Computer - Third Generation
The period of third generation was 1965-1971. The computers of third
generation used integrated circuits (IC's) in place of transistors. A
single IC has many transistors, resistors and capacitors along with the
associated circuitry. The IC was invented by Jack Kilby. This
development made computers smaller in size, reliable and efficient. In
this generation remote processing, time-sharing, multi-programming
operating system were used. High-level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV,
COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this
generation.
The main features of third generation are:
- IC used
- More reliable in comparison to previous two generations
- Smaller size
- Generated less heat
- Faster
- Lesser maintenance
- Still costly
- A.C needed
- Consumed lesser electricity
- Supported high-level language
Some computers of this generation were:
- IBM-360 series
- Honeywell-6000 series
- PDP(Personal Data Processor)
- IBM-370/168
- TDC-316
