FIRST GENERATION
• That's the era when the very
first electronic computers were
born, during the 1940s and
1950s. These machines, known
as first-generation
computers, were truly
groundbreaking, even though
they seem very different from
the computers we use today.
WHAT WERE FIRST-GENERATION COMPUTERS?
• The technology behind the first-generation computers was a fragile
glass device, which was called a vacuum tube.
• They are not reliable, programming on them was a tedious task as they
used low-level programming language and used no Operating System.
• First-generation computers were used for calculation, storage, and
control purposes. Punch cards were used to improve the information for
external storage.
WHAT IS A VACUUM TUBE?
• A vacuum tube, also sometimes called an
electron tube or valve, is a device that
controls the flow of electrical current within
a sealed glass enclosure where most of the
air has been removed (creating a "vacuum")
EXAMPLES OF FIRST
GENERATION COMPUTER
1. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical
Integrator and Computer - 1945)
• What it was: The very first general-
purpose electronic computer. It was initially
built for military calculations. Imagine a
machine with around 17,000 vacuum tubes
that filled an entire room!
• Why it was important: ENIAC showed the
world the potential of programmable digital
computers. It was a huge leap forward.
2. UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic
Computer I1951)
• What it was: The first computer that was
made and sold commercially. It was
designed for both business and scientific
uses.
• Why it was important: UNIVAC I marked
the beginning of computers being used in
everyday business operations.
3. Colossus (1943)
• What it was: A secret British
machine built during World War
II to help break German codes.
• Why it was
important: Colossus played a
vital role in the Allied efforts
during the war by helping to
decipher enemy messages.
4. IBM Harvard Mark I (1944)
• What it was: A large computer that
used both electrical and mechanical
parts. It was used for military and
scientific calculations.
• Why it was important: The Mark I was
an important step in the development of
computing, particularly for scientific and
defense applications.
5. ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer)
(1937-1942)
• What it was: One of the earliest
attempts at building an electronic digital
computer. It was designed to solve
algebraic equations.
• Why it was important: The ABC
introduced some key ideas that would be
used in later computer
• Advantages of First Generation Computer
• Computers can process large amounts of data quickly.
• They help in automating tasks, saving time and effort.
• They offer accurate results and minimize human errors.
• Computers can store vast amounts of information in digital form.
• They allow easy access to information and communication through the
internet.
• They have made various tasks like calculations, research, and design
more efficient
• Disadvantages of First-Generation of Computers
• They can be expensive to purchase and maintain.
• Computers can become slow or malfunction due to software or
hardware issues.
• Prolonged use of computers can cause health problems like eye strain
and poor posture.
• They are dependent on electricity, so power outages can cause
interruptions.
• Computers can be vulnerable to viruses and hacking, leading to data
loss.
• Excessive reliance on computers might reduce face-to-face
• Conclusion
• Even though first-generation computers had more drawbacks than
advantages, their importance cannot be overstated. They were the
very first steps in the digital revolution! Because of the lessons learned
from these early machines, the second generation of computers
was developed, which used smaller, more reliable components
called transistors. The first generation of computers, using their
amazing vacuum tubes, truly changed the world of technology forever.
