Correction, this is WHAT was the greatest contribution, sorry!There could be many different answers to this question... First generation computers used Vacuum Tubes, these computers were very slow and could only handle one process at a time, they were also VERY large and expensive. Vacuum tubes were replaced by Transistors, which were smaller, cheaper, and faster, however transistors produced a lot of heat (these computers used punch cards and ran off of assembly language [Binary Code]). Third generation computers marked the use of Integrated Circuits, there were basically small transistors placed on silicone chips, making computers even smaller and efficient (in this generation we saw the first User Interfaces and use of mouses [mice??] and keyboards). We are currently in the fourth generation of computers, this generation is marked by the placement of thousands of integrated circus onto a silicone chip, making up a Microprocessor. The fifth generation is currently in development and will be based off the principals of Artificial Intelligence (computers with brains!! kind-of except not really..) and Natural Language Recondition (you talk to the computer and it knows what you're saying).So really its your call, Vacuum Tubes, Transistors, Integrated Circuits, or Microprocessors?
First Generation (1940-1956) Everything started with vacuum tubes. These were widely used in the first computer systems for circuitry, while magnetic drums were used for memory. Second Generation (1956-1963) Next, there was the introduction of transistors, which came in to replace vacuum tubes. ... Third Generation (1964-1971) Third-generation computers were where we saw the introduction of integrated circuits (IC), which are still in use today. Fourth Generation (1971-2010) In the fourth generation of computers, the invention of the microprocessor (commonly known as CPU) helped to get computers to the desk and, later, lap-size that we ... Fifth Generation (Present Day) Although we are still using technology from the fourth generation of information technology, we are now going into a new age: the fifth generation.
The features include: used integrated circuits, smaller in size compared to second generation computers, faster and more reliable, used high level language, magnetic core and solid states as main storage, reduced computational time and had low maintenance cost, input and output became more sophisticated. They were developed during the period of 1964 to 1971.
transistor
There are a variety of different hardwares and softwares that can be used in different computers.
Both hybrid integrated circuits and monolithic integrated circuits were used in third generation computers. These integrated circuits contained from 4 to 100 transistors per integrated circuit. The image above shows hybrid integrated circuits of the type used in the IBM System 360 line of computers.
The word "generation" as used with respect to computers refers to the type of electronic components used to make computers of the specified generation.One common ordering of the computer generations is as follows:first generation, 1942 to 1958 - vacuum tubessecond generation 1957 to 1967 - discrete transistors (usually germanium transistors)third generation - 1964 to present time - integrated circuits (usually silicon monolithic integrated circuits, but some were hybrid integrated circuits)fourth generation - 1971 to present time - microprocessor integrated circuitsfifth generation - there is lots of debate on the definition of this (and possible following) generation as well as when (or even if) it began
True. Some of these computers used hybrid integrated circuits (e.g. IBM System/360) and some used monolithic integrated circuits (e.g. Apollo Guidance Computer, Minuteman II Guidance Computer)
The first generation used vacuum tubes, the second used transistors, the third used integrated circuits, and the fourth used integrated circuits on a single computer chip.
some first generation computers used germanium point contact diodes in their logic gates to reduce their vacuum tube parts count.second generation computers used discrete germanium or silicon transistors.third generation and later computers use silicon integrated circuits.
Several early digital computers were made of electromechanical devices similar to those used to build automatic dial telephone exchanges used at the time. First generation digital computers were made of vacuum tubes. Second generation digital computers were made of discrete transistors (most used germanium transistors but later some silicon transistors). Third generation digital computers were made of (hybrid, SSI, MSI, LSI) silicon integrated circuits. Fourth generation digital computers are made of microprocessors and other (VLSI, ULSI, etc.) silicon integrated circuits.
integrated circuits
Integrated circuits are more commonly referred to as "microchips." They are used in everything from cellphones, personal computers, and even televisions.
First Generation Computers refer to ones with vacuum tubes and were really huge and required vast amounts of electricity. The programming was very limited and very complex USN machine language. Usually they were hardwired and the applications very limited. Second Generation Computer were built using transistors that were much smaller and required less power and space. General Purpose program languages were developed that could be moved from 1 computer to the next.
Tubes, magnetic logic, and transistors.
The earliest electronic digital computers used hot cathode vacuum tubes. The cathodes of these tubes glowed red hot.The second generation electronic digital computers used transistors. These ran much much cooler than hot cathode vacuum tubes, but could still get warm. Even though individual transistors normally did not get hot, if the complete computer was not equipped with a cooling system it could accumulate enough heat to damage itself.The third generation electronic digital computers used bipolar integrated circuits. Due to the number of transistors in these integrated circuits, some types got hot enough to burn your skin if you touched them.Modern fourth generation electronic digital computers use field effect transistor integrated circuits and microprocessors. While these generally operate cooler than bipolar integrated circuits, often the microprocessors and a few other high speed integrated circuits can still get hot enough to burn your skin if you touched them.
I wold say 2nd generation: it was solid-state fully transistorized but used no integrated circuits. But other's opinions will differ.