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reliable.

They used magnetic cores for primary memory and magnetic tapes and disks for secondary
storage. The programming languages of this era included Assembly language, as well as
early high-level languages like COBOL and FORTRAN.

Input was typically done via a keyboard, and output was shown on a monitor. These
computers were still quite large, often the size of a small room.

Examples: IBM 1401 and PDP-8.

The Third Generation of Computers (1965-1970)

The Third Generation of Computers emerged in the mid-
1960s with the invention of the Integrated Circuit (IC),
also known as a semiconductor chip. This new technology

replaced transistors, making these computers significantly
more powerful, faster, and efficient.

They were much smaller in size, capable of fitting into a
small file cabinet, and generated less heat. Users interacted
with these computers using keyboards and monitors, which
were connected to an operating system.

This generation could perform billions of instructions in just a few seconds and continued
to use high-level languages such as COBOL and Fortran.

Examples: IBM-360, ICL 1900, and CDC series.

The Fourth Generation of Computers (1971 onwards)

The Fourth Generation of Computers began in
1971 with the invention of the microprocessor. This
groundbreaking technology integrated thousands of
integrated circuits (ICs) onto a single silicon chip.

As a result, computers became incredibly small, fitting
on a desk or even in the palm of a hand. They were also

very fast, accurate, and reliable.
Popular programming languages like C, C++, and

Java were used. This era also saw the introduction of
personal computers for home users, such as the IBM Personal Computer (PC) in 1981 and
the Apple Macintosh in 1984.

Examples: Intel 4004, Macintosh, and IBM 370.

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