Development of Computers Pre-reading questions: 1. When and by whom was the first computer invented? 2. Can you give a brief introduction of computer history? Nothing epitomizes modern life better than the computer. For better or worse, computers have infiltrated every aspect of our society. Today computers do much more than simply computers. To fully understand and appreciate the impact computers have on our lives and promises they hold for the future, it is important to understand their evolution. 1. First-generation Computers(1946-1959) First-generation computers were characterized by the fact that operating instructions were made-to-order for the specific task for which the computer was to be used. Each computer had a different binary-coded program called a machine language that told it how to operate. 2. Second-generation Computers (1959-1964) It was the stored program and programming language that gave computers the flexibility to finally be cost effective and productive for business use. New types of careers(programmer, analysts and computer systems expert) and the entire software industry began with the second generation computers. 3. Third-generation Computers (1964-1971) Computers became even smaller as more components were squeezed onto the integrated circuit (IC) chip. Another third-generation development included the use of an operating system that allowed machines to run many different programs at once with a central program. 4. Fourth-generation Computers (1971-Present) After the integrated circuits, the only place to go down was in size, that is, large scale integration (LSI) could fit hundreds of components onto one chip. 5. Fifth-generation computers (Present and Future) Defining the fifth-generation computers is somewhat difficult because this field is in its infancy. Computers today have some attributes to the fifth.