It’s 1795 and you’re the captain of a ship at sea. The sea in front of you is inky black. How do you know which direction your ship is going in? Simple! You estimate your location by the position of the stars above! You have a mathematical book that helps you with this, but there’s only one problem. These calculations are made by human mathematicians and they’re not always accurate. Wouldn’t that frustrate you?
That’s exactly what the British scientist Charles Babbage, the father of computers, thought too. Babbage wanted to build a machine that could perform accurate calculations quickly to avoid errors in navigation and engineering. This is when he came up with the design for the first computer called the Difference Engine in 1822.
But did you know that Babbage never actually built a computer? Babbage’s design for the computer was built nearly 120 years after he designed it! Today, computers are indispensable and help us in almost every aspect of our lives. Using the mathematical language called binary (which only uses the digits 0 and 1), computers store huge amounts of information and help us make lightning-fast calculations which we could have not done ourselves.
Let’s look at the journey of the computer right from the start and see how it has evolved to help us practically do everything.
First-generation computers were built using vacuum tubes as the main technology. These computers were very fragile and were as big as a room! They could roughly perform 5000 additions or subtractions per second! These computers consumed a lot of electricity and produced a lot of heat. The heat generated by the computer would also attract insects into the machine which would make the machine malfunction. This is why when computers have an error we still say “There’s a bug in it!”. These computers were used during the Second World War to calculate the aim of ballistic weapons and decode messages.
Second-generation computers were built using transistors. Most of the development of transistors happened in Santa Clara Valley in the USA. And because transistors used silicon, this place was soon called Silicon Valley! Second-generation computers could perform roughly 5000 additions in a second but they were way more accurate! The only way to make transistor computers more powerful is to keep adding more transistors. This meant that a good transistor computer would need thousands of discrete parts to work well. 
Third-generation computers used integrated circuits that were made by fitting many transistors onto one chip. The development of ICs also gave rise to Moore’s Law that believes that every two years, twice the number of transistors can be fitted into ICs while the cost of the ICs reduces by half. Since the circuits in the ICs are very close to each other, the electricity in the circuit needs to travel a very small distance. This led to faster calculations! The computer still needed an air-conditioned environment to function in.
Fourth-generation computers run on microprocessors which are stamp-sized chips that contain all the important circuits needed for the computer to run. One of the earliest companies that made microprocessors was formed by combining the words integrated and electronics – Intel! These computers were also sometimes called microcomputers because they were so small compared to the computers in the past. The Apple II made by Apple is one of the earliest fourth-generation personal computers ever made and was hugely popular for personal use.
Fifth-generation computers may use neural networks and artificial intelligence and try to make decisions that mimic human beings. They can interpret information and make decisions. Since these computers can learn on their own, we are still figuring out the full extent of how to control them. These computers are used everywhere from entertainment, medicine, research and more. The world’s smallest computer (that can measure the temperature of cell clusters) is smaller than a grain of rice.
With computers going from the size of a room to being smaller than a grain of rice, what do you think will come next in modern computing? Would you like to be a future computer scientist?
Let us know in the comments.
1. What are the 5 generations of computers
The 5 Generations of Computers are: • First Generation Computers (1940-1956) • Second Generation Computers (1956-1963) • Third Generation Computers (1964-1971) • Fourth Generation Computers (1971-Present) • Fifth Generation Computers (Present and Beyond)
2. When was the 1st computer invented?
1945: Two professors at the University of Pennsylvania, John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, design and build the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC).
3. What was the first computer in the world?
The first mechanical computer, the Babbage Difference Engine, was designed by Charles Babbage in 1822. It was the basis for the modern computer we all use today, weighed over 700 pounds and used vacuum tubes.
4. Who invented the laptop?
The Osborne 1 is considered the first true mobile computer by most historians. It was created by software publisher Adam Osborne, founder of Osborne Computer Corp, which produced the Osborne 1 in 1981. It was a portable computer that weighed 24 pounds.
