The first generation of computers were manufactured from approximately the year 1946 to 1958. When we think of computers now we think of small compact devices that can basically do anything you want it to do. However, it was not always like it is in the present. During the first generation computers were extremely larger than the computers we have currently. In fact, the first generation computers would take up the entire room.
A great deal of electricity was utilized in order to operate these computers. If you combine the fact that these computers would often take up entire rooms and they would use great amounts of electricity to operate this would make it easier to understand why these rooms would be very hot. The heat was one of the main reasons why these computers would malfunction at times. These computers were only capable of taking on one task at a time.
The first generation computers used vacuum tubes to store date, which was a mean reason for the overwhelming heat in the rooms. This is due to the fact that the vacuum tubes utilized heat in the process of storing data.
These are some examples of the vacuum tubes that were utilized in the first generation computers.
Magnetic drums were used for to store memory, they can be compared to the hard disks of today. These magnetic drums used punched index cards and tapes made of paper to store information on the drum for later use.
Essential element of the first generation computers.
The EINAC, a first generation computer, utilized approximately 18,000 to 19,000 vacuum tubes, so if there was an issue with one of them, someone would have to go through all of the vacuum tubes and find the one with the issue. The EINAC also took up approximately 1,800 square feet which is incredible compared to contemporary computers.
A First generation computer put into action in 1944, EINAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer).
The UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) was also another first generation computer, which was introduced in 1951. This computer was actually the first computer that was successful in a commercial aspect. The UNIVAC was a transitional computer, which means that it was the last of the first generation computers and it was the last computer to use vacuum tubes to store data.
This UNIVAC was introduced in 1951 and was one of the last computers to use vacuum tubes.
Works Cited:
Content:
http://computergenerations.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/the-five-generations-of-computers/
http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/
Images:
EINAC – http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tdC7loi1Z-Q/TV7pbbht83I/AAAAAAAADPs/SpF2iJA_r5Q/s640/first-generation-of-computers-04.jpg
UNIVAC – http://www1.pcmag.com/media/images/245315-univac-1.jpg
Vacuum Tubes – http://diyaudioprojects.com/Solid/12AU7-IRF510-LM317-Headamp/12AU7-ECC82-Vacuum-Tubes-Valves.jpg
Magnetic Drum – http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/magnetic-drum.jpg
COMPUTERS: History In The Making 