Generations Of Computers & Networks

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (MIS)

1ST ASSINGMENT (16/7/09)

Submitted to:

-

SUBMISSION BY :Prof

.

Richa tiwari

AVICK BISWAS

Sectio n–B

1.The Five Generations of Computers:The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices. Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper, and more powerful and more efficient and reliable devices. Read about each generation and the developments that led to the current devices that we use today.

First Generation - 1940-1956: Vacuum Tubes:-

The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions. First generation computers relied on machine language to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time. Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.

Second Generation - 1956-1963: Transistors:-

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 50s. The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their firstgeneration predecessors. Though the transistor still generated a great deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Secondgeneration computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output. Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. Highlevel programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN. These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology.

Third Generation - 1964-1971: Integrated Circuits :-

The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers. Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through keyboards and monitors

and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory. Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.

Fourth Generation - 1971-Present: Microprocessors :-

The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer - from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls - on a single chip. In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and more everyday products began to use microprocessors. As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form networks, which eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.

Fifth Generation - Present and Beyond: Artificial Intelligence:-

Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of computers in years to come. The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and selforganization. Computers today have some attributes of fifth generation computers. For example, expert systems assist doctors in making diagnoses by applying the problem-solving steps a doctor might use in assessing a patient's needs. It will take several more years of development before expert systems are in widespread use.

2. Companies which analyze business reports for the company:1. TCS ( Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.) - TCS offers a wide range of IT services, outsourcing and business solutions. TCS applies specific industry experience to create tailored business solutions.

2. Wright Reports - Wright Reports are produced on over 33,000 companies by Wright Investors' Service an independent global investment management firm located in Milford, Connecticut, USA. Wright has researched and analyzed company information since the inception of the firm in 1960.

Wright's proprietary analysis tools, developed over several decades, include a Quality Rating that is applied to each company contained in Wright Reports. Wright Reports also includes extensive explanatory footnotes to help you interpret company results.

3.RNCOS (Industry Research Solutions) - RNCOS offers a wide range of market research solutions for clients from diverse business domains. All reports are comprehensive, thoroughly analyzed and act as excellent support systems for clients to make strategic decisions. The team of research analysts with expertise in diverse industry fields, track emerging economies using state-of-the-art research and analytical tools to provide information most valuable for business growth.

4. ADVIZOR Solutions, Inc. - ADVIZOR Solutions, Inc. provides business analysis software for business managers and analysts. It offers ADVIZOR Analyst, a Microsoft .NET clientbased solution that enables business users to visually analyze desktop and enterprise data, create dashboards that can be shared, publish dashboards, and export findings to Microsoft Office and Adobe PDF products; ADVIZOR Analyst/X that includes descriptive and predictive analytics, as well as key field/variable analytics, missing values calculations, and target value predictions; and ADVIZOR Server AE, which enables Microsoft. 5.Crocus Information Ltd. - All about our IT Consultancy and Business Analysis service for blue chip companies.Centric a has been a major client in recent years as we have been helping them with business restructuring and a number of projects resulting from that. it focuses on analysis, focusing on process and data.

3. About LAN, CAN, MAN, WAN, GAN :LAN -

A local area network (LAN) supplies networking capability to a group of computers in close proximity to each other such as in an office building, a school, or a home. A LAN is useful for sharing resources like files, printers, games or other applications. Most local area networks are built with relatively inexpensive hardware such as Ethernet cables, network adapters, and hubs. Wireless LAN and other more advanced LAN hardware options also exist.

WAN –

WAN spans a large physical distance. The Internet is the largest WAN, spanning the Earth. A WAN is a geographically-dispersed collection of LANs. A network device called a router connects LANs to a WAN. In IP networking, the router maintains both a LAN address and a WAN address. A WAN differs from a LAN in several important ways. Most WANs (like the Internet) are not owned by any one organization but rather exist under collective or distributed ownership and management. WANs tend to use technology like ATM, Frame Relay and X.25 for connectivity over the longer distances.

MAN-

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by even a large local area network (LA) but smaller than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN). The term is applied to the interconnection of networks in a city into a single larger network (which may then also offer efficient connection to a wide area network). It is also used to mean the interconnection of several local area networks by bridging them with backbone lines. The latter usage is also sometimes referred to as a campus network.

CAN-

Campus Area Network is a high-integrity serial data communications bus for real-time control applications Operates at data rates of up to 1 Mega bits per second .Has excellent error detection and confinement capabilities Was originally developed for use in cars Is now being used in many other industrial automation and control applications Data messages transmitted from any node on a CAN bus do not contain addresses of either the transmitting node, or of any intended receiving node. Instead, the content of the message (e.g. Revolutions Per Minute, Hopper Full, X-ray Dosage, etc.) is labelled by an identifier that is unique throughout the network. All other nodes on the network receive the message and each performs an acceptance test on the identifier to determine if the message, and thus its content, is relevant to that particular node. If the message is relevant, it will be processed; otherwise it is ignored. The unique identifier also determines the priority of the message. The lower the numerical value of the identifier, the higher the priority. In situations where two or more nodes attempt to transmit at the same time, a non-destructive arbitration technique guarantees that messages are sent in order of priority and that no messages are lost.

GAN-

Global Area Network or GAN for short is a global satellite internet Network with telephony using portable terminals. The terminals are normally used to connect a laptop computer to broadband Internet in remote locations, although as long as line of sight to the satellite exists, the terminal can be used anywhere. The value of GAN terminals is that unlike other satellite Internet services which require bulky & heavy satellite dishes to connect, a GAN terminal is about the size of a laptop and thus can be carried easily. GAN is currently the fastest global data link available via a portable terminal. It can be easily set up by anyone, and has excellent voice calling quality. It works on the band, avoiding rain fade and other issues of traditional larger satellite systems.