Approaching the “current” moment, what is called the Fourth Generation of Computers, an era marked by the invention and introduction of the microprocessorwhich was a boom that we can relate to our current teams.
We have already commented on other occasions that the history of computing is defined by several aspects that have marked each of the generations into which it is divided. The microprocessor was the one led to the advent of the personal computer thanks to the work that was carried out for nine years.
Let’s see in this post that piece of history that covers from the year 1971 to the year 1980. If you continue reading you will discover the history and development of computing during these years, the characteristics that marked the time, the main personalities of the moment and, obviously, the computers that stood out the most. See all in full.
What characteristics define the fourth generation of computers?
On this occasion, the event that makes us consider a fourth revolutionary act in computing is the introduction of microprocessors.
They come with it:
- an obvious size reduction of the teams.
- The chip is also developed, which becomes a substitute for magnetic ring memories.
- You start working with two terms, LSI and VLSIwhich refer to the components of a chip.
- The term “” is coined to refer to computers that start to use microprocessors.
- Team structures are much simpler and therefore cheaper.
- This, in turn, makes work fully on personal computersthat is, on desktop or home computers.
- Work is being done on the development of connecting computers through networks to share resources.
- Basic is the language par excellence.
- The graphical user interface appearswhich began to be used at the end of the period in home computers.
- An enormous step is also taken in the development of the capacities of the .
What was the evolution and history of the 4th generation of computers?
This occurs in the year 1971, when the microprocessor design, which had been invented in 1969 by Ted Hoffit is finished profiling and it is captured on paper to be shown to the world.
This is an integrated circuit that includes drivers counted by millions and what are the responsible for logic and arithmetic functions. Inside, transistors are included, elements of the equipment that are already “replaced” (they are really still present inside the chip, together with other elements).
For a year this is tested behind closed doors on different machines, being In 1971 the first microprocessor was presented for sale.coming from the hand of Intel, the Intel 4004. The chip was 4-bit and had 2,300 transistors. Its power was 60,000 operations per second.
This involves the redesign of computers, which could now be much smaller. With this come the concepts LSI and VLSI (Large Scale Integration and Very Large Scale Integration respectively)which serve us to refer to the miniaturization processes suffered by the equipment, which are now called or microcomputers.
A year later it launches the Intel 8008, 8-bit and 3300 transistors as well as an improved version, the 8080, also from 8 bits and 4500 transistors, capable of executing up to 200,000 operations per second. This had finally been designed for general use, being one of the first attempts to bring computing to homes.
In addition, due to their size, they are becoming more sophisticated, making them teams are much faster and more capable usually.
In 1972 Japan designed the first microcomputer., that is, the first computer to include a microprocessor. This was the SMP80/08, a piece that never went on sale.
In 1973, Micral N appearsdesigned by Frenchmen who, apparently, were the first to coin, with patent, the term “microcomputer”. Its use was technical and scientific, still far from the conventional user. It mounted the mythical Intel 8008.
One year later see the light Scelbiwhich was the first American computer to be commercialized by announcement, that is, if you had enough capital, you could get it.
1975 is the year of Altair 8800a piece manufactured by MITS that included the programming language par excellence of these years, Basic.
in 1977 we live what we could call the second revolution of the microcomputer at the enter the home or personal computerprecisely thanks to the evolution of everything we have discussed.
With the innovations in the sector, really capable devices could be manufactured but much smaller and in mass, their price being able to be greatly reduced and becoming accessible to all audiences.
Best inventors of the fourth generation of computers
Although you will have already seen some of these faces if you have read our post about , you will see that they were also personalities of this fourth.
ted hoff
He is the person to whom we owe the beginning of this era, the inventor of the microprocessor. The engineer finished painting it in 1969, incorporating an idea that was totally revolutionary in the field of electronic circuits. It is worth mentioning that this is due to the impossibility of solving the problem of a client, who demanded a connector with twelve microchips with different functions.
Intel
It is the company, founded by Norton Noycewho outlined the design of integrated circuits, which takes the concept of microprocessor and makes it brutally familiar. Creates the first microprocessor on the marketthe Intel 4004.
It is also responsible for the next three “colossal” models, Intel 8008, the first 8-bit, Intel 8080, which was the first designed specifically for general use, and Intel 8088, which would be the first member of the well-known architecture. x86.
John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz
They are the professor and the scientist who gave life to the programming language par excellence used during these years both for large computers for private use and for those that were launched on the market and were available to everyone. This is BASIC, perhaps the best known in history. Of course, after assigning the license of use to Altair, Microsoft designs an interpreter for this which is the one that was known by the whole world.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen
Known for founding Microsoft in 1975They were in charge of design Altair BASIC, an interpreter of the well-known programming language that went around the worldbeing sued by all computer manufacturers and making them millionaires shortly after starting their career as entrepreneurs.
Stephen Wozniak
Considered a father of computing, designed the Apple I and Apple II computers (the most popular commercial personal computer of the fourth generation of computers) after founding his own company.
It was a miracle since his childhood, so much so that with Apple managed to move to the Altair thanks, in part, to the idea of including a screen and an external storage unit, Disk IIwhich he himself created as well.
What prominent computers appeared in the 4th generation of computers?
As in every computing era, we have some teams that stood out, each in their own way. Let’s see them.
cray-1
The world is made aware of what would be the supercomputer with the first commercial access microprocessor. The first one is taken by the Los Alamos National Laboratory and then 80 more are sold.
It is also one of the best known in history. He highlighted at the time between 1976 and 1980, for being really powerful; so much so that it remained on the market for another decade with various versions.
PDP-11
It was released to the market before microprocessors. However, such was his success that it was adapted to be able to mount these and continue in the market for 10 more years. And it is that this minicomputer was the first to assemble its main elements in just one busof an asynchronous type, a characteristic that, of course, made it a milestone.
Program 101
Its about first commercial personal computer of history, put into operation already in the year 1964 by Olivetti but without making himself known. It is curious, because it was the team with which it was possible to set foot on our satellite.
Even so, it is not, for many, an important part of the history of computing, although, on this occasion, we have to disagree. Also, as you may have seen, it was designed long before the rest, even during the third generation. However, such was its bad or non-existent publicity that it seems that nobody noticed, even though 44,000 copies were sold in the USA..
Altair 8800
Its design ends in 1974 and begins to be sold the following year. The creators of the Basic language decided to give up their license so that it was the one that this machine carried as standard (including “Altair BASIC”, a language interpreter designed by Microsoft). Also incorporated the Intel 8080, which would be the first 16-bit microprocessor. The built-in bus (S-100) was the standard in the following years.
Its sale together with keyboard and mouse was a success and reason why many consider it as the first personal computer. In addition, they really liked that an assembled version was sold, but also that it was presented to be assembled as a kit, with more than a hundred options.
Apple II
A family of microcomputers manufactured in mass in the year 1977. This has been sold for 7 years with great success and at a more than reasonable price, especially after the launch of the spreadsheet, VisiCalc.
The original mounted a 6502 processor, 4 KiB of RAM and its architecture was 8 bits. In 1979 Apple II Plus appears, notable for being able to expand its RAM memory with a “language card”.
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