Monday, April 14, 2014

The Fourth Generation: The Microprocessor



The fourth generation of computers started in 1971 and stretches to the present. The fourth generation saw the development of the Personal Computer (PC).
Considering the development of the IC (integrated circuit), the next step was to shrink the hardware while expanding its components. And thus, the microprocessor was born. About a half centimeter wide, the microprocessor was a tiny computer chip that could function directly from the computer's central processing unit.
The innovators of the PC were Apple and IBM, which introduced their own takes on the PC in 1976, and 1981,  respectively. As time went a long, computers became smaller and smaller, making way for the laptop, as well as faster and faster. Fans were built inside the computers to prevent overheating. Eventually more advanced OS (operating systems) were introduced, and prices dropped, making it standard for every household to have at least one PC.




No comments:

Post a Comment