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The first computers, used between 1940 and 1956, were huge machines that used vacuum tubes, got very hot, needed a lot of electricity, were slow and hard to use.
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Vacuum tubes:
Electronic devices used to amplify, switch, or modify electrical signals by controlling the flow of electrons in a vacuum. They were widely used before transistors were invented. -
The second generation of computers used transistors so they were smaller, faster, didn’t get as hot, used less electricity, and were easier to use, helping in schools, businesses, and science.
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The third generation of computers used tiny chips called integrated circuits, which made computers smaller, faster, cheaper, and more reliable, so more people and companies could use them for work, learning and much more.
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The fourth generation of computers uses microprocessors, which are tiny chips that can do many things fast, making computers small, powerful, cheap, and easy to use at home, in school, and you can play games.
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The fifth generation of computers (from the 1980s to today) focuses on smart computers that can think, learn, and understand, using artificial intelligence to help people in many ways, like robots, voice assistants, and smart apps.