The stages of development of computer technology can be divided into six periods, from zero to fifth generation. Each of them includes one or another step in the development of computer architecture and functions. Few people know that the first computer technology appeared in the sixteenth century.
The mechanical
computing machine invented by Blaise Pascal could only perform the functions of addition and subtraction, but it consisted exclusively of mechanical elements, gears and a manual drive. A little later, various modifications were invented (over three centuries) that could produce multiplication, division, and also maintain intermediate results, but in general, computer technology of that time was not very popular and did not advance beyond the level of a modern pocket calculator. This period is called the zero generation.
First generation
The development of computer technology went uphill at the beginning of World War II. This was primarily due to military needs, as the German submarines, sunk by so many British ships, sent each other and ashore coded broadcasts. And even having managed to outbid the encoding device (ENIGMA), the British understood that decoding of radio broadcasts should be almost instantaneous, which means that a huge amount of calculations needs to be done very quickly. It was during this period that the first electronic computer Colossus appeared, which, however, remained a military secret for thirty years.
A distinctive feature of the first electrically-based computers was the use in their systems of a tube processor with a binary reaction code (“zero-phase”, which became analogs of the “true-false” trigger functions), which was a huge step forward.
Second generation
In 1956, physicists invented the first transistor, which was able not only to replace the lamp circuit of obsolete computers, but also to make it ten times smaller and more compact! It was during this historical period that the first computers appeared , which to this day are called supercomputers and are used in various electronic archives, libraries and large analytical organizations.
Third generation
From this moment, computer technology has developed extremely rapidly. Ten years later, the field of production of the first transistor computer was invented, assembled and included in the production of computers the first integrated circuits, which for the first time made it possible for computer manufacturers to think about starting to make home personal computers.
Fourth generation
Integrated circuits improved, by the end of the twentieth century it was more correct to call them microcircuits because of the huge number of transistors (up to millions!) That they could accommodate. Extra-large integrated circuits - this is what everyone still has at home in the form of personal computers. In fact, this was the end of the development of computers, and computer technology was no longer minimized, but its improvement did not end.
Fifth generation (invisible computers)
It is the computers of this generation that we can see on the example of tablets, e-books and other handheld computers. Initially, they were conceived as a way to make the computer as compact and convenient as possible, but they were not as widespread as ordinary, stationary PCs or laptops. But they have firmly taken their own niche in the market and have held fast to their limited popularity for several decades.