Third Generation Computer

[H. M. Nasim]

The period of the third generation was 1965-1974. In this generation, silicon transistors replaced germanium transistors. Integrated circuits were developed by interconnecting transistors, resistors and capacitors grown on a single chip of silicon. Integrated Circuit (IC) chips were used in computers. ICs were small in size, less power consuming and less expensive than the previous switching technology. Advances in storage technologies resulted in creating large capacity magnetic,  disks and tapes and large magnetic core based random access memory.
On the software front, high-level languages were improved. Fortran IV and optimizing Fortran compilers were developed. Standardization of COBOL (COBOL 68) was another major development during this period.

Advantages of Third Generation of Computer:
» Smaller in size as compared to previous generations.
» More reliable as compared to previous generations.
» Used less energy as compared to previous generations.
» Produced less heat as compared to the previous two generations of computers.
» Maintenance cost was low because hardware failure is rare.
» Better speed and could calculate data in nanoseconds.
» Totally general purpose
» Good storage
» Could be used for high-level languages.
» Less expensive and Better accuracy
» Commercial production increased.
» Used mouse and keyboard for input.

Disadvantages of First Generatin of Computer:
» Air conditioning was required.
» Highly sophisticated technology required for the manufacturing of IC chips.
» Tactile sensitivity is decreased

[H. M. Nasim]

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