Fourth Generation

The period of fourth generation was 1971-1980. The computers of fourth generation used Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements and their associated circuits on a single chip made it possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth generation computers became more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to personal computer (PC) revolution. In this generation time sharing, real time, networks, distributed operating system were used. All the high-level languages like C, C++, DBASE etc., were used in this generation.

The main features of fourth generation are:

● VLSI technology used

● Very cheap

● Portable and reliable

● Use of PC's

● Very small size

● Pipeline processing

● No A.C. needed

● Concept of internet was introduced

● Great developments in the fields of networks

● Computers became easily available

Some computers of this generation were:

● DEC 10

● STAR 1000

● PDP 11

● CRAY-1(Super Computer)

● CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)