In which generation of computers, “Integrated Circuit” was introduced?
In which generation of computers, “Integrated Circuit” was introduced?
(A) First
(B) Second
(C) Third
(D) Fourth
The third generation of computers, covering the years 1964 to 1971, was the breakthrough for integrated circuits. Instead of having separate transistors on separate circuit boards, engineers found a way to put many, many transistors, resistors, and capacitors on a single silicon chip. This revolutionized the size, cost, speed, and reliability of computers. A good example of the third generation computers was IBM's System/360.
First Generation: This generation (1940s–1956) relied on bulky vacuum tubes for circuitry, which were prone to failure and generated intense heat.
Second Generation: This generation (1956–1963) saw the replacement of vacuum tubes with transistors, making computers smaller and faster, but they still used discrete components rather than integrated ones.
Fourth Generation: This generation (1971–Present) is defined by the microprocessor, which uses Large Scale Integration (LSI) or Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) to fit thousands of integrated circuits onto a single silicon chip.