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Comments
Yatharth
March 11, 2020
I think that in future the humans brain works like a computer brain
Jyotishmaan gogoi
January 14, 2020
You’re right…
Sachin
November 3, 2019
Can you please send me a clear picture of 5 generation computer
Sairaj ingulkar
November 3, 2019
Yeahhh!!!
In future the computers will be working like a human beings…
And they will the computers of fifth generation!!!
The given information about computers is very useful..!
Thank you!
Prapal
October 31, 2019
Ya right I think that they will speak to us like humans nd We find everything easy and simple
Saksham Patidar
October 26, 2019
Yahh! It’s very good learning for Computer.
V. Pravalika
October 20, 2019
That’s great. Thanks to the entire team of BYJU’S
Rudvik V
October 19, 2019
Thanks for the information
Praharsh
October 13, 2019
Hi all
Thanx a lot for this wonderful and inspiring information
And thnx a lot BYJU’S team for the Learning Tree
Harsh
October 13, 2019
Actually there is gonna be a equalisation of Power between us nd robots
Rudra Laheri
October 12, 2019
Not to mention there could also be a few disasters due to ai. As much as I appreciate ai, it’s ability to learn and perform could also be a threat to us humans such as lack of job opportunities, malfunctioning which could cause problems and it’s high susceptibility to hackers as all must be connected why a connection which is usually done through wireless mediums:)
Akhand Pratap Tiwari.
October 9, 2019
Quantum computer is now the upcoming future tech. Much faster, much complex.
Aryan Ahmed
October 9, 2019
Yes I would like to do so
B. Paul Agnes Shaphir
October 9, 2019
Information is really good!!
Nishok krishna shibu
October 8, 2019
Yeh, in future i think computer will lead our life
Sundareshwara
October 8, 2019
Computer as such a wonderful Invention for the human ?
Ajay (LW)
October 8, 2019
The future computers will be in holograms which can talk to us and will give us a 3d bison of objects and many more other things which will be fun ???
Pragati
October 8, 2019
Wow I didn’t know about these computers that make our lives easier that computers are also made for us
Gautam jha
October 8, 2019
Right 5th generation very good life ?
Tejaswee Raj jha
October 7, 2019
No it will not be like that it will be very harmful to us as the robots will have AI means artificial intelligence
And they will rule us as they can learn things.
Rafeh
October 7, 2019
I think this will lead to the formation of cyborgs
Sanskriti Kushwaha
October 7, 2019
Our future computer will be a robot with
all computer functions….. ?
Drushti Partole
October 6, 2019
Next the computer will turn into robots and they will help human beings for their work. Actually the robot computers will be like human beings but in machines type
Mimansha Sharma
October 6, 2019
In future if robots will do all the things then what we would do?
Sahil Malhotra
October 6, 2019
You’re right
Computers are the future of this universe
Humans aren’t everlasting
Technology isn’t also
But technology has a larger life then humans
Harini
October 6, 2019
Is it possible to have a computer like humans with our feelings ???????
Sarthak
October 6, 2019
Computers will converted in robot but it could dangerous.
Mohit J.
October 6, 2019
Future of computers are almost there like wearable operating system
AND voice sensing accessories. So because future generations computers
are no more future.
Thank you
Mythresh
October 6, 2019
It’s good thing to know this information
Abhidha Joshi
October 6, 2019
Computers are still our friends and in future will be so handy to use like a real intelligent freind
Sakshi Singh
October 6, 2019
Now the smallest computer today we know is smaller than a grain of
Rice ….. According to my imagination it may be as small as a bacteria
But who knows……. Today AI (artificial intelligence) is in great
demand……. If I being a future computer scientists I would like to work
on AI technology…..??????????
Harini s
October 6, 2019
Yes, the above explanation is absolutely correct…
Onam
October 6, 2019
I like Future computer
Razin Keelath
October 6, 2019
Future computers might be or more like AI robots which are available nowadays, and perform just like human beings or top of humans. And if we’re lonely, we make them as a friend.
