Fourth Generation

Fourth Generation Computers: (1971-today): VLSI Microprocessor Based.

The next generation of computer systems saw the use of large scale integration (LSI – 1000 devices per chip) and very large scale integration (VLSI – 100,000 devices per chip) in the construction of computing elements. At this scale entire processors will fit onto a single chip, and for simple systems the entire computer (processor, main memory, and I/O controllers) can fit on one chip. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements and their associated circuits on a single chip made it possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth Generation computers became more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to personal computer (PC) revolution. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand.

As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form networks, which eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices. All the higher level languages like C and C++, DBASE, etc., were used in this generation.

In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and more everyday products began to use microprocessors.

Some computers of this generation were:

  • Kenbak-1 – The Kenbak-1, the first personal computer, advertised for $750 in Scientific American. Designed by John V. Blankenbaker using standard medium-scale and small-scale integrated circuits, the Kenbak-1 relied on switches for input and lights for output from its 256-byte memory. In 1973, after selling only 40 machines, Kenbak Corp. closed its doors.
  • Micral – The Micral was the earliest commercial, non-kit personal computer based on a micro-processor, the Intel 8008. Thi Truong developed the computer and Philippe Kahn the software. Truong, founder and president of the French company R2E, created the Micral as a replacement for minicomputers in situations that didn´t require high performance. Selling for $1,750, the Micral never penetrated the U.S. market. In 1979, Truong sold Micral to Bull.

There are a number of sources who would argue that we have begun the Fifth Generation, which is Artificial Intelligence Based. The time period of Fifth Generation is 1980* till current day. This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software. AI is an emerging branch in computer science which interprets means and methods of making computers think like human beings. All the higher level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net, etc., are used in this generation.

AI includes:

  1. Robotics
  2. Neural networks
  3. Game Playing
  4. Development of expert systems to make decisions in real life situations.
  5. Natural language understanding and generation.

The main features of Fifth Generation are:

  1. ULSI technology
  2. Development of true artificial intelligence
  3. Development of Natural language processing
  4. Advancement in Parallel Processing
  5. Advancement in Superconductor technology
  6. More user friendly interfaces with multimedia features
  7. Availability of very powerful and compact computers at cheaper rates

Some computers types of this generation are:

  1. Desktop
  2. Laptop
  3. NoteBook
  4. UltraBook
  5. ChromeBook

*Please note: the exact time frame of years mentioned for each generation is subject to some scrutiny, exact dates vary from source to source. For the consistency of this project, I have used the dates from the textbook being utilized in Class: Technology In Action, Complete (10th Edition) by Alan Evans, Kendall Martin (Author), Mary Anne Poatsy (Author)

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