer devices
- Generation 6?