Shashank Deodhar
October 6, 2019
so true
Prateek
October 6, 2019
Artificial intelligence will be useful? This can not harm to humans? It is safe? Can I said yes but No anyone can watch a video of facttechz based on A.I means artificial intelligence
Prerna Sinha
October 6, 2019
No I don’t want to be a scientist because I want to be a child specialist.But thanks for this information about our past and now computers
Irish
October 5, 2019
I like the computers of 4gen ?
Vijay ganesh
October 5, 2019
It may be like that
Sibansha mishra
October 5, 2019
That’s good
Souhardya Ojha
October 5, 2019
In past they’ve been our friend,In present they are already,in future they will be our friends too!??
Hashmi Insha
October 5, 2019
In future we will probably see byjus teaching through robot.
Hardik sharma
October 5, 2019
Please tell me the software for beginners because I am new in using computer and I don’t know the softwares
Harsh
October 5, 2019
I don’t think so 4th generation computer will work so powerfully.It may also be just a small modification
Like its shape or size or it’s compact hardware model.
K surya
October 5, 2019
Computer was everything in those days
Mohammad Ameen
October 5, 2019
Robots can also be dangerous sometimes and may harm us.
Sanjana
October 4, 2019
Now humanoid robots will rule……
Deeksha
October 4, 2019
This information is truly useful.I am planning on working with computers by choosing IT engineering.
Pranjal Banthia
October 4, 2019
Is this true about fifth generation computer.
Vaibhav sharma
October 4, 2019
Really the generation of all the computers are good I think 1st generation computers are hard to use that and the 5th generation of computer is fantastic I don’t know is this really true about 5th generation of computer.
Yash Srivastava
October 4, 2019
I want to be next computer scientist………
Yash Srivastava
October 4, 2019
It’s really true…..
Aakash
October 4, 2019
Quantum computers will be the future of computers. Already Google has taken the lead in creating Quantum computers. There are super computers too which only a few nation’s have. India has a super computer too. Amazing right?
Paawanjot kaur
October 4, 2019
They are smartphones itself we’ve already invented?
Paawanjot kaur
October 4, 2019
Hey that’s not a future thing it’s there today only- they are robots.
We are taking work from them and numerous are manufactured for just entertainment of people.
Might have seen 2.0 film.
Adwita Gupta
October 4, 2019
I think computers is the technology that will change our current scenario of lifestyle and also the concept of smart cities will be far different.
There is a whole lot of scope in the upcoming future for artificial intelligence and computer micro nano chips .? Will be glad to contribute to the new gen of upcoming technological era
Kiran M.V
October 4, 2019
Can put articles on time travel theory
Jesvi Maria
October 4, 2019
Wooow!!!The only thing is that emergence of robotic kind of computers our brain may start
To disfunction as we can get everything with in few touch or words!!!
But it will be cool if it become so…..
Awaiting for the super duper kind of comp..
Thank you Byjus
Shivansh
October 4, 2019
According to me, modern computers in the future are going to be small
chip sort of thing, similar to the size of a grain. These computers
will be attached to you body and they can interpret our impulse generated
inside our brain. These will help us to control many electronic gadgets.
Yuvraj
October 4, 2019
interesting fact
Shagun
October 4, 2019
Thanks Byju’s for such a great information ?????✨?
Karthik
October 4, 2019
It’s true because the systems and informative.and welly developed in computerised world
Shweta
October 4, 2019
Thanks byjus for giving this knowledge about computer evolution
Om kolhe
October 4, 2019
In future computer will not only be our friends but also they will be caretaker of us seeing all our needs by online fulfilment
Abhinav
October 4, 2019
Is this true!
Abhinav
October 4, 2019
So wonderful
Karan Sharma
October 4, 2019
Yes but I want to make an armar of iron man and the processor like zarvis which can talk with us and do our work without going to site we are only command to make this or any other thing ??
Mili taneja
October 4, 2019
Excellent information! I really liked the article
Prakhar
October 4, 2019
A time might come where computers rule over us and this would be an example of Terminator-Genesis.
