Each of us has heard such a term as computers. However, what it is, not everyone can say for sure. Also, not everyone knows what history this technique went through to become familiar to today's user.
Definition
So what is a computer? An electronic computer is a set of electronic devices that performs various kinds of information operations. The man who drives the bogie machines is a computer operator. In general, an electronic computer is a type of computer implementation. Today, almost everyone knows what a computer is, but this abbreviation is rarely used. It is mainly used in legal documentation and in designating computers that were developed from 1940 to 1980.
First generation
Tube computers were the first computers, the production of which began in the early 50s of the last century. Around that time, people began to massively learn what computers are.
In the Soviet Union, MESM became the representative of such machines. Leaded the development of this computer Lebedev. Soon, a new representative of that generation of computers, BESM, was developed on its basis. For mass production, this machine received some improvements. It was called BESM-2.
In the United States, what computer is also known to many. The representative of the first generation of electronic computers was Edvak. However, it was significantly inferior in parameters to the domestic computer. This was due to the fact that BESM-2 applied new construction principles. The Soviet machine could perform about ten thousand operations per second.
Structurally, the first generation of computers was very similar to the von Neumann machine. Of course, the parameters were many times worse than those of the most modern low-functional representatives of computer technology. First-generation computer programs were compiled using machine code.
Representatives of such machines were distinguished by their enormous dimensions and high energy consumption. The price of the car was too high for ordinary users. In addition, only a specially trained computer operator could control them, since all programs were difficult to understand. Therefore, they were used only by scientists for any scientific and technical problems.
Soon, the first programming languages appeared: symbolic coding and auto codes.
Second generation
In 1948, the first transistor was created. Physicists John Bardin and William Shockley, as well as experimenter Walter Brattain, were engaged in the development. The first representatives of this generation of computers, which were created on the basis of transistors in the late 50s, and by the mid-60s, computers began to appear, having much smaller dimensions.
The main distinguishing feature of the transistor is that it is able to work like forty lamps, but at the same time its speed is higher. In addition, these devices required much less energy and were practically not heated. In parallel with this, the amount of memory for storing information also increased. Thanks to the efforts of scientists, computers got a speed equal to a million operations per second.
The American representative is the Atlas computer device. The Soviet Union may be represented by a BESM-6 machine.
All the improvements that have occurred with the advent of transistors have significantly expanded the scope of computer applications. Actively began to create programming languages for various purposes. Fortran and cobol can serve as an example.
However, machines still suffered from a lack of memory.To save space, they began to develop operating systems that allowed for a more rational distribution of resources.
Third generation
This generation is represented, first of all, by computers, which were based on integrated circuits. With the help of IP, it was possible to achieve even greater speed, reduce size, increase reliability, and also reduce the cost of the device.
Soon, the first so-called mini-computers began to appear. These were simple, small, reliable and inexpensive cars. Initially, they were intended to create controllers, but soon consumers realized that they can be used as ordinary computers. Due to the low price and simplicity, minicomputers appeared in almost every company of developers, researchers, engineers, and so on.
Fourth generation
Significant advances in computer development have led to the emergence of large integrated circuits. They were a crystal, which included thousands of electronic elements. Due to the low cost and good parameters, LSI computers have gained immense popularity.
In April 1976, two friends developed the world's first personal computer. Famous to many, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak worked in the evenings in the garage to create a PC, which later became known as Appl and gained immense popularity. A year later, the company of the same name was created, which was engaged in the production of personal computers.
Fifth generation
The transition to the fifth generation of computers occurred in the late 80s with the advent of microprocessors. It was then that the transition to work in shells and software environments took place. Productivity increased to 109 operations per second. Computers aimed at high-level languages were developed.
Thanks to the operating systems that provided easy control of the device, the computer has become indispensable for almost every area of human life.
Such a huge breakthrough in the field of computers required such a short period of time. Today, few people remember those bulky cars that occupied entire rooms, but could not boast of performance. Their application was limited to certain areas. Today, a computer is an indispensable device in the life of every person. At the same time, current PCs are very small and powerful.