Second generation of computer

Second generation of computer

First Generation Computers.

First Generation Computers.

A Vacuum Tube

First generation computers were between the time period of  1946-1959.The first generation computers used vacuum tube technology for their various processes.The first generation computers were very large and require large storage areas for them .The invention of the vacuum tube

technology opened the gates for the development of electronic computers.The earlier electronic computers before the vacuum tubes used relays instead.Vacuum tubes were used as electronic switches and also for circuitry and magnetic drums for the memories..Vacuum tubes could work faster and were noiseless as compared to relays.

In 1943, a first generation computer ,Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator(ENIAC),was developed in the university of Pennsylvania. ENIAC contained nearly 18,000 tubes and consumed more the 150Kw of power.It was very big and weigh more the 30 tons. It could perform thousands of multiplications and hundred of additions per second.

The concept of the store program was given by Doctor Jjon Von Neumann.
This idea of  the storage was same as suggested by the Charles Babbage for his analytical engine.Stored program pointed out the way that how the computers will function in the future.

Short coming of First Generation:

-Very Big in size

-Slow in speed           

-Low reliability

-Large power consumption

-Difficult maintenance.

A First Generation Computer.

Mechanical Computing device

(i) Napier bones:

In 1964  John Napier invented logarithms and a device called Napier bones or rods.This device helped to multiply numbers and do various types of simple calculations.

This device is used for calculations  of products of quotients of numbers.This device is used manually and it used the system of Arab Mathematics.It can be used to perform multiplication of numbers from 2-9

                                                                             

Cylindrical form of Napier bones     

(ii) Slide Rule

The idea of logarithm by Napier bones soon gave birth to an other Mechanical calculating device called slide rule or also known as colloquially in US .This device is used for basic multiplications and divisions and other calculations such as logarithm root and also trigonometry .

Construction:

A slide  rule consist of  two scales ;the Rule and the Slide.It also consist of a Transparent  moving piece of  piece of some material ,it is called  cursor.The cursor is highly capable to slide over the smooth surfaces called slide rule.

Although, its name is similar to a simple scale that is used to draw simple straight lines,But never be confused with it it is not that simple one.

                                                                           

                                                         

                                                              A slide rule