Evolution of Computers
| Electrical Electronic Component |
Main Features |
Software |
Memory and I/O Devices |
Type of Computer |
| Vacuum tubes |
Bulky, slow, unreliable, consume more space and power |
Machine language and assembly language |
Limited core memory,input through punch cards |
Analogue |
| Transistors |
Less power consumption, smaller in size |
High level languages (HLLs) like FORTRAN, Pascal, COBOL, etc. |
Magnetic core memory as main memory, magnetic tapes and disks |
Analogue |
| Integrated circuits (ICs) |
More memory capacity, much smaller in size and weight |
General purpose HLL, concurrent programming |
Semiconductor memory as main memory, hard disks as secondary |
Digital |
| Very large scale integration (VLSI) |
Development of microprocessor, more speed and reliability |
Web based technologies, very user friendly and sophisticated, artificially intelligent software |
Optical disks, VCDs, DVDs, blue ray disks and high capacity hard disks |
Digital |
| Ultra–large scale integration (ULSI) |
Much faster and very powerful |
Being Developed |
Being Developed |
Digital |
The future is promising for the computer industry and its technology. The speed of processors is expected to double every year and a half in the coming years. As manufacturing techniques are further perfected, the prices of computer systems are expected to steadily fall. However, since the microprocessor technology will be advancing, its higher costs will offset the drop in the price of older processors. In other words, the price of a new computer will stay about the same from year to year, but the capacity of the technology will steadily advance.
