First generation 1941-1956:
In present times, the image that pops up in your head when you think of the word "computer", you imagine a sleek black laptop with fast response times or highly mobile device that is able to search up anything that this world has to offer. however this was not the case 70 years ago when first generation computers were built. These Goliath's were massive taking up entire rooms, generating significant amounts of electricity which in return cause large amounts heat encouraging malfunctions in the computer. The computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums in order to store memory. Programming the computers was difficult as well as hoping for them to be reliable due to many instances of them falling due to heat or frustrating the operators with extremely slow speeds.
Advances in this generation:
1941 , The Vacuum Tube: It was one of the main components of first generation for building the first computer although it had existed prior to this, it was never utilized for this purpose. It provided circuitry for the computer.
1941, Magnetic Drums: This was another key component of first generation computers as it was what held the data for the computer. It also had existed prior to the creation of computers but never been utilized for it like the vacuum tube.
1945, "stored program technique": John Von Neumann created the Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer or the more preferable acronym of EDVAC. This computer had a memory which could hold both a stored program and data. This made computer programming more versatile.
More info? http://www.dia.eui.upm.es/asignatu/sis_op1/comp_hd/comp_hd.htm
1941 , The Vacuum Tube: It was one of the main components of first generation for building the first computer although it had existed prior to this, it was never utilized for this purpose. It provided circuitry for the computer.
1941, Magnetic Drums: This was another key component of first generation computers as it was what held the data for the computer. It also had existed prior to the creation of computers but never been utilized for it like the vacuum tube.
1945, "stored program technique": John Von Neumann created the Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer or the more preferable acronym of EDVAC. This computer had a memory which could hold both a stored program and data. This made computer programming more versatile.
More info? http://www.dia.eui.upm.es/asignatu/sis_op1/comp_hd/comp_hd.htm