Computers overruling us…
The thought only is so scary.
Kalyanbrata Chandra
October 4, 2019
I think very powerful but little computers will be embedded inside human brains. It will make our mind more capable of super intelligence, super memory, intelligent communication etc. Eventually we will become an interstellar species.
Nasa
October 4, 2019
Oh that’s from wher our computer origined?
Amey chavan
October 4, 2019
I like the most 4th generation computers
As they are the friends of us and the most
Important “fom this generation thier will be
a change a kind of vice versa now no human
will be needed to make ideas of new
gen. Computers now the best is that
computers will make there own new
Technology and population”and my words
No one can stop them. So thanks for giving
Knowledge .
Anunay naman
October 4, 2019
Next computer is quantum computer.
or Next computer will link with humans and give humans the power and skills of a super computer
Mrityunjay
October 4, 2019
Yup of course I would love to become a future computer scientist
Priyanka Parida
October 4, 2019
Thanks byjus for sharing such wonderful and interesting knowledge..!?
Pragya
October 4, 2019
The future computers could working on the nerve impulses.These computers would be a ring whose screen appears when we need it.
Aastha
October 4, 2019
Now also computers are our friends aren’t they?
Sanjay Dhiman
October 4, 2019
According to me the generation of
computers will nowhere be seen in future.
As the technology is growing drastically,
robots and other AI gadgets will take over
computers.
Sahil
October 4, 2019
If the sixth gen computer is developed….. It will be a living thing but some technical stuffs in it.
Swastika
October 4, 2019
Maybe future computers would make telepathy and teleporting possible?
MANIDEEPIKA
October 4, 2019
Very informative and intresting
Daksh
October 4, 2019
True
Dipesh Chaturbhai Patel
October 4, 2019
I think that next generations will be of robots and all the computers will be replaced by robots. Must watch 2.0 which is best example of technology.
I want to be a future computer scientist.I am really inspired by Stephen Hauking and Satya Nadella
Dhwani Tiwari
October 4, 2019
I’m really thankful to byjus for giving me such wonderful knowledge ideas.
I have never thought that I’ll get experiences like these but byjus helped me for my learning my way
Thanks byjus ?
Priyanshu Bishnoi
October 4, 2019
Really interesting evaluation of computers. we can imagine of coming 50 years for technology….
Kristi
October 4, 2019
Do you know that abacus was invented in China
Subhra Chakraborti
October 4, 2019
Thanks team BYJU’S…
I love computers and in the future there would be possibility of both computers and humans working together…
Shreshtha
October 4, 2019
I love computers
Bansi
October 4, 2019
That’s good
Barira
October 4, 2019
Thank you ? byju’s learning tree ?
For sharing evolution of everything
🙂 computer?.
? Love you byju’s ?
Shreya singh
October 3, 2019
Good knowledge
Sarthak
October 3, 2019
Yes I would like to meet the ase robot computer and artificial intelligence computers
sampurnakumar
October 3, 2019
Even a Computer Graduate,I cant say that in coming days a computer can replace a Human abilities,
because i believe that “Creator(humans) are powerful than creations (computers)
Harsh
October 3, 2019
is the A.I technology distorting human resources
Sairaman
October 3, 2019
Seriously . . . ?
Anuj Bhat
October 3, 2019
The future ? computing was very surprising??
Sai Akshit
October 3, 2019
Yes because artificial intelligence would be developed
Harshit
October 3, 2019
Future computers will be portable that we can take them anywhere
Hariprasad
October 3, 2019
Yeah I do agree
Sai sujan
October 3, 2019
Good information thank u
Anurag roy
October 3, 2019
Interested to see this, thanks for posting
shabreen
October 3, 2019
Having a good dears thanks you for telling me
This facts about computer
Armaan khan
October 3, 2019
Good information
Pavithra Iyengar
October 3, 2019
Very true. It’s like robots will emerge from nowhere and become friends of ours
Lakshya
September 30, 2019
In future computers will be like human beings.
And they will be our friends.