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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, and were mostly used by scientists and the military to do math and store information.
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An electronic device that controls the flow of electrons within a sealed glass or metal casing, used to amplify or switch electrical signals. -
The second generation of computers (1956–1963) used transistors instead of vacuum tubes, 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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A semiconductor electronic component that functions as a switch or an amplifier of electrical signals. -
The third generation of computers (1964–1971) used tiny chips called integrated circuits, which made computers even smaller, faster, cheaper, and more reliable, so more people and companies could use them for work and learning.
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A miniature electronic circuit that combines numerous interconnected electronic components like transistors, resistors, and capacitors onto a single semiconductor chip, often silicon. -
The fourth generation of computers (1971–present) 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 everywhere.
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It is an integrated circuit (chip) that contains the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer, functioning as the "brain" of a computer system. -
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.
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