Learnings of the Week
(2nd week)
by: Mary Trishia V. Tabigue IV- RIZAL

Third Generation Computers
In 1958, the first integrated circuit was made.¹⁵ This invention has led to the widespread use of computers today. Scientists found a way to reduce the size of transistors so they could place hundreds of them on a small silicon chip, about a quarter of an inch on each side.¹⁶ This enabled computer manufacturers to build smaller computers. Using this new technology, Digital Equipment Inc. produced a minicomputer which they sold for the price of fifteen thousand dollars in 1962.¹⁷ Two years later, IBM used chips in its 360 series computers.¹⁸ The 360 series was IBM's solution to the problem of having two different market lines of computer. Every member of the 360 family, no matter how big or powerful, was compatible with each other. This way, a company could buy a small computer to start with and when they outgrew it and bought a larger one, they would still be able to use all of its old stored data.

At about this same time, the concept of a programming language was developed. Originally, programmers communicated with the computers via plug boards and wires. As both the computers and the jobs to be executed became more complex, communication between the computers and users also became more complicated. In 1956, FORTRAN, the first programming language, was developed.¹⁹ Then in 1959, Grace Hopper invented COBOL.20

The programming languages enabled programmers to write code at a higher conceptual level. A compiler would then translate the code into machine language. For instance, a programmer could now tell the computer to add two numbers by simply using the add command in the language.

The introduction of programming languages enabled this third generation of computers to contain something called an operating system. An operating system serves two functions. First, it is a program which provides a buffer between the user and the machine. It enables the user to ask the computer to perform a high level task, and then the operating system translates the task into machine language instructions. Second, the operating system keeps the various pieces of the computer running together smoothly.

The companies who manufactured the third generation computers tried to create computers which could successfully perform both calculations and sorts. However, creating such a diverse computer turned out to be a difficult job. The operating system for these computers was very complex. This complexity resulted in many errors in the code which would cause the computers to crash.

Another aspect of computing new to the third generation machines was the presence of multiprogramming. In the early days, a computer was capable of performing only one job at a time. The problem with this method was that jobs were not continuously active. Sometimes a job would reach a point where it needed user input, so the computer would just sit and wait. Multiprogramming changed this. It enabled the computer to run a number of jobs simultaneously. The jobs would take turns using the computer's central processing unit; while one job was waiting for input, another job would execute.

In 1970, IBM put a "floppy disk" drive in their 3740 system computer. Using a floppy disk provided three times more storage space and faster access to the information.²¹

Fourth Generation Computers

Then, in 1971 Intel created the first microprocessor.²² The microprocessor was a large-scale integrated circuit which contained thousands of transistors. The transistors on this one chip were capable of performing all of the functions of a computer's central processing unit. The reduced size, reduced cost, and increased speed of the microprocessor led to the creation of the first personal computers. In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built the first Apple computer in a garage in California.²³ Then, in 1981, IBM introduced its first personal computer.²⁴ The personal computer was such a revolutionary concept and was expected to have such an impact on society that in 1982, "Time" magazine dedicated its annual "Man of the Year Issue" to the computer.²⁵

When personal computers first came into use, many people did not know what they were. Some people were amazed by these new tools and others did not like them.

Within a matter of years, computers spread from the work place into the home.

Personal computers have changed a great deal since the early eighties. The hardware has definitely changed, the computers are faster now, have more memory, and are relatively inexpensive. But the large increase in home use of computers has come about as the result of an increase in the quantity and quality of the software available. Originally, there was no software available and so some people wrote their own. Companies now produce software to help people do word processing, balance their check book, and store phone numbers.

In addition to the many programs designed for adults, many software products are geared towards children, in particular, video games. The first video games appeared in 1975, but they were nothing like the games of today.²⁶ The increased processing speed and memory in computers has led to an increase in the quality of computer graphics.

The introduction of the integrated circuit and its development into the very-large scale integrated circuit started a technological revolution which caused computers to invade almost every aspect of our society. This phenomena occurred because of the increased performance, reduced size, and reduced cost of the newer computers.

Learnings of the Week (July 2 - 4, 2008) (ROLLORATA)

On the second week of discussion in Computer Education IV, we went on the THIRD and FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS.

The third generation computers covered only a short range of time. In the third generation, computers relied on a new technology called the integrated circuits. The integrated circuit is a single wafer or chip that can hold many transistors and electronic circuits. A circuit widely used in electronics system was invented in the year 1959 by Jack Kilby which is the monolithic integrated circuit. Intel was brought into being by Robert Noyce. The name Intel came from the term integrated electronics. Intel focused on making an affordable semiconductor that could hold enough memory to replace the magnetic core memory then used in computers. In 1969, ARPANET is set up by Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the United States Department of Defense. It was the network of about 60,000 medium-to-large-scale computers. In 1990 ARPANET was replaced by the National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) to connect its supercomputers to regional networks. NSFNET now operates as the high-speed backbone of the Internet. C, in computer science, a programming language developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Laboratories in 1972; so named because its immediate predecessor was the B programming language. C is a compiled language that contains a small set of built-in functions that are machine dependent.

Innovations were widely established during this era and onwards.

The fourth generation computers is from 1971 up to the present time. The first microprocessor was the Intel 4004, produced in 1971. Altair 8800 (computer), a small computer introduced in 1975 by Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems of New Mexico. Although short-lived, the Altair is considered to have been the first successful “personal” computer. Although short-lived, the Altair is considered to have been the first successful “personal” computer. Microsoft was founded in 1975 by William H. Gates III and Paul Allen. Microsoft Corporation, the largest company in the world dedicated to creating computer software. VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet, is initiated. It changes many people's perception of microcomputers, convincing them to purchase the machines for business applications. Word Star, the first microcomputer word processor, was produced in the year 1979. [Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved]